National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology (NBDHMT), formally known as theNational Association of Diving Technicians, is anon-profit organization devoted to the education and certification of qualified personnel in the fields ofdiving andhyperbaric medicine.[1]
In response to this need, the National Association of Diving Technicians was formed in 1981 and introduced acertification program for all technologists working in the field, as well as establishing an introductory training course curriculum standard for those desiring to enter the field.[3][4]
In 1991, the National Association of Diving Technicians set out to establish a new certification program for hyperbaric technologists and changed their name to the National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology.[3][5]
TheDiver Medic Technician (DMT) program is designed to meet the specific medical care needs of commercial, professional and scientific divers that often work in geographic isolation.[8][9] DMT's are specifically trained for the variousdiving hazards and precautions found on remote work sites.[8] The comprehensive curriculum covers a wide range of topics frombarotrauma to treatment ofdecompression sickness.[10]
DMT's have been taking a larger role in traditional hyperbaric oxygenation facilities in the United States. In a survey of 176 monoplace hyperbaric chamber facilities, the mean number of full-time DMTs was 1.43 while the number of part-time DMTs was 1.83 persons.[11]
TheCertified Hyperbaric Technologist (CHT) program is tailored to meet the specific safety and operation needs forbiomedical devices within the department and generalized clinical knowledge to administer the clinical treatments.[12]
The curriculum covers a wide range of topics fromhyperbaric chamber operations to transcutaneous oxygen monitoring.[13]
TheCertified Hyperbaric Registered Nurse (CHRN) program is asubspecialty forregistered nurses.Hyperbaric nursing challenges nurses "to provide safe, cost-effective, quality patient care, according to established standards."[14]
Hyperbaric nurses are sometimes referred to as baromedical nurses and many CHRNs are also members of the Baromedical Nurses Association.[15][16]
Certification is granted after a candidate meets the prerequisites and passes the written exams offered each year at theUndersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society annual scientific meeting as well as their regional meetings.[17]
Maintaining certification requires completion of Continuing Education Credits from NBDHMT approved sources like the UHMS orDivers Alert Network.[18]
^abTuerk, MG, ed. (1975)."Emergency Medical Technician/ Diver Workshop".10th Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society Workshop. UHMS Publication Number W18. Bethesda: Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. Archived from the original on August 20, 2008. Retrieved2009-06-14.
^abcdNational Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology: Certified Hyperbaric Technologist study guide. National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology. 1995.
^Crosson, DJ (1987)."Diving medics in the scientific field".In: Mitchell, CT (Eds.) Diving for Science 86. Proceedings of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences Sixth Annual Scientific Diving Symposium. Held October 31 - November 3, 1986 in Tallahassee, Florida, USA. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved2011-03-12.
^Josefsen, L; Woodward, C; Lewis, D; Hodge, J; Camporesi, EM (1997)."THE NURSING ROLE IN HYPERBARIC MEDICINE".Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine (Annual Meeting Abstract). Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved2009-06-14.
^Greenberg, DA (1985)."BAROMEDICAL NURSING SPECIALIZATION".Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine (Annual Meeting Abstract). Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved2009-06-14.
