Summary

The Nurse Practitioner for Nephrology at the Durham VA Medical Center involves management of the Dialysis programs as well as the management and oversight of the outpatient renal clinics. This N.P. will be fully qualified and certified to function in both a clinical and administrative role and in accordance with the guidelines and policies of the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Duties

• 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: A full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Monday-Friday Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Duties: The NP practices to the full extent of their education - training - and certification
• However - per the Controlled Substances Act - 21 U.S.C. 801 et seq. - which is enforced by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) - NPs prescribing controlled substances will need to meet North Carolina (NC) rules regarding prescribing
• The NP will be required to have a collaborative practice agreement with a physician ONLY as it pertains to prescribing controlled substances
• The NP is a licensed independent practitioner with advanced education and national certification who provides evidence-based care for a population of patients
• Major duties and responsibilities of the position: Independently manages a panel of patients with acute and chronic health conditions with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention using evidence-based practice
• Develops and implements an individualized plan to achieve optimal population health and disease management
• Demonstrates leadership and works collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team
• Orders and interprets labs - tests - and diagnostic studies
• Prescribes pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions
• Assesses and adjusts the plan of care as needed to achieve optimal patient outcomes
• Exemplifies the ICARE core values of-Integrity - Commitment - Advocacy - Respect - and Excellence
• Clinical Primary focus of practice is the clinical management of healthcare for patients in the Dialysis Program and in general nephrology clinics
• This includes the hospital-based dialysis program (outpatient dialysis program
• home dialysis program: the inpatient nephrology consult program when needed) - the VA dialysis clinic at Brier Creek - the outpatient general nephrology clinics in Durham - Raleigh - Garner - and any other nephrology clinics affiliated with the Durham VA Promotes - directs - evaluates and is responsible for the management of safe patient care to patients on hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis
• Participates in the multidisciplinary team approach to identify and screen patients for participation in the Dialysis Program - as well as monitoring dialysis outcomes
• Utilizes and promotes approved standards of care - procedures - methods and techniques - safety precautions and protocols in their application to the dialysis population in all settings
• Initiates referrals to clinics and/or community nephrologists and dialysis units
• Collaborates with other health care resources to ensure continuity of care
• Keeps abreast of latest trends - skills - procedures - and protocols relevant in the area of specialty and serves as a resource person for the medical center staff
• Provides clinical support for renal and renal/pancreas transplant patients followed by the Nephrology Section as needed
• Assists in the coordination - evaluation - and referral of kidney failure patients to community nephrologists and dialysis units for dialysis services
• Triages requests - enters orders and consults when needed - and reviews records received from community nephrology providers for dialysis-related services and data and medications on patients receiving dialysis service in the community
• Administrative Assists the Chief of Nephrology and the Dialysis Director in the care and management of renal patients receiving care at the DVAMC
• Provides clinical support and administrative oversight for the Durham VA Community Based Dialysis Program
• Arranges for dialysis access procedures and interventions with the Vascular Radiology and Surgery sections
• Interfaces with other Medical Center services such as IRM to facilitate the training of new staff members on the hospital computer systems
• Functions as a liaison between Medical Service and the Nephrology Section
• Education/Research Promotes and participates in the delivery of patient and family health and dialysis education
• Participates - directs - and provides opportunities for staff development through in-service education as needed
• Assures self-development responsibilities and maintains current knowledge of trends in dialysis and clinical medicine
• Participates in Nephrology Section's clinical research programs when appropriate.