Winter, 2016
Let’s Look at BONENT’s Accomplishments & Plans
Another year has come and gone, in what seems like a moment. It is time to review what we at BONENT accomplished in 2015 and look forward to what is to come in 2016.
Two New Exams Introduced
In 2015, we introduced 2 new exams. In addition to the CHT, CHN, and CPDN exams that we have had for years, we added 2 more exams:
The Certified Hemodialysis Bio-Medical Technician (CHBT) exam was first administered in the Spring of 2015. We, at BONENT, realized that the professionals that work on our machines are as important to the safety of our patients and to the quality of the treatments they receive as the clinical staff. So, over a 2 year period we enlisted the best Bio-Med Technicians in the field to put together an exam that is comprehensive, fair and valid. We had over 200 years of combined Hemodialysis Bio-Med experience.
Since patient care technicians now must be nationally certified, we believe it is time that the professionals that maintain and repair our equipment be nationally certified. Hopefully, the Bio-Med technicians and their employers will step up and do this voluntarily.
The second new exam, which we first administered in September 2015, is the Spanish language CHT. We recognized that many of our colleagues are bilingual and speak Spanish as a first language. We decided to offer the CHT exam in Spanish.
After a 2 year process of translating the CHT into Spanish and back into English and then back into Spanish in order to ensure that content and context were not lost. We then had it reviewed by a number of bilingual CHTs who spoke a number of different dialectics of Spanish. We were finally ready to offer the Spanish language CHT knowing it was a valid translation of the CHT. At present, we are only offering this in the US and via Paper and Pencil. Once we have all of the kinks out of the administration, we will offer it to the rest of the Spanish world and also, in a Computer Based setting, CBT. We hope that Latin America will take advantage of this. It would allow them to emigrate to the US to work without obtaining a new certification.
Three Successful Regional Seminars
Again, in 2015, there were 3 BONENT Regional Seminars in Indianapolis, Newark NJ and Ft. Lauderdale FL. They were all very successful. You can talk to anyone that attended. They will tell you that the content was second to none. They were a combination of local and national experts. It is a great opportunity to meet new people, expand your professional network and knowledge. They are held on Sunday since that is the only day most dialysis clinics are closed.
2016: Three Exams to be Updated
For 2016, we will be updating 3 exams, the CHT, CPDN and CHN. Zelma Griffin is in charge of the CHT update. Lyle Smith is in charge of the CPDN update and Paulette Sheeley is in charge of the CHN update. If you want to be part of this process, we always need volunteers. Contact for these individuals can be found on the BONENT website under the Board tab.
Three Regional Seminars
In 2016, we will have 3 BONENT Regional Education Seminars. They will be in Los Angeles on April 17, 2016, Chicago on June 5, 2016 and in Newark on August 21, 2016. Mike Morales will be in the lead for the Los Angeles meeting, which will have a concurrent track for Bio-Med Technicians. This will allow participants to choose the topics that they feel are most important to them. Armani Rashad and Felix Otero will be in the lead of the NJ/NY seminar. John Larsen will be in the lead for the meeting in Chicago.
If you are interested in being a volunteer for any of the meetings, please contact these gentlemen or Lyle Smith (chair of Continuing Education). We need people to be part of a local committee that helps select content, get the word out, to help get more people attending and to assist the day of the event. If you have a chance to attend any of these meetings, you will not be disappointed.
A Major Role in the New Core Curriculum
Finally, I would like to take this advantage to congratulate those BONENT members who have been selected to be authors for the Core Curriculum for the Dialysis Technician, 6th Edition. They are:
- Charles Johnson CHT
- Phillip Varughese CHT
- Heather Paradis CHT
- Tia Sabin CHT
- Joan Arslanian CHN
- Lyle Smith CPDN
- Kazim Naqvi CHT CHBT
- Dennis Schell CHT CBHT
- Mike Morales CHT CBHT
Again, BONENT shows that we are the premiere international organization for certifying dialysis professionals.
Click here to read previous Letters from the President.