Career Center

Summary

The Dialysis Registered Nurse (RN) is a professional nurse with specialized knowledge and demonstrates beginner skills when providing and directing care for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) - acute kidney injury (AKI) - and late-stage chronic kidney disease(CKD).

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/12827639
• 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 recent acute and/or chronic dialysis experience and 2 years of med/Surg or ICU experience - BSN preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting - 45 pounds and over - Moderate carrying - 15-44 pounds - Straight pulling (2 hours) - Pushing - Reaching above shoulder - Use of fingers - Both hands required - Walking (8 hours) - Standing (8 hours) - Kneeling (1/4 hours) - Repeated bending (2 hours) - Both legs required - Ability for rapid mental muscular coordination simultaneously - Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaegar 1 to 4 - Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other - Both eyes required - Depth perception - Ability to distinguish basic colors - Ability to distinguish shades of colors - Hearing (aid may be permitted) - Mental and emotional stability working with Infectious PT COVID-19 - TB etc
• Environmental Factors: Excessive noise - intermittent - Radiant energy - Electrical energy - Slippery or uneven walking surfaces - Unusual fatigue factors(working) - Working with hands in water - Working closely with others - Working alone - Protracted or irregular hours of work - irregular hours of work - wearing aseptic mask

Duties

• The In-patient Staff Dialysis Registered Nurse is accountable for the provision of direct patient care and for the delivery of quality nursing care to a culturally diverse Veteran population dealing with the End State Renal Disease of other renal dysfunctions and undergoing dialysis
• Delivers fundamental knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical skills
• Overseeing the preparation of the delivery system - dialysate bath - dialyzers - patient and technicians
• Conducting and confirming that all mandatory alarm tests on the dialyzer and equipment are performed daily and prior to beginning each treatment
• Reviewing physician orders for dialysis patients - collects pre-treatment dialysis data and review records of each Veteran scheduled for treatment
• Responsibilities include demonstration of knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and to intervene appropriately to emergency situations
• Possess the technical knowledge of dialysis therapy that include adherence to Infection Control standards - sterilization and the safe use and operation of dialysis equipment
• water treatment - peritoneal dialysis procedures - adequacy of dialysis treatment
• The duties and responsibilities for the position include but are not limited to performing pre and post assessment - obtaining and monitoring vital signs and intervening appropriately
• Providing care to hemodialysis - Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy(CCRT) and peritoneal patients
• Using the Computerized Patient Record System(CPRS) and Bar-Coded Medication Administration (BCMA)
• Complying with all federal and facility standards for providing care which include water standard policies
• Available for coverage/calls on off duty hours such as weekends - holidays - evenings and nights(WHEN)
• Functions as primary nurse for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) - patient panel and serves as key resource assisting patients navigate the healthcare system
• 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: Monday-Saturday 07:00am- 05:30pm and on call Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized