Nurse Specialist Hemodialysis

In Renal Dialysis at Main Campus Dearth Tower

Work schedule will be Full-time on the Day Shift, Monday- Friday, three 12 hour shifts with every 3 third weekend.

Summary:

• The Staff Nurse Hemodialysis functions with minimal supervision who assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates nursing care for patients/families on hemodialysis. The Staff Nurse Hemodialysis receives secondary training on the management and care of the patient receiving Peritoneal Dialysis. Demonstrates clinical competency when caring for patients receiving chronic hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.

Other information:

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing. Diploma, associate (ADN), bachelor (BSN) or masters (MSN) in nursing degree with at least one year of recent clinical nursing experience

• One-year nursing experience or successful completion of Children’s of Alabama Dialysis unit orientation

• Current RN License in the State of Alabama.
• Current BLS certificate required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to use medical equipment, patient records, reports, and computer
• Available to required call to provide unit coverage
• Maintain knowledge of all areas/patient populations where Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis are initiated and maintained.

Credentials with Equivalent Qualifications:
Essential:
* Registered Nurse AL Single State or any of the following equivalent qualifications below:
    - Registered Nurse AL NLC Multi State
    - Registered Nurse Non-AL NLC Multi State
* Basic Life Support
Nonessential:
* Certified Dialysis Nurse

Education with Equivalent Qualifications:
Essential:
* Associate of Science Nursing in Nursing

Experience with Equivalent Qualifications:

In the Dialysis Unit you have an opportunity to provide Dialysis care for a variety of patients, including those with End-Stage Chronic Kidney disease and acutely ill patients requiring dialysis and plasmapheresis.   The Chronic Dialysis Nurse focuses on patients receiving Hemodialysis, Peritoneal Dialysis, or Home Hemodialysis.  Our patients range in age from newborns to young adults.   The Hemodialysis patient receives their dialysis treatment in the clinic 3-5 times a week. The Peritoneal Dialysis and Home Hemodialysis treatments are provided in the patient’s home once the parent/caregiver is trained to operate the machine. They are followed monthly in clinic. The patient receiving Chronic Dialysis is supported by a multidisciplinary team that consists of a physician, nurses, social worker, nutritionist, pharmacist, child-life therapist, teacher, and counselor.  The group works together to meet the medical and emotional needs of the patient and caregiver.  Care is specialized to meet the needs of each individual patient.   The Acute Dialysis Nurse focuses on acute dialysis related therapies such as: Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT); therapeutic plasmapheresis; or acute peritoneal dialysis.  The acute dialysis team works with the multi-disciplinary inpatient nephrology team to provide acute dialysis services to the critically ill ICU patients. The work environment is highly technical and fast-paced.  The Dialysis Unit operates on 12hr shifts 7a – 7p; 7 days a week.  Night call is required and shared by the nurses.  We provide a detailed orientation plan to the nurse to become proficient in providing hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, continuous renal replacement therapy and plasmapheresis. Previous experience in dialysis or pediatrics is not required.   

Getting to Know Children's: Renal Dialysis