Reports To: Dialysis Manager/DON/CNO

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Job Summary:

Dialysis Nurse is responsible for providing professional nephrology nursing care to patients requiring renal replacement therapies. Assures plans, implements and evaluates the nursing plan of care. The Dialysis Nurse functions as an essential member of nursing and multidisciplinary teams providing direct care to patients and families.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Performs direct patient care including but not limited to taking and monitoring vital signs, initiation and termination of dialysis, documentation, physical assessment of patients and patient treatments, taking and transcription of physician’s orders, drawing and documentation of ordered laboratory work.
• Notes signs of trauma, patients’ physical and mental condition, reviews dialysis orders, documents observations in patient medical records.
• Communicates all emergencies, patient life-threatening complications and related incidents to Medical Director and Dialysis Manager
• Assesses patient and family learning readiness and provides appropriate information on renal disease, prescribed dialysis treatment and medial regimen and its impact on the patient’s state of health and well-being.
• Provides dialysis therapy, including but not limited to formulating dialysis plan per physician orders, weight and rate of ultrafiltration, verifying safety measures are in place and complied with, administering medications or other appropriate treatments, discontinuing dialysis according to established procedure, documenting all activity appropriately.
• Instruct patients on pre- and post - dialysis care
• Participates in the development and implementation of the patient’s short- and long-term plan of care and monthly progress note.
• Checking the patients’ vital signs and talking with them to assess their condition.
• Teaching patients about their disease and its treatment and answering any questions.
• Making sure patients are given the correct medications ordered by their doctors.
• Reviewing the patients’ lab work and letting the doctors know about changes in their patients’ conditions.
• Oversee the review and evaluation of patient care in accordance with regulatory agencies, facility quality program.
• In collaboration with the Education Coordinator and Dialysis Manager plan for and provide the training and assessments of patient care staff
• Collaborate with the Medical Director, Social Worker, Dietitian, Staff Nurses and Technicians on any specific problem of patient care including selection of modality.
• Actively encourages and helps maintain open and free communication between staff, administration, physicians and patients.
• Review of financial operations of Dialysis Unit with Administrative Team, Medical Director, and Dialysis Manager providing input and participation in financial decisions relating to operations.

Responsibilities to Unit Staff:

A. Provides direction and leadership in patient care to assigned personnel.

1. Acts as a team leader and provides guidance to unlicensed personnel.

2. Make assignments for team.

B. Prioritizes activities and plans for effective use of time for patient needs.

C. Communicates the plan of nursing care for each patient through reports, conferences, rounds, and patient care records.

1. Shift to shift report and shift huddle with aides

2. Delegates tasks to aides; monitors to make sure delegated tasks are completed appropriately.

D. Demonstrates responsibility for the teaching of nursing assistants in areas of new techniques, policies and procedures.

1. Preceptor

E. Participates in the quality improvement activities of nursing.

1. Attends appropriate meetings.

F. Communicates identified learning needs of self and others to the DON.

G. Assists the DON in the orientation of new staff.

H. Adheres to established policies and procedures of the hospital and Nursing Department.

I. Actively participates on nursing committees.

J. Performs other duties as assigned or requested.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Education, Training and Licenses Required:

• Current state of CA Registered Nurse (RN) license required.
• Current BLS certificate compliant with AHA guidelines required.
• Current ACLS certificate compliant with AHA guidelines required.

Experience Required:

• Minimum 2 years of dialysis and critical care nursing experience preferred.
• Must be able to discern colors.

Equipment Knowledge Required:

• Ability to learn function of machines utilized in patient care, various traction equipment and drainage tubes.
• Ability to assist MD/RN with procedures.
• Competency with the electronic documentation system must be obtained within 30 days of hire with full proficiency by 90 days of hire.

Supervisory Requirements (if applicable): Dialysis Technicians