The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) requires contingent staff to augment Full Time Employee Equivalent (FTEE) clinical staff to the Birmingham VA Medical Center's (BVAMC) nursing workforce to include Patient Care Services and Primary Care in support of all inpatient, outpatient, critical and acute care areas.
Under the supervision of the nurse manager, the dialysis staff nurse maintains accountability for the coordination and delivery of care to patients with end stage renal disease. The responsibilities of the dialysis staff nurse include:
For the Acute Dialysis Setting, Registered Nurses require: a current Advance Cardiopulmonary Life Support (ACLS) certificate accredited by the American Heart Association, minimum three (3) years' experience performing hemodialysis on patients who are hospitalized in an acute setting, and experience with dialysis of patients in intensive care unit setting.
Agency Nurses are preferred to have completed the ECG Course.
- Oversees the preparation of the delivery system, dialysate bath, and dialyzer and confirms that all mandatory alarm tests on the dialyzer and equipment are performed.
- Reviews physician orders for dialysis patients, collects pre-treatment dialysis data, and reviews patient records prior to dialysis.
- Conducts pre-dialysis patient assessment including obtaining patient vital signs and assessing the patient's vascular access, laboratory findings, and the patient's general health.
- Verifies that patients are trucing all prescribed medications and performs medication reconciliation.
- Documents findings of patient assessments and interventions and advises providers of any significant change in the patient's condition and other pertinent information.
- Discusses patient concerns and answers questions relevant to care.
