The In-patient staff Hemodialysis Registered Nurse (RN) is accountable for the provision of direct patient care and for the delivery of quality nursing care to a culturally diverse Veteran population dealing with End State Renal Disease or other renal dysfunctions and undergoing dialysis. This position reports to the Dialysis Nurse Manager.

Duties

The Hemodialysis RN uses the nursing process as a problem-solving model; is skilled in assessing the patient and possesses sound judgement and ability to communicate appropriate concerns regarding patient's conditions. Possesses the technical knowledge of dialysis therapy that include adherence to Infection Control standards, sterilization and the safe use and operation of dialysis equipment, water treatment, peritoneal dialysis procedures, adequacy of dialysis treatment. The incumbent understands infection control and prevention of blood borne pathogens. Demonstrates excellent customer service with both internal and external customers. Responsibilities include demonstration of knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and to intervene appropriately to emergency situations. Duties and responsibilities for the position include but are not limited to: Performs pre and post assessment, obtaining and monitoring vital signs and intervening appropriately. Initiates treatments and approved IV medication administration. Assesses vascular access including arteriovenous fistula or grafts using aseptic technique. Oversees the preparation of the delivery system, dialysate bath, dialyzers, patient, and technicians. Conducts and confirms that all mandatory alarm tests on the dialyzer and equipment are performed daily and prior to beginning each treatment. Reviews physician orders for dialysis patients, collects pre-treatment dialysis data and review records of each Veteran scheduled for treatment. Verifies that Veterans has taken or not taken the appropriate medication prior to being dialyzed. Advises physician and nurses assigned to the dialyzed patient of any significant changes in condition and other pertinent information. Discusses patients and families concerns and answer questions relevant to care. Provides care to hemodialysis, Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CCRT) and peritoneal patients. Uses the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and Bar-Coded Medication Administration (BCMA). 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: Monday - Saturday, 10 hour tours, with 24 hour on-call duties to include nights/weekends. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), 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 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). The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidate's graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such consideration. In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (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. 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. Preferred Experience: 2 years current dialysis acute and/or chronic experience. Med/Surg/ICU experience. Preferred Education: BSN preferred. Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience. Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Straight pulling (2 hours); Pushing, Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers, Both hands required, Walking (8 hours); Standing (8 hours); Kneeling (1/4 hours); Repeated bending (2 hours); Both legs required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Both eyes required, Depth perception, Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid may be permitted). Mental and emotional stability. Working with infectious patients (i.e., COVID-19, Tuberculosis (TB), etc. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients, dialyzer machines and objects is required. Mechanical lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures or home-settings. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or COVID testing, Flu vaccine as a condition of employment.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address New Orleans VA Medical Center 2400 Canal Street New Orleans, LA 70119 US
• Name: Kendra Bryant
• Phone: 469-456-8376
• Email: [email protected]