The Dialysis Nurse Provides dialysis and apheresis care to patients age newborn through 18 years.

Assess age specific patient needs in the hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, acute dialysis, and apheresis programs.

Plans, organizes, performs, and evaluates nursing activities that meet those needs.

Provides direct nursing care in accordance with established policies, procedures, and protocols of the healthcare organization.

Implements and monitors patient care plans. Monitors, records, and communicates patient condition as appropriate.

Performs initial and ongoing patient assessments, nursing H&Ps. Assists in the development of multidisciplinary care plans for assigned patients.

Functions as a primary nurse. Provides health teaching and updates such as changes in patient status. Assembles necessary equipment and administers dialysis to patients.

Demonstrates ability to properly operate dialysis equipment. Performs peritoneal dialysis, pediatric hemodialysis procedures, CRRT and red blood cell exchange, therapeutic plasma exchange and lipopheresis as necessary.

Initiates hemofiltration procedures as necessary. Observes, reports, interprets, and records manifestations of the patient's condition.

Documents observations, activities, and updates computer information as necessary. Assists in the evaluation of the quality of patient care and participating in quality improvement activities. On Call rotation to provide after hour services for Acute Hemodialysis, Peritoneal Dialysis, CRRT and some Apheresis Monitors function of RO water purification system as per policy. Participate in research studies.

Please contact Jerrica Alford, at Jerrica.Alford@towerhealth.org if you have any questions!

#STC

*Please note that St. Christopher's Hospital for children requires BLS from the American Heart Association. If you have BLS from another affiliation, training will need to be completed and obtained thrugh the American Heart Association before your start date.

**RN positions also require PALS though the American Heart Association

Education:

• Graduate from an accredited school of professional nursing.
• BSN preferred or currently enrolled in BSN program.

Required :

• Current state licensure as Registered Nurse (RN).
• Proof of Basic Life Support (BLS) through American Heart Association (AHA) must be presented upon hire.

Complexity of Work:

• Requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgment, and the ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Flexibility
• Strong IV skills

Work Experience:

• Peds or adult RN experience with Dialysis, Peritonial Apheresis, strong IV skills, Fistulas, Perephrial sticks, or other big needles
• Minimal 1 year nursing experience

Tower Health, a regional healthcare system, serves communities across multiple counties in Pennsylvania. Its network includes Reading Hospital, Phoenixville Hospital, Pottstown Hospital, and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children (in partnership with Drexel University). Committed to academic medicine and training, Tower Health offers various programs, including residency and fellowship programs, the Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health, and the Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences. Additionally, the system provides a wide range of healthcare services, such as Reading Hospital Rehabilitation at Wyomissing, home healthcare via Tower Health at Home, TowerDirect ambulance and emergency response, Tower Health Medical Group, Tower Health Providers (a clinically integrated network), and Tower Health Urgent Care facilities across its service area

About St. Christopher's Hospital for Children

St. Christophers Hospital for Children, a partnership between Tower Health and Drexel University, is a 188-bed facility that provides exceptional care to children throughout the Greater Philadelphia area and surrounding counties.

St. Christopher's has more than 220 pediatric experts on staff, combining top-notch pediatric care with a wide array of pediatric specialties including Cardiology, Ear, Nose and Throat, Gastroenterology, Oncology, and Orthopedics. It houses the only Verified Pediatric Burn Center between New York City and Baltimore and is one of only three Level I Pediatric Trauma Centers in Pennsylvania. St. Christophers is a Magnet designated hospital and was recognized as a Womens Choice Award Best Childrens Hospital.

In addition to its main location in Philadelphia, the hospital has a growing network of primary and specialty care locations throughout the Philadelphia suburbs and New Jersey so your child's health conditions can be treated close to home.

Dialysis area overview:

The dialysis department provides specialty chronic and acute care to pediatric patients needing hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, CRRT and apheresis. On call coverage 24/7. Reimburse for CPN, CDN and CNN and pay for renewals. 80% BSN, 3^rd Magnet Designation. Clinical ladder merit advancement, Outpatient Ratio 1:1 to 3:1; Acute patients 1:1. Monthly Nursing Council Committee, Monthly Interdisciplinary Patient Care meetings, and Dialysis Shared Governance Committee.

Staff lead patient projects like "transplant week", "Dialysis camp", holiday events.

What to expect on this unit: The Pediatric Dialysis Department is a 7-station unit. Patients ages newborn, to those yet to transition to adult care receive high quality outpatient dialysis services, acute renal replacement services(hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and CRRT) and apheresis services(red cell exchange, therapeutic plasma exchange and lipopheresis). Patients with End Stage Renal Disease are offered in-center Hemodialysis and Home Peritoneal Dialysis. Day Shift with On Call rotation. 3-6 month orientation depending on experience. Strong IV skills . Preferred pediatric, hemodialysis, peritoneal, or apheresis experience.