10/17/2025

NDTRW 5: From ICU to Chronic Kidney Care: How Dialysis Technicians Shaped My Path with Erica Lockley

From ICU to Chronic Kidney Care:
How Dialysis Technicians Shaped My Path

Erica Lockley, Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Northwest Kidney Centers

After spending the first two years of my nursing career as an ICU nurse, I felt a desire for something different. While the care I provided felt meaningful, I often met families on the toughest days of their lives. The years of caring for "intubated and sedated patients" and constantly consoling grieving families was taking its toll. My career was consumed with caring for patients that were not expected to leave the hospital alive. I realized that I did not want to continually meet family members on the day they were saying goodbye to their loved one. I desired moments with patients who were alert and able to engage in conversations.

I explored several specialties and submitted several applications. Within 24 hours, I was contacted by a dialysis nurse recruiter, and within a week, I was interviewed and hired. The process was fast—but on my first day in the clinic, I quickly realized that dialysis care moved even faster.

Busy was an understatement. More than 60 patients arrived daily, each spending 5–6 hours in the clinic. I felt uneasy. It seemed impossible to monitor blood pressure readings across 21 machines, to know from a distance which patient suddenly needed Zofran, or to notice the exact moment a patient would experience leg cramps that required a saline bolus. It was overstimulating and overwhelming. I wondered: How could I ease this level of stress while learning a new patient population?

The answer soon became clear, the dialysis technicians. Knowledgeable, trusted by the patients and they made it look easy!

Five technicians worked each shift, moving across the treatment floor as if performing a choreographed dance. They greeted 136 patients each week with warmth and a smile. They weaved in and out of each pod, making quick stops at the tech station and frequent visits to the nurse station. They made sure I knew about every hypotensive episode, every wave of nausea, and every severe leg cramp. They were my eyes and ears, tirelessly working to keep our patients safe.

They taught me about each patient and demystified the intimidating water room. They noticed when I took too long to string a machine and stepped in with encouragement, giving me the space to focus on building my dialysis nursing skills. Above all, they provided me with something invaluable: ease. They saved me from walking away from this specialty and turning my back on members of my community who rely on dialysis to survive.

Dialysis technicians helped shape me into the nurse and leader I am today. As I reflect on my journey in dialysis care and now in my role as Associate Chief Nursing Officer at Northwest Kidney Centers, I am deeply grateful for the guidance, dedication, and support I have received. I could not have reached this point without the incredible mentorship and teamwork of Shawntay, Patrick, Morgan, Ken, Jasmine, Barak, and so many others I’ve had the privilege to work alongside over the past eight years.

Providing life-saving dialysis treatments every day would be impossible without dialysis technicians. They have had a profound impact not only on my career, but also on the health and well-being of our communities.

Dialysis technicians—we salute you. You are the heartbeat of every clinic.

Erica Lockley, BSN, RN, serves as the Associate Chief Nursing Officer at Northwest Kidney Centers. With over a decade of experience in dialysis, including previous roles as Operations Director, Area Team Lead, and Nurse Manager, she brings deep clinical insight and a strong commitment to advancing health equity and patient-centered care.