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Nebraska joins states that require credentialing for dialysis patient care technicians
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Based on new legislation that went into effect on May 1, all dialysis patient care technicians in Nebraska must now be registered with the state to practice patient care.
In 2015, the Nebraska Board of Nursing (BON) retired a long-standing advisory opinion that outlined specific duties patient care technicians (PCTs) could perform under the delegation of registered nurses. When the opinion was retired, the BON advised the dialysis industry to seek a state level credential through a credential review process. This process took place during 2016 through a credential review committee. Three levels of credentialing exist in Nebraska: registration, certification and licensure. It was decided that the lowest level of credentialing would be advisable for PCTs. It was determined during the credential review process that a dialysis patient care technician may administer hemodialysis under the authority of a registered nurse. The nurse may delegate specific tasks, based on nursing judgment, to a dialysis patient care technician taking into account the technician’s education, knowledge, training and skill.
In 2017, legislation was passed formalizing the credential review process. Regulations were written during 2017 to 2018, and the registration took effect May 1. New PCTs must register with the state before any hands-on care can be provided. They must also turn in proof of national credentialing to the state when that is obtained.
A Nebraska PCT must now meet the following requirements:
- must be a minimum of 19 years of age;
- possess a high school diploma or a general educational development certificate;
- be trained in a program which follows national recommendations for dialysis patient care technicians and is conducted primarily in the work setting;
- obtain national certification by successful passage of a certification examination within 18 months after becoming employed as a dialysis patient care technician; and
- recertify at intervals required by the organization providing the certification examination, including no fewer than 30 and no more than 40 patient contact hours since the previous certification or recertification.
While national certification is now required for all dialysis PCTs, some states have their own required specific credentialing. Some additional states require specific credentialing for dialysis PCTs. California requires its own state PCT certification exam. The Kentucky Board of Nursing oversees and credentials dialysis technicians. In Maryland, dialysis technicians must be credentialed by the state as a certified nursing assistant-dialysis technician. In Mississippi, dialysis technicians must be certified by the state and listed on the state’s dialysis technician registry. In New Mexico, dialysis technicians must be certified by the state’s certification process. In Ohio, dialysis technicians who have passed a national certification exam approved by the BON receive a certified dialysis technician certificate. In Oregon, hemodialysis technicians must have a current, valid Oregon certified hemodialysis technician (CHDT) certificate and be listed on the CHDT Registry before assuming hemodialysis technician duties. South Dakota requires PCTs to be registered with the state and complete a board approved training course to work as a dialysis technician. Washington state requires PCTs to be credentialed by the state as a medical assistant-hemodialysis technician. In West Virginia, the PCT must be credentialed by the BON to work as a dialysis technician.
For more information on the new Nebraska PCT credentialing process, visit http://dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/Pages/crlDialysisPatientCareTechnician.aspx.
- For more information:
- Wendy Funk Schrag, LMSW, ACSW, is the vice president of state government affairs for Fresenius Medical Care North America and is based in Newton, Kansas. She is also a member of Nephrology News and Issues’ Editorial Advisory Board. Disclosure: Funk Schrag reports no relevant disclosures.