NNCC Newsletter | April 2025

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When I was 20 years old, I went the medical route in college. One morning, I went to breakfast with one of my best friends, her boyfriend, and his mother, “R” for the purpose of this article. During our breakfast conversation, “R” informed me that she was a manager for a dialysis clinic and had two open positions. Excitedly, I applied for my first health care job the following week. The interview and clinic tour were eye-opening for me because I did not know that dialysis existed, let alone that people could live without kidneys. The interview went well, and I was given a choice between two roles: dialysis assistant (DA) or patient care technician (PCT). We decided that the “behind-the-scenes” DA position would better suit me. At the time, I was shy and timid, and I found the process of dialysis frightening with all the blood. This proved to be a better fit, and we found that gradual exposure to the dialysis floor was beneficial to becoming a PCT a year later. Once I became a PCT, I grew socially, personally, and professionally due to the interactions with my patients. A couple of years into being a PCT, it was decided that dialysis technicians had to be certified to be able to work; therefore, I became a Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician through the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC). This was the beginning of my career path as a dialysis technician.

 

From the very beginning of my dialysis career 19 years ago, I kept striving to do more, be more, and give more to my patients. I always kept challenging myself and my skills to keep evolving to be the best caregiver that I could be. I tried my hand at nursing in college, but college never worked out. Not letting that stop my dialysis career, I always found ways to keep progressing. After my second CCHT recertification, I discovered that the NNCC offered an advanced CCHT certification option. I knew that I had extensive hemodialysis knowledge and was an expert in the field; however, the advanced certificate was not required for me to keep my job. I knew that if I chose to apply and pay to take the test, I would do so for my own fruition. I would be taking a chance on ME. Looking back now, this chance that I took on myself was a pivotal one that changed the trajectory of my career. Passing the test not only armed me with my CCHT-A credential, but it also warranted a call from the NNCC. This call led me to the volunteer position of “item writer” on the NNCC CCHT-A test committee. To me, this opportunity was an acknowledgement or validation of years of hard work and dedication to the dialysis field and my patients. My patients were proud of me too, and that felt great. Forward to about a year later, the NNCC test committee offered me a seat on their board, in addition to the item writing position, to which I humbly accepted and remain a board member today. Over the years, my pride in patient care grew substantially, and I learned how to be the caregiver my patients deserve. I had further discovered that my best quality as a caregiver was my ability to teach and to train others. It became, in my opinion, that the best way for me to ultimately provide for my patients is to efficiently and effectively train the people who would be taking care of them. Therefore, almost from the very beginning, I have built a solid reputation as a preceptor to new hires in the dialysis clinic for both Fresenius in South Carolina and DaVita in North Carolina. I take care in training patiently, delicately, and to the best of my ability. I have come to love training others and have been told by many that I do a great job, which is fulfilling in my “bigger picture” goals. I not only want to care for my patients but for all patients. Often, my patients brag on me to my new trainees, which makes me happy and my heart full; it is because of them that I do what I do. Their safety and happiness with care is the reward I get for a tough job done well. My latest career path opportunity presented itself less than a year ago; it would enrich both my professional and my personal life. A clinic that I had floated to was transitioning their old hemodialysis machines to B.Braun machines, and I was helping to “buffer” the patient workload. I was already familiar with these machines because my home clinic was the area’s pilot clinic. The manager of the training team in association with the new machines, “C” for purposes of this article, noticed me helping my teammates on the new machines. At the end of the day, “C” approached me and handed me her business card to let me know that they had a job opening in their training department and thought I would be a good fit. After much deliberation and prayer, and backed with the support of my family, coworkers, and patients, I applied. This opportunity would complement and exemplify my best professional skill: teaching patient caregivers. Now, I travel the entire nation as a Clinical Product Educator/CCHT-A for B.Braun, teaching clinical staff and introducing hundreds of patients to their new dialysis machines. As I am now providing patient care on a broader scale, I firmly believe that without my unwavering pride in patient care and hemodialysis, I wouldn’t have stayed on the path. Also, without taking a chance on that advanced CCHT test, I may never know where I would be today. “C” said upon my hire that one of the most impressive things that improved my chances for the job was my role with the NNCC. So, thank you, NNCC! To all the “I’m just a technician"s out there, do not take your knowledge for granted. Take it from me, challenging your own dialysis knowledge could open doors that you never knew existed. Go for the CCHT-A! Prove you have the expertise, even if you have to do it for yourself!

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Great News: Upon completion, a certificate will be provided awarding a four-contact hour credit to be used towards NNCC certification or recertification continuing education requirements.

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Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission