Summary

The Dialysis Nurse is a clinical expert who uses advanced specialized knowledge and judgement for delivery of high quality and evidencebased care to patients with late-stage chronic kidney disease - acute kidney injury - and end-stage renal disease. The scope of assignments includes direct care - clinical consultation - leadership - educational components - and evidence-based research. They provide leadership in case management for Veterans. The postition requires weekend/holiday/on-call rotations.

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 level 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/12967274
• 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 a 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 inpatient or outpatient dialysis unit experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nurses such as direct patient care - and potentially long periods of walking - standing - sitting - moderate lifting - repeated bending - or kneeling.

Duties

• - Carry out Inpatient and Outpatient Dialysis nursing duties independently and in a professional manner - without immediate or continuous supervision
• - Document - verify and ensure implementation of physician orders - Performs ongoing - systematic collection and analysis of patient data pre - during - post hemodialysis treatment for assigned patients and documents in the patient medical record
• - Adjusts or modifies the treatment plan as indicated and notifies Renal Providers as needed
• - Perform Renal Replacement Therapies as assigned - Administer medications and intravenous solutions as ordered
• maintain records and reports outcomes according to facility policy
• participate in emergency care as needed - Provide and document pre-ESRD - transplant support and other pertinent patient education according to facility policy - Comply with all governing standards as required for inpatient and outpatient treatment
• maintain all required competencies and certifications
• - Utilize the established nursing process to make recommendations for patient care
• evaluate delivery of care and communicate to appropriate facility personnel and any relevant data to the multidisciplinary teams to facilitate continuity of care especially during scheduled plan of care meetings
• - Cover all on-call duties as scheduled or needed - Cover all duties as back up Peritoneal Hemodialysis duties as needed - Assist proactively with inventory needs
• monitor water quality treatment system - culturing - and disinfection of equipment following all infection control policies - May participate in CRRT education with facility Critical Care nurses - Participate in facility committees
• - Precept new Renal Dialysis Unit (RDU) staff as needed
• - Submit accurate time records - treatment records and other supporting documentation per policy
• - Understand and follow facility employment policies and procedures - Document/Communicate estimated time of arrival and confirms assigned patient's consent fortreatment - treatment orders - presence and patency of vascular access - overall patient condition
• - Communicate and document changes in patient treatment plan and any other pertinent clinical information with the appropriate RDU staff and providers prior to - during and after patient care in order to assure continuity of patient care
• - Communicate vascular access complications with the designated RDU staff so appropriate corrective actions can be taken
• - Oversees/Supervises - verifies - and monitors implementation of correct hemodialysis prescription pre-during- post treatment performed by care technicians
• - Performs and oversees required testing - verification and initial checklist for start-up - maintenance and shut down of the Renal Dialysis Unit Water System
• - Delegates appropriate tasks to patient care technicians
• - Initiates/leads or assists with emergency response measures
• - Notify RDU Clinical Manager and/or Charge Nurse of inventory and equipment needs - Ensures correct laboratory collection are performed and reschedules missed or insufficient laboratory collections
• 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: 0400-1430 with weekend/holiday/on call rotations
• Compressed/Flexible: Eight 10 hour shifts per 2 week Pay Period
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized