Professional profile of dialysis technicians in Europe

Defining the “dialysis technician” The term “dialysis” or “renal technician” is generally used for people entrusted with technically oriented tasks in a dialysis unit. Unlike other professions in the renal care team (nurses and physicians in particular) the term per se does not describe the exact scope of duties and responsibilities or educational background and professional standing of the technician. These unclarities are not as meaningless as they might appear at first glance. In fact, they have serious implications, which are discussed later. Additional confusion is sometimes caused by using the word “technician” or “patient technician” to describe those people doing the most routine work with patients. Americans use the term “technologist”. There are two distinct features in which the technical group differ from all the other disciplines in the renal care team: – Technicians are the only group of professionals working in the clinical environment (and thus potentially able to cause serious damage to patients and other staff alike by impaired quality of work) without any certification of their competence. – Their contribution to the final outcome of the work of the renal care team, i.e. quality care of renal patients, is mediated by other groups, namely by nurses and physicians. (Even well prepared and calibrated dialysis machines may cause trouble to a patient if improperly used). As a consequence of this, the well-being of the patient is a motivation for the technician rather than a final goal and appreciation of his work (when properly done) comes from other professions rather than from the patients.