Registered Nurse -Dialysis

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

The Veterans Health Administration in Indianapolis, IN is seeking a dedicated Registered Nurse to provide comprehensive, patient-centered dialysis care to Veterans. As a Dialysis RN, you will assess, plan, implement, and evaluate nursing care for a diverse patient population in a demanding clinical setting.

Preferred candidates have 2 years of dialysis experience; supports licensure and certification per VA standards.

Qualifications

• English language proficiency required for direct patient care.
• Graduate of a nursing program accredited by ACEN or CCNE.
• Ms/BSN bridge options may apply depending on program.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted nursing license in the U.S.
• Foreign-educated nurses may require degree equivalency validation.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive nursing care to dialysis patients receiving hemodialysis.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate nursing care using the nursing process.
• Monitor vital signs, administer medications, and manage dialysis treatments.
• Adhere to infection control practices and unit SOPs and checklists.
• Document assessments and treatments in the dialysis record and communicate with the team.
• Participate in on-call coverage and provide education and support to ward staff.

Skills

English Proficiency

Education

Nursing degree from ACEN/CCNE accredited program

State nursing license

BSN preferred for some levels

Job description

Summary

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) in Indianapolis - IN is seeking a dedicated and compassionate Registered Nurse to provide comprehensive - patient-centered care to our nation's Veterans. As a Dialysis RN - you will play a vital role in assessing - planning - implementing - and evaluating nursing care for a diverse patient population.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program
• Upon achievement of a State license - the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program
• (Reference VA Handbook 5005 - Appendix G6)
• OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing - possession of a current - full - active - and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program
• Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)
• Current - full - active - and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State - Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) of the United States - or the District of Columbia
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements - but do not possess the required licensure - may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and liability step applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification
• Grade Determinations: The following Scope - Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates - and if appropriate - the level within a grade
• The Dimension requirements (Practice - Veteran/Patient Driven Care - Leadership - Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13065400
• Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I - Level I Delivers fundamental - knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies
• An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing - with no additional professional nursing required
• Nurse I - Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts - cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required
• Nurse I - Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning
• Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
• A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting
• MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
• Preferred experience: 2 years of dialysis experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• The dialysis nurse provides comprehensive nursing care to patients with end-stage renal disease who are being maintained by hemodialysis in either a chronic unit setting or an acute intensive care unit setting
• Either area requires the nurse to provide treatment utilizing the nursing process - according to the written procedures and policies of hemodialysis unit
• Primary responsibilities include - but may not be limited to: Appropriate use of safe patient handling equipment
• Adheres to infection control practices while using equipment and providing patient care
• Follows established SOP's and checklists in the set-up - cleaning - transporting - and storing reusable medical equipment (RME)
• Safely utilize and maintain VA property and equipment
• Obtains and assesses equipment and supplies
• Maintains ability to explain the Hemodialysis process to the patients
• Assesses patient in a systematic head to toe format utilizing subjective and objective data and documents findings in the Hemodialysis record
• Obtains and records vital signs
• Obtains pre-dialysis weight and compares to weight from the last treatment
• Maintains ability to identify specific nursing diagnoses based on nursing assessment: plans care and expected outcomes for each diagnosis and documents findings on appropriate dialysis forms
• Reviews laboratory data - x-rays - and compares data to previous findings and notifies physician of abnormal findings or acute changes
• Checks dialysis orders for the following: Correct dialyzer - dialysate - frequency and hours of dialysis
• Blood flow rate - dialysate flow rate - dry weight
• Lab work to be drawn pre and post-dialysis
• Medications to be given during and post dialysis
• Transfusion orders
• Any other order according to hospital or unit policy
• Verifies consent for procedures
• Determines what access is to be utilized for treatment - assesses vascular access and documents findings
• Monitors patient and equipment throughout dialysis via assessment of the following parameters
• Administers blood products safely per protocol
• Demonstrates the ability to collect blood tests
• Administers IV - IM - SC - & PO medications safely before - during and/or after dialysis according to physician order and documents appropriately
• Assesses patient for hemodynamic stability In addition - Dialysis RN's assigned to the primary acute dialysis RN role will maintain these additional skill sets/competences: Will maintain competencies to set up - initiate - monitor - and terminate continuous renal replacement therapies using above safe and effective practice guidelines
• Will maintain competency to set up - initiative - monitor - and terminate plasma exchange therapies using above safe and effective practice guidelines
• Will maintain competency to set up - initiate - monitor - and terminate conventional hemodialysis therapies on critically ill patients in the ICU utilizing portable RO equipment using above safe and effective practice guidelines
• Will rotate on-call responsibilities and accessibility with co-workers to provide 24/7 coverage for emergency therapies and education - training - and support of ward staff to ensure safe patient care
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary - regular salary increases - potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: : 4 tours Monday- Saturday 06:00am-16:30pm with every other weekend
• Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized