National Dialysis Technician Recognition Week

Save the Date

October 12-16, 2026 

This October, we're celebrating YOU!

Dialysis technicians are the steady hands, watchful eyes, problem-solvers, patient advocates, and essential members of the dialysis care team. Every day, you bring technical skill, compassion, and dedication to the patients and communities you serve.

National Dialysis Technician Recognition Week is our opportunity to make that work visible.

Energized. Empowered. Essential.

This year's message is a reminder of what dialysis technicians bring to the table:

ENERGIZED by the difference you make.
EMPOWERED by your knowledge, skills, and experience.
ESSENTIAL to safe, compassionate, high-quality dialysis care.

And while NDTRW is a national celebration, the real celebration happens in your unit.

Make It Happen in Your Unit

You don't need a large budget to make your team feel valued. In fact, some of the best recognition costs absolutely nothing.

Gather your team. Get your patients involved. Invite your nephrologists and leadership to participate. Then choose something fun, meaningful, or both!

💙 Recognize Your Team

• Write personalized thank-you notes.
• Create fun technician superlatives.
• Start a staff appreciation board.
• Highlight a different technician each day.
• Ask leadership to share a specific example of how technicians make a difference.

💙 Get Patients Involved

• Create a patient “Thank a Tech” station.
• Provide NANT appreciation certificates for patients to complete.
• Invite patients to write encouraging messages.
• Display patient thank-you notes in a designated area of the unit.

NANT has specifically heard from units that have used patient appreciation stations and certificates as an inexpensive way to involve patients in NDTRW.

💙 Build Team Spirit

• Have a themed dress-up day.
• Bring-your-own breakfast or snack day.
• Take a team photo.
• Create a “Why I'm Proud to Be a Dialysis Technician” board.
• Hold a five-minute team trivia game.
• Have each person share one thing they appreciate about a coworker.

💙 Celebrate Professionalism

Recognition doesn't always have to mean food or gifts. Use NDTRW as an opportunity to celebrate what technicians know and do.

Try a quick safety challenge, skills refresher, peer-to-peer teaching moment, or team discussion about how technicians contribute to patient safety and quality.

The Best Celebration Is the One That Actually Happens.

Maybe your unit has $500 to spend. Maybe it has $0.

Either way, you can celebrate.

A cup of coffee doesn't recognize someone.
A gift card doesn't recognize someone.
A catered lunch doesn't recognize someone.

People do.

Take a few minutes to tell your technicians exactly what they do well, why their work matters, and how they contribute to the patients and team around them.

Then have some fun while you're at it!

Ready to Celebrate?

NANT has resources to help you get started, COMING SOON!

Want more ideas? 2026 MATERIALS COMING SOON!

 Download 2025 Ways To Celebrate at your facility provides suggestions of how this important week can be celebrated at work, with ideas for recognition, wellness, and gifts & treats

DTX44 Scholarship Application - Coming Soon!

Items ready for your use

The certificates below are designed to printed on 8.5” x 11” paper on a color printer for the best effect:

Certificate for patients – to download and complete to give to their own dialysis technician.

Certificate for supervisors – to download and complete to give to their dialysis technicians.

Certificate for nephrologists – to download and complete to give to their dialysis technicians.

Poster - for your dialysis unit break room bulletin board, or to put on the entrance of your unit during the week (17 x 11").