Dialysis Nurse - Full Time - $25,000 Sign on Bonus

The Dialysis Program at Children's National Hospital is a Medicare-approved facility for treatment of chronic kidney failure in children younger than 18 years of age. Patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) receive hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis treatments in both inpatient and outpatient settings as needed.

In a setting specifically designed for young patients, our specially trained nurses provide: 

• Hemodialysis
• Peritoneal Dialysis
• Home Peritoneal Dialysis Training
• Continuous Renal Replacement therapy

Our nurses are members of the American Nephrology Nurses Association, which demands the highest standards in patient care and knowledge of the latest advances in treatments and therapies. Several nurses achieve additional certifications of either CDN (Certified Dialysis Nurse) or CNN (Certified Nephrology Nurse). Moreover, as nurses at Children’s National, they have an intuitive understanding of the needs of children and their families.

In addition, our dialysis unit coordinates dialysis care for children with acute or sudden onset of kidney failure in the Heart and Kidney Unit (HKU) or Intensive Care Units (PICU, CICU, NICU). Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) also is available for patients with acute renal failure, including those on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Position Summary

All nursing practice is based on the legal scope of practice, national and specialty nursing standards, Children's National Policies and Procedures, and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The Professional Model of Care requires registered professional nurses to be responsible and accountable for their own practice. Children's National supports the development of RN relationships within the community; specifically, those relationships associated with the health and well-being of the community at large. A RN is an independent practitioner who functions as an identified resource to staff in a patient care area. H/She will provide comprehensive patient care to a variety of patients. Incorporate all members of the health care team in the planning and delivery of patient care. Will deal successfully with complex clinical problems. Conduct quick assessment of patients and handle emergency situations appropriately. Demonstrate evidence-based practice through participation in unit projects and activities.

This position requires a 36-hour work week (12-hour shifts).

Minimum Education
Associate's degree from an approved school of nursing (Required)
BSN (Preferred)

Minimum Work Experience
2 years dialysis experience (Required)

Pediatric experienced (Preferred)

Required Skills/Knowledge
The licensed Registered Nurse will successfully complete the hospital and nursing orientation at Children's National.
Keep knowledge base current with new information or changes in specialty areas.

Required Licenses and Certifications
Registered Nurse in District of Columbia (Required)

Active BLS certification (Required)

PALS (Preferred)

Functional Accountabilities
Transformational Leadership

• Contribute to Professional Practice of Nursing as evidenced by independent involvement or leadership in committees, task forces, and/or community outreach.

• Role model critical thinking skills by problem-solving patient care and unit/system issues.

• Communication reflects development of plan of care and ability to advocate to meet patients’ needs; makes suggestions for resolution of system issues.

• Role model procedures for escalation of issues; utilize chain of command.

• Demonstrate proper use of identified hand off processes; follow up on inconsistent practice related to handoff.

• Demonstrate a collegial and respectful relationship with peers, physicians and other departments.

• Take the lead in implementing change and support management decisions.

• Role model behavior that reflects empathy, concern and a desire to help others.

Structural Empowerment

• Independently maintain regulatory requirements e.g. license, BLS, Fit Test.

• Initiate professional activities to enhance nursing practice.

• Engage in active review of peers giving constructive feedback through timely participation in evaluations.

• Role model adherence to national safety standards and service excellence standards; champion advancement of education and certification.

• Orchestrate involvement of the healthcare team and role model professional behavior and teamwork with co-workers.

• Serve as a resource as needed and know when to escalate to next level.

Exemplary Professional Practice

• Analyze assessment data gathered from patient and family to ensure completion of database and plan of care within identified timeframes.

• Role model excellent clinical skills with complex patients; care reflects analysis of patient status and appropriate interventions.

• Direct prioritization and organization for complex patient with rapidly changing needs.

• Documentation exemplifies adherence to the highest standards of practice.

• Anticipate and proactively plan for educational needs; verify with patient and family throughout the hospital/outpatient stay and prior to discharge.

• Excel in organizational skills, adjust for changes and be able to complete assignment on time.

• Role model caring in all encounters with patient and family as evidenced by feedback from parents and an increase in patient satisfaction scores.

• Provide chronic dialysis to patients of all ages and sizes in the outpatient clinic.

• Monitor vital signs appropriately and identify when interventions are needed.

• Document treatment events appropriately in medical record.

• Monitor water quality of RO machine.

• Provide sterile catheter dressing changes, sterile catheter connection or disconnection.

• Access AVF and AVG to provide hemodialysis care.

• Administer oral, g-tube and IV medications as needed.

• Provide acute hemodialysis and acute manual and cycler peritoneal dialysis to patients on the floors and in the intensive care settings.

• Provide CRRT to patients in ICU.

• Be available on-call to troubleshoot all modalities or come in for urgent dialysis needs.

• Repair PD catheters as needed.

• Provide education to inpatient unit staff and families on acute dialysis treatments.

• Be responsible for primary patients.

• Attend and participate in monthly IDT rounds.

• Complete comprehensive assessments per unit and CMS guidelines.

• Document monthly progress notes per unit and CMS guidelines.

• Update families on IDT plan monthly.

• Review home medications with families monthly.

• Provide monthly education to patients and families.

New Knowledge, Innovations, and Improvements

• Initiate ways to improve operations through quality improvement and implement related solutions.

• Serve as a resource for current, new information or changes in specialty area.

• Care incorporates best practices based on benchmarks and evidence within the literature.

• Mentor and precept new nurses in clinical specialties.

• Demonstrate proficiency in three or more preferred surgical specialties

Organizational Accountabilities
Organizational Accountabilities (Staff)
Organizational Commitment/Identification

• Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met

Teamwork/Communication

• Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior

• Partner with all team members to achieve goals

• Receptive to others’ ideas and opinions

Performance Improvement/Problem-solving

• Contribute to a positive work environment

• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change

• Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes

• Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment

Cost Management/Financial Responsibility

• Use resources efficiently

• Search for less costly ways of doing things

Safety

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance

• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation

• Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation

• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication

• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers

• Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance

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Full-Time Salary Range