Staff Nurse – Dialysis

Role Overview

Staff Nurse – Dialysis at American Hospital Dubai, providing specialized nursing care in a nephrology dialysis setting.

Role Purpose

Deliver safe, patient-centered dialysis nursing care using the nursing process, manage vascular access and hemodialysis treatment, respond to medical emergencies, and maintain clinical competency and unit standards.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Assessment & Monitoring

• Perform patient assessment using appropriate, problem-focused, and age-specific assessment techniques.
• Conduct continual critical care assessment of patient and family's physical and psychological needs.
• Monitor vital signs and fluid balance to ensure the safety and effectiveness of hemodialysis treatment.
• Recognize subtle cues to anticipate potential problems.
• Assess patient and family's physical and psychological needs.

Vascular Access & Hemodialysis Management

• Insert vascular access needles into arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) and arteriovenous grafts (AVG) to facilitate hemodialysis treatment.
• Start and perform hemodialysis sessions for patients per American Hospital Dubai's protocols and guidelines.
• Ensure appropriate care and maintenance of hemodialysis catheters to prevent infections and complications, adhering to American Hospital Dubai's protocols.

Diagnostics & Laboratory

• Conduct blood tests using the Hemocue device to measure various parameters such as haemoglobin levels.
• Analyze urine samples to assess for the presence of abnormalities or indicators of health conditions.

Emergency & Critical Care Response

• Administer appropriate medications and interventions to manage severe allergic reactions, following American Hospital Dubai's protocols.
• Recognize and promptly respond to anaphylaxis reactions and hypersensitivity incidents, providing immediate care and treatment.

Care Coordination & Planning

• Involve the patient, significant others, and health care providers in the plan of care when appropriate.
• Coordinate and plan critical care/clinical pathway, and prioritize care based on individual needs.
• Revise the care plan as necessary.
• Initiate appropriate transfer plan.
• Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team to provide patient care.

Medication Management

• Perform safe handling and administering of Narcotic/Controlled and Semi-Controlled Drugs and documentation as directed by policies and procedures.

Equipment & Environment

• Ensure availability and maintenance of supplies and equipment needed for the unit and patient care.
• Clean and disinfect hemodialysis machines and equipment following specific protocols to maintain a sterile and safe treatment environment.
• Maintain a safe environment for patients and staff.

Documentation & Compliance

• Document all relevant data in the medical record according to hospital/departmental standards.
• Assume responsibility for meeting Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA) required mandatory education (fire, safety, infection control and others).
• Perform safe handling and documenting of controlled drugs as directed by policies and procedures.

Professional Development & Quality

• Ensure completion of unit competencies including pain management and utilization of Emergency department devices.
• Maintain clinical and professional competency based on the latest research and established standards of practice.
• Complete yearly critical care nursing competencies (basic).
• Participate in unit-based Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities (data collection, CQI teams, incident reporting, customer complaint reporting, medication error reporting).
• Participate in ongoing educational activities.
• Maintain mandatory educational requirements.
• Participate in staff meetings and unit committees/projects.
• Participate in developing and achieving unit goals.

General Duties

• Provide age-specific patient-centered care utilizing the nursing process.
• Perform clerical duties when needed.
• Perform additional duties when required.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing (minimum three years full-time course duration), or Degree in Nursing (minimum two years course duration) with Registration as a Registered Nurse from Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, or Australia.
• For UAE nationals: graduates of UAE or non-UAE universities are exempted from the experience and clinical training requirements for the applied title. UAE nationals must submit a copy of their birth certificate and the mother's family book.
• For non-UAE national graduates from UAE universities: must successfully complete six months of clinical training post-graduation in an APS health facility (except for Registered and Assistant Nurse titles).
• Valid License/Registration to practice in their home country and/or country of last employment (where applicable).
• Minimum of two years of recent post-graduate experience in Nephrology Nursing.

Skills & Competencies

• Knowledge of and ability to render care and services based on age, appropriateness, and developmental needs of patients.
• Skills in assessment of patient and family's physical and psychological needs.
• Skills in coordination and planning of care and prioritizing care based on individual needs.
• Proficiency with Hemocue device for blood testing.
• Competency in vascular access needle insertion for AVF and AVG.
• Competency in hemodialysis machine operation and maintenance.
• Competency in hemodialysis catheter care and maintenance.

Additional Information

• Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification is required.
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) Certification is essential.