ACUTE DIALYSIS REGISTERED NURSE JOB DESCRIPTION

A patient in acute renal failure cannot wait for a delayed treatment or a miscalculated dialysate prescription. Acute Dialysis Registered Nurses carry a narrow, high-consequence clinical mandate: delivering hemodialysis safely to patients whose condition demands immediate, protocol-exact intervention across hospital units, long-term care settings, and rehabilitation facilities. State RN licensure and current BLS certification are non-negotiable entry points, not formalities. This role demands clinical judgment that goes beyond general floor nursing, because every session involves real-time assessment, medication administration under regulatory statutes, and coordination with physicians, Clinical Managers, and Medical Directors on a patient whose status can shift mid-treatment.

As the Acute Dialysis Registered Nurse, you own the complete hemodialysis treatment episode for acutely ill patients, from pre-treatment assessment through post-treatment documentation, ensuring every step meets state, federal, and facility-level compliance standards. You operate within a multidisciplinary acute care team, collaborating with physicians, hospital administrators, and clinical leadership while rotating on-call coverage across assigned healthcare settings.

Career Impact: Specializing in acute hemodialysis nursing builds a clinical credential that distinguishes you from general floor RNs and opens pathways toward nephrology certification and clinical management roles.

Business Impact: Patients in acute renal crisis depend on technically precise hemodialysis delivery to stabilize kidney function - delays or errors at this stage directly affect clinical outcomes and length of stay.

Growth Opportunity: Exposure to ICU and CCU-level patient acuity, combined with on-call rotation experience, builds the clinical breadth that supports advancement into charge nursing, dialysis program coordination, or nephrology case management.

• Deliver hemodialysis treatment to acutely ill patients in hospital, long-term care, and rehabilitation settings, according to established clinical protocols.
• Assess patient needs before, during, and after each treatment using the full nursing process, addressing physical, psychological, and social factors.
• Prepare, administer, and document all prescribed medications in compliance with applicable regulatory standards and statutes.
• Document patient assessments, care plans, and treatment evaluations in the medical record per facility policy and procedure requirements.
• Coordinate care with physicians, Medical Directors, and healthcare team members to interpret and adjust individualized care plans promptly.
• Educate patients and families on hemodialysis procedures, disease management, infection control, dietary considerations, and self-care practices.
• Delegate clinical duties in accordance with state regulatory requirements and maintain accurate, timely patient data to ensure environmental safety.
• Rotate on-call coverage with licensed staff to ensure continuous treatment availability across assigned facilities.

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing or equivalent work experience; Associate degree in Nursing accepted where state regulations permit.
• 1 or more years of registered nursing experience, with demonstrated floor or acute care patient management.
• Current RN licensure in the state(s) of practice, maintained without lapse.
• Current BLS or CPR certification through an accredited provider such as the American Heart Association.
• Demonstrated ability to organize priorities and execute assigned clinical duties accurately under time-sensitive conditions.
• Ability to perform physical tasks required in patient care, including repositioning patients, lifting supplies and equipment, and responding to emergencies.
• Reliable personal transportation to fulfill scheduled and on-call shifts across multiple facility locations.

• Prior hemodialysis or nephrology nursing experience, with familiarity with acute-unit policy and procedure manuals.
• ICU or CCU clinical background that supports management of hemodynamically unstable patients during treatment.
• Bilingual communication ability in a language relevant to the patient population served.
• Computer proficiency sufficient to navigate electronic medical record documentation systems.

• Medication administration accuracy rate, reflecting compliance with regulatory standards across all treatment sessions.
• Care plan completion timeliness, measured by documentation turnaround per facility policy requirements.
• On-call shift coverage reliability, tracking fulfillment rate of assigned rotation commitments.
• Patient education delivery rate, capturing the percentage of eligible patients receiving hemodialysis and self-care instruction.
• Regulatory compliance score across audits of treatment documentation, medication records, and care plan entries.

• Base Salary Range: $70,000 to $95,000 annually, depending on experience and state.
• Bonus: Shift differentials common for on-call and weekend rotations.
• Equity: Not typically offered in clinical nursing roles.
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage standard.
• PTO: 15 to 22 days annually, plus paid holidays.
• Common Perks: Continuing education reimbursement, licensure renewal support, and scrub allowances.

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check and, where required by applicable state law, a pre-employment drug screening. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities throughout the application and employment process upon request. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

The Acute Dialysis Registered Nurse delivers safe hemodialysis treatment across hospitals, acute care, long-term care, and rehabilitation facilities, preparing and administering prescribed medications in compliance with the Core Dialysis Policy and Procedure Manual and applicable state and federal regulations. Reporting to Core staff leadership and collaborating with facility healthcare teams, this nurse ensures consistent, patient-centered care that supports continuity across on-call rotations and strengthens outcomes for patients and families.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide dialysis treatment to patients in various healthcare settings, such as hospitals, acute care, long-term care and rehabilitation facilities.
• Follow all patient-specific and facility-level policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Provide safe and effective treatment in compliance with the standards outlined in the Core Dialysis Policy and Procedure Manual, as well as regulations set forth by the state and federal agencies.
• Serve as an educational resource for the patient and family regarding treatment, disease processes, access to care, diet, infection control, treatment processes, and other topics as needed.
• Maintain consistent and confidential documentation of all pertinent data, assessments, care plans, and evaluations in the patient's medical record according to the healthcare facility's policies and procedures.
• Accurately and efficiently prepare, administer, and document all prescribed medications and ensure all medication processes comply with all applicable regulatory standards and statutes.
• Communicate effectively and in a timely manner with the healthcare facility's staff and other Core staff to ensure that all treatment processes are consistent with the patient's needs.
• Mobilize appropriate resources to best meet those needs.
• Rotate with other Core staff to ensure coverage for on-call shifts.

Required Qualifications

• Current RN license in the state of Texas.
• Current CPR certification by American Heart Association.
• At least 1 year of experience working on the floor as an RN.
• Reliable transportation to and from scheduled shifts.
• Ability to complete physical tasks including repositioning patients, lifting and carrying supplies and equipment, bending, reaching, and responding to emergencies.
• Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.
• Flexibility and availability to work at least 32 hours per week.

Embedded within the acute dialysis unit, the Acute Dialysis Registered Nurse builds and maintains individualized care plans through initial and ongoing patient assessments, hemodialysis delivery, and timely communication with physicians and the broader healthcare team. Working closely with the Vice President Operations, Medical Director, Group Hospital Administrator, and Clinical Manager, this nurse advances patient satisfaction and staff development while ensuring full compliance with company policy and applicable state and federal regulations.

Core Functions

• Provide acute hemodialysis care and treatment, including developing initial and ongoing assessments, and providing patient training and education as applicable.
• Communicate with the physician and other members of the health care team to interpret, adjust, and complete all care plans on time.
• Assist and support the acute unit management team in achieving high standards for quality, patient satisfaction, staff development, business management, teamwork, culture, and employee satisfaction.
• Understand, support, interpret, implement, and comply with the policies, mission, and values of the company.
• Provide safe, effective delivery of care under the oversight of the Vice President of Operations, Medical Director, Group Hospital Administrator, and Clinical Manager.
• Comply with the standards outlined in the policy and procedure manual, as well as the regulations set forth by the company and any applicable state and federal agencies.

Qualifications & Experience

• Associate degree in Nursing required; Bachelor's in nursing or health-related field preferred.
• Current appropriate state licensure and BLS certification.
• 1 year of hemodialysis experience.
• ICU/CCU experience preferred but not required.
• Successful completion of a training course in the theory and practice of hemodialysis.
• Computer knowledge preferred.

Reporting to facility and state regulatory leadership, the Acute Dialysis Registered Nurse shapes patient care by assessing physical, social, psychological, and spiritual needs throughout hemodialysis treatment in the hospital setting, applying the full nursing process to each individual case. Partnering with healthcare team members and delegating duties per state regulatory requirements, this nurse coordinates education on hemodialysis and disease prevention to promote patient safety and support informed self-care.

Primary Duties

• Provide dialysis treatment and education for patients in the hospital setting.
• Assess patient needs while receiving dialysis using the nursing process to ensure physical, social, psychological and spiritual needs are met.
• Apply assessment, planning, implementation/intervention and evaluation to meet individual patient and facility needs and follow all patient-specific and facility-level policies, procedures and regulations.
• Provide safe and effective treatment in compliance with the Axis Dialysis Policy and Procedure Manual and regulations set forth by state and federal agencies.
• Accurately and efficiently prepare, administer and document all prescribed medications and ensure all medication processes comply with all applicable regulatory standards and statutes.
• Coordinate care between members of the healthcare team and educate patients and families regarding hemodialysis, health maintenance, disease prevention, and self-care.
• Document all pertinent facility and patient data, assessments, plan of care and evaluations in the medical record according to policy and procedure.
• Delegate duties in accordance with state regulatory requirements and provide accurate and timely patient data to ensure the safety of the patient and the environment.
• Rotate coverage with other licensed staff and participate in on-call coverage as assigned.

Skills & Qualifications

• Current Texas state RN license and current CPR certification.
• Strong clinical and leadership skills.
• Ability to organize and establish priorities to perform assigned duties effectively and efficiently.
• Ability to use reasonable care in carrying out verbal and written instructions and perform basic mathematical functions.
• Ability to speak, read, write, and comprehend English.