Registered Nurse RN - Dialysis

In this role, the RN collaborates closely with nephrologists, hospitalists, intensivists, primary care providers, nursing staff, pharmacy, laboratory, case management, and other interdisciplinary team members to ensure safe, timely, and high-quality dialysis care across the continuum of care. The Dialysis Registered Nurse provides direct and indirect nursing care to patients receiving acute inpatient hemodialysis, outpatient peritoneal dialysis, home dialysis therapies, and other renal replacement therapies as appropriate.

Overview:

Per-Diem

Dialysis 

 

Min $48.18 Max $81.97

 

 

Definition of Position: 

The Dialysis Registered Nurse provides direct and indirect nursing care to patients receiving acute inpatient hemodialysis, outpatient peritoneal dialysis, home dialysis therapies, and other renal replacement therapies as appropriate. This position functions in both the hospital and outpatient dialysis clinic and is responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of dialysis care. Responsibilities include dialysis treatment administration, patient and caregiver education, home dialysis training and support, care coordination, infection prevention, quality improvement, regulatory compliance, and participation in program development.

In this role, the RN collaborates closely with nephrologists, hospitalists, intensivists, primary care providers, nursing staff, pharmacy, laboratory, case management, and other interdisciplinary team members to ensure safe, timely, and high-quality dialysis care across the continuum of care.

Participates in performance improvement activities and supports the mission, vision, and values of the organization.

 

Responsibilities:

Essential Job Functions:

• Performs comprehensive nursing assessments for patients receiving dialysis therapies in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.
• Initiates, monitors, and discontinues hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, ultrafiltration, and/or continuous renal replacement therapies as ordered.
• Assesses patients' responses to dialysis therapies and communicates concerns or recommended treatment modifications to the nephrologist and interdisciplinary team.
• Monitors patients during dialysis treatments and responds appropriately to complications, emergencies, or changes in patient condition.
• Administers medications, blood products, and intravenous therapies in accordance with physician orders and hospital policy.
• Implements, monitors, and documents patient response to intradialytic transfusions and reports adverse reactions as appropriate.
• Maintains accurate, complete, and timely documentation within the electronic medical record.
• Provides initial and ongoing education, training, and support to patients and caregivers receiving home peritoneal dialysis.
• Performs retraining and competency validation for home dialysis patients as indicated.
• Coordinates and performs routine clinic visits for home dialysis patients.
• Assesses peritoneal dialysis catheter exit sites and tunnels, provides exit-site care education, and communicates concerns to the nephrologist.
• Coordinates laboratory review, adequacy monitoring, PET testing, and other required home dialysis assessments.
• Provides telephone triage and clinical support for home dialysis patients.
• Coordinates transitions of care between the inpatient and outpatient settings to promote continuity of care.
• Ensures dialysis equipment is functioning appropriately prior to treatment initiation.
• Performs and documents required dialysis machine safety checks, alarm testing, dialysate testing, chlorine/chloramine testing, and water quality monitoring in accordance with hospital policy, manufacturer recommendations, and regulatory standards.
• Operates dialysis equipment safely and performs basic troubleshooting within the scope of training.
• Cleans and disinfects dialysis machines, equipment, chairs, and treatment areas according to infection prevention standards and manufacturer recommendations.
• Participates in infection prevention and control practices specific to dialysis services.
• Maintains dialysis supplies, equipment, and treatment areas to support safe and efficient patient care.
• Collaborates with nephrologists, hospitalists, intensivists, nursing staff, pharmacy, laboratory, case management, and other interdisciplinary team members regarding patient care planning.
• Provides education and clinical support to patients, caregivers, hospital staff, and interdisciplinary team members regarding dialysis therapies, vascular and peritoneal access care, medications, and kidney disease management.
• Responds to dialysis-related emergencies and hospital codes as appropriate.
• Participates in rotating on-call coverage for inpatient dialysis services and home dialysis patients requiring urgent clinical support, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and after-hours response as assigned.
• Participates in Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI), regulatory compliance activities, competency validation, policy development, emergency preparedness, and survey readiness.
• Supports dialysis program development, continuous process improvement initiatives, implementation of new dialysis services and technologies, and maintains competency in all dialysis modalities offered by the organization.
• Reports unusual incidents, patient concerns, adverse events, and equipment issues according to hospital policy.
• Supports the hospital mission, vision, values, policies, and procedures.
• Participates in required organizational and DNV education applicable to the position.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

 

Qualifications:

Qualifications:

Education

Required: Graduate of an accredited school of professional nursing. Evidence of continuing education appropriate for skill level and area of practice.

Preferred: Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN)

Licenses/ certifications/ registrations

Required: Current RN license in the State of Oregon; BLS

Preferred: Certified Dialysis Nurse Certification or Nephrology Nurse Certification

Experience

Required: At least one year of acute care nursing experience

Preferred: Previous dialysis nursing experience in one or more dialysis modalities, including acute hemodialysis, chronic hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, or home dialysis

Other:

Ability to provide care for the patient's age-specific, cultural, physical, and psychosocial well-being. Ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, physicians, and other health care team members. Ability to work with others within a team to ensure quality patient care. Strong critical thinking skills.

Personal Traits, Qualities, and Aptitudes:

Must be able to: 1) Perform a variety of duties often changing from one task to another without loss of efficiency or composure. 2) Work independently while maintaining strong communication and collaboration with interdisciplinary team members. 3) Make clinical evaluations and decisions based on measurable or observable criteria. 4) Maintain strict patient confidentiality and professional boundaries. 5) Respond appropriately during emergencies and rapidly changing patient situations. 6) Demonstrate empathy and compassion toward patients and families experiencing acute illness, chronic disease, grief, or trauma. 7) Communicate effectively and therapeutically with patients, families, physicians, and healthcare team members from diverse backgrounds. 8) Prioritize and manage multiple patient care responsibilities in a fast-paced environment. 9) Maintain strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. 10) Support teamwork, professionalism, and positive interaction in daily activities.

 

               

 

Physical Requirements:

The physical and sensory functions described below are essential to the successful performance of this position. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions. The position requires sufficient auditory ability to detect and respond to various sounds, including patient alarms and verbal communication. Clear and effective communication is essential, as is the ability to interact with patients, families, and healthcare team members. Visual acuity is necessary for observing patient conditions, reading documentation and monitors, and distinguishing colors for clinical purposes, such as identifying medications or safety indicators. Tactile perception is also important for assessing physical characteristics such as temperature, size, shape, or texture during patient care. Motor coordination is required for reaching, grasping, handling, and performing fine motor tasks necessary for the use of medical equipment and procedures. The position also involves occasional stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling when assisting patients or accessing equipment. Walking and standing are typically continuous throughout the shift. The role requires the ability to lift to 50 pounds independently and involves frequent pushing, pulling, carrying, or repositioning of objects or patients weighing up to 25 pounds. There may also be occasional lifting or transferring of individuals weighing over 100 pounds, with the expectation that appropriate lifting techniques, mechanical aids, or team assistance will be used to ensure safety. May to sit for long periods of time.

 

Working Conditions:

This position is performed primarily in an indoor healthcare environment, such as a hospital, clinic, or long-term care facility. While the work setting is protected from outdoor weather conditions, it may be subject to variable indoor temperatures. The role involves frequent exposure to infectious and contagious diseases, hazardous materials, and medical equipment, with the expectation that all staff follow appropriate safety protocols and utilize personal protective equipment (PPE) as required.

 

The health care environment can be fast-paced and unpredictable, requiring the ability to respond quickly to changing circumstances, including high-pressure or emergency situations. The work setting also involves multiple simultaneous demands and varying levels of noise due to medical equipment, staff activity, and patient needs.