New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 16 - OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING
Chapter 12 - NURSING AND HEALTH CARE RELATED PROVIDERS
Part 4 - HEMODIALYSIS TECHNICIANS
Section 16.12.4.14 - MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR APPROVAL OF HEMODIALYSIS TECHNICIAN PROGRAMS

(1) The objectives shall be developed by the nurse educator.

(2) The program objectives shall describe the knowledge and skills expected of the CHT, CHT I and CHT II, and shall be consistent with the authorized functions of the CHT, CHT I and CHT II and the board approved core curriculum. After 12/31/2023, all programs must include curriculum consistent with CHT and CHT II scope of function.

(3) The program objectives shall be reviewed annually and revised as necessary by the nurse educator.

(1) The curriculum shall be developed, implemented and evaluated by the nurse educator within the framework of the rules and the core knowledge statements.

(2) The curriculum shall extend over a period of time sufficient to provide essential, learning experiences which enable a hemodialysis technician student to develop competence in hemodialysis practice.

(3) There shall be a minimum of 80 hours of theory, and a minimum of 160 hours of supervised clinical experience for CHT I.

(4) Supervised clinical experience shall provide opportunities for the application of theory and for the achievement of stated objectives in a health care setting and shall include clinical learning experiences to develop the skills required by technicians to provide safe care. The nurse educator or clinical preceptor must be physically present and accessible to the hemodialysis technician student when the hemodialysis technician student is caring for the patient undergoing hemodialysis.

(5) The nurse educator shall develop a written plan for curriculum and program evaluation.

(6) The CHT and CHT II curriculum shall include a minimum of 16 additional hours of theory related to the expanded scope of practice and a minimum of 80 additional hours of supervised clinical experience. The clinical experience will include the initiation, monitoring and disconnection of a central venous catheter for a minimum of 20 times. The nurse educator must verify the successful completion of training with a written letter to the board with the application to test.

(1) The hemodialysis technician training program shall provide hemodialysis technician students opportunities to acquire clinical experiences caring for patients receiving hemodialysis at a licensed and accredited facility. These experiences should enhance the hemodialysis technician students' clinical skills and knowledge base and be under the direct supervision of a registered nurse.

(2) Each program shall have a board approved nurse educator to administer the program who shall be responsible for the development, implementation, teaching and evaluation of the program, arrangements for and supervision of student's clinical experiences and communication with the board and the hemodialysis technician advisory committee.

(1) The nurse educator shall be a registered nurse and shall hold a current New Mexico or multistate license to practice nursing in New Mexico or hold a current compact state license.

(2) The nurse educator shall have at least two years of recent nursing practice experience including at least one year of nursing experience in hemodialysis. Previous nursing experience in nursing education is desirable.

(3) The nurse educator shall have a minimum of nine contact hours of continuing education annually in nephrology, or have current national certification in nephrology or dialysis.

(4) All new approved nurse educators shall participate in an orientation that is presented by the board staff.

(5) Clinical preceptor(s) shall be a registered nurse and shall hold a current New Mexico nursing license or hold a current compact state license.

(6) A certified hemodialysis technician under supervision of the nurse educator or approved clinical preceptor may be assigned to assist with the clinical experience/orientation of hemodialysis technician trainees.

(7) The nurse educator or the clinical preceptor must be physically present in the agency while students are engaged in the clinical experience.

(8) A nurse educator may delegate classroom instruction to other agency affiliated approved program nurse educators.