Glendale Community College (GCC)

Hemodialysis Training Program for Nurses and Patient Care Technicians

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This program is an introduction to the field of hemodialysis, providing all necessary skills required for employment in a dialysis facility.  Hemodialysis is a growing industry, offering many employment opportunities.  Students will learn to take care of patients on dialysis machines.

This program is a sixteen (16) week course consisting of 400 hours of both lectures and clinical experience in dialysis facilities. Lecture topics include:  principles of dialysis, anatomy and physiology of the kidney, fluid and electrolyte balance, hematological aspects, infectious diseases, dialysis systems and equipment, vascular access to the circulation, routine aspects of hemodialysis, dietary regulation, blood chemistries, complications of renal failure, psycho-social aspects, and an overview of peritoneal dialysis and renal transplantation.

Instruction in the clinical facilities includes:  preparation of the artificial kidneys, physical assessments, universal (standard) precautions; fluid management, initiating and concluding dialysis, access to the circulation, patient and equipment monitoring, and the treatment of routine hemodialysis problems in accordance with the standard dialysis procedures and policies of the facilities. College faculty directly supervise students in the clinical facilities.

The course is taught by:
Joanne D. Pittard, MS, RN, Professor of Allied Health & Director of the Hemodialysis Training Program at Glendale Community College.

Offered by:
Glendale Community College - Community Services Education
1122 East Garfield Avenue, Glendale, CA 91205
Phone: (818) 240-1000, Ext. 5805     Fax: (818) 548-6216