Job Description

Satellite Healthcare is a successful, nonprofit organization that has improved the lives of people living with kidney disease since 1973. We earn our national reputation for excellent patient care each day by offering a complete range of dialysis therapy choices, personalized clinical services, and unparalleled wellness education.

Satellite Healthcare provides expert, personalized kidney care at over 80 centers across the U.S. as well as at acute dialysis locations in California and Texas. Learn more about Satellite Healthcare at www.satellitehealth.com. 

The Staff Nurse functions as a coordinator of patient care collaborating with other care providers and health team members to provide required care. The Staff Nurse acts as a patient teacher and advocate, assisting the patient in seeking information, assuring the patient has the opportunity for informed consent for treatment decisions, and promotes the maximum level of patient-desired independence.

The Staff Nurse actively participates in professional role development activities including continuing education, quality assessment and improvement, and the review and clinical application of research findings. The Staff Nurse develops ethically sound practice and confronts ethical challenges through application of the Nephrology Nursing Standards of Practice and Standards of Care.

All work performed by the Staff Nurse is under the direct supervision of on-premises Charge Nurse.

Essential Functions
The essential functions listed are not a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.  All employees must work in accordance with Satellite’s I-CARE Standards.  Employees must abide by all Satellite’s standards of patient care, patient’s rights and ethical treatment, and adhere to safety and quality programs.

• Observes and records patient’s responses to renal failure and its treatments; performs thorough patient assessments as evidenced by documentation and feedback to the Charge Nurse

• Awareness of the general course of all patients on the shift, as well as the general condition of all patients in the unit; draws upon this knowledge to individualize treatments

• Administers ordered medications per SHC procedures; understands and teaches principles of safe dosage in ESRD, including the reason for giving medication and possible side effects
• Obtains laboratory specimens as ordered and performs routine tests

• Demonstrates an understanding of the implications of common lab results as they apply to the ESRD patient; confers with experienced Charge Nurse, dietitian and physician about abnormal findings

• Delegates responsibilities appropriately and follows through in seeing that all delegated responsibilities have been carried out in both routine and emergency situations

• Understands legal consequences of nursing actions both immediate and long term

• Promotes patient education and self-management of ESRD by accurately assessing patients’ readiness to learn; plans and implements appropriate teaching method for each patient, evaluates and documents patients’ learning; assists other staff members in developing these skills

• Adheres to the policy “Standards of Conduct” (i.e. dress code, professionalism, etc.)

• Participates in CPR as needed

• Actively participates in facility’s Quality Assurance Improvement program by the use of data to monitor the outcomes of care processes

• Participates in in-service education programs

• Maintains professional competence through participation in continuing education

• Helps maintain neat and clean environment

• Integrates best practices with evidence based standards in care interventions

• Promotes an environment of safety to minimize the risk of harm to patients

• Performs other duties as assigned

Communications

• Contributes and promotes teamwork to create a harmonious and constructive working relationship with all staff by offering information, advice, and assistance in a positive, courteous, and cooperative manner

• Participates in self and/or peer evaluations

• Ensures the confidentiality of patient and employee information

• Understands and uses Satellite’s communication techniques:
   
   o Greets patients by name

   o Speak English only in patient care area unless translating

   o Listens to understand, not judge

   o Focuses on the message being sent

   o Uses reflective listening

   o Allows patients to express concerns appropriately

   o Manages conflict in a positive way

   o Acknowledges problems/situations from the patient’s point of view

   o Empathizes

   o Apologizes (without blame)

Education

• Looks for opportunities to develop clinical expertise

• Participates in research studies and/or protocols as directed

• Participates in peer group meeting and problem solving

Teaching

• Accurately assesses patient’s readiness to learn; plans and implements appropriate teaching methods for each patient and evaluates the patient’s learning

• Demonstrates the ability to effectively teach all therapies offered with collaboration from experienced Charge Nurse

Customer Service

• Responsible for driving the Satellite Healthcare culture through values and customer service standards

• Accountable for outstanding customer service to all external and internal customers

• Develops and maintains effective relationships through effective and timely communication

• Takes initiative and action to respond, resolve and follow up regarding customer service issues with all customers in a timely manner

Job Requirement

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Graduation from an accredited nursing school or equivalent, BSN preferred

Experience: One (1) year Registered Nurse general nursing experience; or completion of Satellite Healthcare ESRD RN Intern program

License/Certification(s): Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of practice; current CPR certification

Additional requirement for California, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana & New Jersey: Three (3) months experience in the applicable modality (HD, PD or HHD)

Additional requirement for Texas: Six (6) months experience in the applicable modality (HD, PD, or HHD)

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Understands the Nurse Practice Act and Responsibilities

• Proficient computer skills- e.g. Outlook, Word                                 

• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and satisfactorily communicate in English

• Understands basic renal function and the consequences of renal failure

• Comprehends and follows all Satellite policies and procedures for infection control; understands the hazards associated with failing to follow those procedures

• Able to use tools for information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate errors and support decision-making through documentation


Candidates not meeting the Staff Nurse qualifications may be considered for the Clinical Nurse job category. Candidates selected as a Clinical Nurse will require additional training in our in-house training program.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Graduation from an accredited nursing school or equivalent, BSN preferred

Experience: One (1) year Registered Nurse general nursing experience

License/Certifications: Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of practice; current CPR certification


In addition to basic educational preparation to function as a registered professional nurse, the Staff Nurse or Clinical Nurse requires a specific knowledge base and demonstrated clinical expertise in kidney disease care beyond that acquired in a basic nursing program.

All nephrology nurses must have a common knowledge base relevant to all aspects of care for adult kidney patients and their families. This knowledge base includes but is not limited to:

• Anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology
• The nursing process as applied to nephrology nursing
• Knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment for patients requiring any method of renal replacement therapy
• Pharmacology and pharmacotherapy
• Nutrition
• Growth and development
• Teaching/learning theory
• Counseling/interviewing skills
• Interdisciplinary team skills
• Research processes
• Rehabilitation principles
• Palliative care and concepts related to death and dying

***Sign-on Bonus for external applicant***