Registered Nurse Dialysis

The dialysis nurse provides comprehensive nursing care to patients with end-stage renal disease who are being maintained by hemodialysis in either a chronic unit setting or an acute intensive care unit setting. Either area requires the nurse to provide treatment utilizing the nursing process according to the written procedures and policies of hemodialysis unit.

Primary responsibilities include but may not be limited to:

• Appropriate use of safe patient handling equipment.
• Adheres to infection control practices while using equipment and providing patient care.
• Follows established SOPs and checklists in the set-up cleaning transporting and storing reusable medical equipment (RME).
• Safely utilize and maintain VA property and equipment.
• Obtains and assesses equipment and supplies.
• Maintains ability to explain the Hemodialysis process to the patients.
• Assesses patient in a systematic head to toe format utilizing subjective and objective data and documents findings in the Hemodialysis record.
• Obtains and records vital signs.
• Obtains pre-dialysis weight and compares to weight from the last treatment.
• Maintains ability to identify specific nursing diagnoses based on nursing assessment: plans care and expected outcomes for each diagnosis and documents findings on appropriate dialysis forms.
• Reviews laboratory data x-rays and compares data to previous findings and notifies physician of abnormal findings or acute changes.
• Checks dialysis orders for the following:
  • Correct dialyzer dialysate frequency and hours of dialysis.
  • Blood flow rate dialysate flow rate dry weight.
  • Lab work to be drawn pre and post-dialysis.
  • Medications to be given during and post dialysis.
  • Transfusion orders.
  • Any other order according to hospital or unit policy.
  • Verifies consent for procedures.
• Determines what access is to be utilized for treatment assesses vascular access and documents findings.
• Monitors patient and equipment throughout dialysis via assessment of the following parameters.
• Administers blood products safely per protocol.
• Demonstrates the ability to collect blood tests.
• Administers IV IM SC & PO medications safely before during and/or after dialysis according to physician order and documents appropriately.
• Assesses patient for hemodynamic stability

In addition Dialysis RNs assigned to the primary acute dialysis RN role will maintain these additional skill sets/competences:

• Will maintain competencies to set up initiate monitor and terminate continuous renal replacement therapies using above safe and effective practice guidelines.
• Will maintain competency to set up initiative monitor and terminate plasma exchange therapies using above safe and effective practice guidelines.
• Will maintain competency to set up initiate monitor and terminate conventional hemodialysis therapies on critically ill patients in the ICU utilizing portable RO equipment using above safe and effective practice guidelines.
• Will rotate on-call responsibilities and accessibility with co-workers to provide 24/7 coverage for emergency therapies and education training and support of ward staff to ensure safe patient care.

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: : 4 tours Monday- Saturday 06:00am-16:30pm with every other weekend.
Compressed/Flexible: Available
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

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 masters level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelors 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: I Level IDelivers 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 IIDemonstrates 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 IIIDemonstrates 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 Masters degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience; OR a Masters degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience.Nurse IIDemonstrates 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 Masters 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 IIIExecutes 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 Masters 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 dialysis experience.


Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.