Registered Nurse -Dialysis

Veterans Health Administration • Indianapolis, IN

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Veterans Health Administration in Indianapolis, Indiana is hiring a Registered Nurse to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care to Veterans with end-stage renal disease receiving hemodialysis in a chronic dialysis unit or acute intensive care unit. The nurse uses the nursing process in accordance with hemodialysis unit procedures and policies to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care. The role includes monitoring patients and dialysis equipment, administering treatments and medications, documenting care, and coordinating with physicians when findings or patient status warrant it. Nurses assigned to the primary acute dialysis role also provide specialized renal replacement and plasma exchange therapies and participate in rotating on-call coverage for emergency therapies and staff support. The position is scheduled for four tours, Monday through Saturday, from 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with every other weekend. Compressed or flexible scheduling is available; telework and virtual work are not available.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or qualifying equivalent education under the stated VA provisions.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered nurse licensure in a U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a temporary Graduate Nurse Technician appointment may be available to qualifying candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the education and experience requirements for the assigned Nurse grade and level; these vary by grade and may include an ADN, BSN, MSN, or doctoral degree and specified professional or specialized nursing experience.
• U.S. citizenship, except where non-citizens may be appointed under VA policy when qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited.
• Pass required pre-employment screening, including drug testing for testing-designated positions, background/security investigation, and a physical evaluation or examination.
• Register for Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete onboarding and application requirements.
• Ability to work the stated schedule, including every other weekend and rotating on-call coverage for the primary acute dialysis role, as applicable.

Nice To Haves

• Two years of dialysis experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive nursing care to hemodialysis patients with end-stage renal disease in chronic-unit or acute ICU settings.
• Use safe patient-handling equipment and follow infection-control practices during equipment use and patient care.
• Follow standard operating procedures and checklists for setting up, cleaning, transporting, and storing reusable medical equipment.
• Safely use and maintain VA property and equipment; obtain and assess equipment and supplies.
• Explain the hemodialysis process to patients.
• Perform and document systematic head-to-toe assessments, including subjective and objective findings, vital signs, and pre-dialysis weight comparisons.
• Identify nursing diagnoses, plan care and expected outcomes, and document them on appropriate dialysis forms.
• Review laboratory and imaging data, compare with previous findings, and notify the physician of abnormal findings or acute changes.
• Verify dialysis orders, including dialyzer, dialysate, frequency and duration, flow rates, dry weight, laboratory draws, medications, transfusions, and other required orders.
• Verify procedure consent and determine, assess, and document the vascular access used for treatment.
• Monitor the patient and equipment throughout dialysis and assess hemodynamic stability.
• Administer blood products according to protocol and collect blood tests.
• Safely administer and document IV, IM, subcutaneous, and oral medications before, during, or after dialysis as ordered.
• For the primary acute dialysis role, maintain competency to set up, initiate, monitor, and terminate continuous renal replacement therapies, plasma exchange therapies, and conventional hemodialysis for critically ill ICU patients using portable reverse-osmosis equipment.
• Rotate on-call responsibilities with coworkers to provide 24/7 coverage for emergency therapies and education, training, and support to ward staff.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year, including 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree