Job analysis and role delineation: LPN/LVNs and hemodialysis technicians.

To provide safe and quality care to patients on hemodialysis, nephrology registered nurses must fully understand the roles of the healthcare providers to whom they delegate patient care. A job analysis survey of hemodialysis technicians and licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses (LPNs/LVNs) was conducted by the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC) in 2011 to 1) revalidate the Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT) test blueprint, 2) delineate differences in practice between entry-level technicians and experienced/advanced technicians, and 3) delineate differences in practice between hemodialysis technicians and LPNs/LVNs in hemodialysis settings. Significant differences in practice were identified among the three groups, which led to the development by NNCC of two additional certification examinations: the Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician-Advanced (CCHT-A) examination and the Certified Dialysis LPN/LVN (CD-LPN/LVN) examination.