Latracia Rollen, CCHT
I have been a patient care technician for 20 years in various areas of the medical field. I love to care for those who are limited or unable to care for themselves.
I began working in dialysis about 5 years ago. This position has been one of the most rewarding I’ve experienced, while not diminishing my love of caring for all the patients I’ve helped during my career.
I’ve cared for patients from 18 to 97 years old, and each captured my heart in their own way. To care for an 18-year-old breaks my heart, but at the same time, I know I can be a part of something so important.
To care for older patients in their 90s also warms my heart; I’m honored to be a part of helping them continue this journey called life to its end, whenever that time may come.
For an 18-year-old experiencing kidney disease, there is more chance for a donor. When that day comes for my patient, I have tears of joy. On the other hand, for a 97-year-old, the chance for a donor is much lower. This type of situation encourages me to not give up while I provide treatment 3 days per week, 3-4 hours per day. I strive to make sure that although this is not what that patient imagined his or her life to be, they don’t regret making the choice to continue life by way of hemodialysis treatments.
I am proud, pleased, and honored to be a certified dialysis technician, and I pray for the opportunity to learn and grow so I can become a dialysis RN in the near future.