Registered Practical Nurse - Home Dialysis Assistance Program

The Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) will work in the community to support home dialysis patients. They establish caring, therapeutic relationships with patients receiving Dialysis and their families to attain or maintain optimal functioning by promoting health and/or treating health conditions through supportive, preventative, therapeutic, palliative and rehabilitative means. They will perform dialysis and associated intervention independently within their home.

As part of the Independent Dialysis (home based dialysis) interdisciplinary team, the RPN will take a comprehensive approach to providing care for renal patients who are able to dialyze at home independently, through Peritoneal Dialysis. The role will include ongoing follow up care and support. As part of the Nephrology interdisciplinary team, the RPN will practice within the scope of Nephrology nursing best practice, RPN scope of practice, nursing philosophy and the standards set by the renal program.

• Provides assessment, education, and decision support for patients/family as it relates to home dialysis
• Coordinates/facilitates appointments of patients including home visits throughout the community
• Assessment of Dialysis patients utilizing  standards of care for Nephrology and  aligned with unit competencies
• Pre/post dialysis machine management including preparation of circuit and programming.
• Initiation and discontinuation of dialysis treatment for stable patients
• Monitoring patient and machine during dialysis therapy, providing intervention as necessary in collaboration with RN
• Administer medications as ordered by a physician and within scope of practice
• Engages the interdisciplinary team in a collaborative approach to professional practice issues and acts in the role of Liaison between all members who participate in the care of the patient and their family
• Provides a framework /smooth transition for patients who are involved in transitioning to home- based therapies