POSITION DESCRIPTION
SECTION A: Position Identification
POSITION TITLE:
CLASSIFICATION
RN3
Renal Dialysis Unit Coordinator
DEPARTMENT
DIVISION
Renal Dialysis Unit
Nursing
POSITION #
MANAGEMENT
EXCLUDED
BARGAINING UNIT
NSNU
SECTION B: Reporting Structure
Your Supervisor’s Title: Patient Care Manager (ER, ICU, RDU)
His/Her Supervisor’s Title:
Other positions that report to your immediate supervisor:
SECTION C: Program/Functional Area
Renal Dialysis Unit, St. Martha’s Regional Hospital
SECTION D: Position Summary
Accountable to the Patient Care Manager for the provision of nursing clinical leadership, the nurse coordinator
provides clinical support to the Renal Dialysis Unit. The nurse coordinator provides day to day nursing
leadership in the provision of patient care. The coordinator is actively involved in the planning, coordination and
evaluation of patient care and in the assignment of the care of patients in the unit in collaboration with the
multidisciplinary team including the Nephrologists and other allied professionals within the Hemodialysis Unit
team based in Halifax. The Coordinator also coordinates wait lists for hemodialysis in conjunction with the
Form revised 2010
Nurse manager and referring hospital.. She/he coordinates and maintains patient flow on the unit and is a
resource to all team members.
In addition to duties in the hemodialysis unit at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, the Renal Dialysis Unit
Coordinator provides chronic kidney disease education to patients attending the Chronic Disease Kidney Clinic
at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital. This aspect of the position requires the coordinator be part of an outpatient
multidisciplinary team headed by a Nephrologist that manages outpatient based care and management of
chronic kidney disease. Care provided will be guided by the standards as outlined by the Renal Program of
Nova Scotia for chronic kidney disease care.
The coordinator is a nursing role model, patient care advocate and possesses excellent team building and
leadership skills/abilities. With support from the patient care manager and the director of nursing, the nurse
coordinator promotes supports and assists in the evaluation of the professional practice of nursing. The nurse
coordinator demonstrates outstanding communication and interpersonal skills. The nurse coordinator practices
according to the Canadian Nurses Association Code of Ethics and the Standards of Practice of the College of
Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia.
SECTION E: MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES: (indicate approx % of time spent on each)
Key Responsibilities:
 Responsible for the day to day coordination of activities of the unit.
 Identifies needs related to staffing, scheduling and service provision. Communicates those needs to the
patient care manager as appropriate.
 The coordinator keeps the manager informed of existing and emerging needs and issues and assists
with the problem solving around same, including the coordination of patients on the waiting list for this
site.
 Ensures that the patient assignment is completed following established guidelines.
 Works closely with the patient care manager, the QEII Dialysis unit, family physicians and specialists.
 Ensures that stock, drugs and equipment are adequate for daily operations.
 Updates the patient care manager on daily operations and issues requiring support and direction.
 Participates in department safety, accreditation and quality management initiatives
 Aids in gathering and reporting data to facilitate evidence based decision making
 Communicates relevant information regarding patients, family, and/or staff to patient care manager or
other interdisciplinary team members as appropriate.
 Assists with the orientation of nurses to the unit and other team members as requested/required.
 Demonstrates a commitment to the mission, values, policies, and standards of SMRH and GASHA.
Position Description
POSITION SPECIFICATIONS
SECTION F: MINIMUM FORMAL EDUCATION:
Qualifications:
 RN, BScN preferred
Form revised 2010
SECTION G: CERTIFICATION/REGISTRATION/DESIGNATION
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Current registration CRNNS
Certification in Renal Nursing
Completion of, or willingness to complete a leadership development program.
SECTION H: SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:
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Completed certification in Hemodialysis
A vision of client/family centred care
Analytical skills
Demonstrated ability to be an effective change agent with good interpersonal and
team building skills.
Leadership/organizational skills
Values diversity, social inclusion and teamwork
Communicates effectively both in writing and orally
Demonstrates integrity
Demonstrates ability to work independently and be accountable for all actions and
decisions
Demonstrates progressive, creative and innovative thinking
A high degree of initiative
CPR, WHIMIS
SECTION I: NATURE AND AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE:
Minimum of three (3) years nursing experience in renal dialysis
SECTION J: JUDGEMENT & INITIATIVE:
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Demonstrated competencies in required rehab and medical-surgical nursing skills.
Demonstrated personal and professional leadership abilities
Demonstrated initiative, critical thinking, organization, and problem solving skills
and the ability to use sound professional judgment
Demonstrated commitment to self- directed learning and continuous professional development
Demonstrated excellent communication and interpersonal skills required.
Form revised 2010
SECTION K: TYPE AND LEVEL OF SUPERVISION EXERCISED:
SECTION L: KEY RELATIONSHIPS:
Key Relationships:
_ Reports directly to the Patient Care Manager
_ Collaborates with QEII management and staff on a regular basis
_ Collaborates with members of the interdisciplinary team on a daily basis
_ Collaborates with the Director of Nursing on a regular basis
_ Collaborates with the Director of Education as required
SECTION M: DEGREE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR DECISIONS ON FINANCIAL, HUMAN AND
MATERIAL RESOURCES:
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Assists RDU Manager with budget preparations and monitoring of expenditures
Contributes information to probationary and regular performance appraisals of
nurses on the unit.
Collaborates with the patient care manager, the director of nursing and the director of education to
ensure that the education and professional practice needs of nurses are identified, communicated,
addressed and evaluated.
Assumes a leadership role in the absence of the manager
SECTION N: PHYSICAL DEMAND:
 Physically demanding due to frequent necessity for reaching, bending, lifting, pulling, moving adult
patients and equipment
SECTION O: MENTAL & VISUAL DEMAND:
 Because of the high level of contact with dialysis machines and related equipment, requires a
demonstrated ability to understand and work with technical equipment.
 This position requires good interpersonal skills in being one of the Nephrology Health Care team and in
the ability to provide supportive and empathetic care for long term dialysis patients.
SECTION P: WORKING ENVIRONMENT and UNAVOIDABLE HAZARDS:
 Normal hospital environment with direct exposure to the patient and the potential for exposure to
Hepatitis B and C, CMV and HIV.
Form revised 2010

Exposure to chemicals related to the dialysis procedure and disinfection process. Employees must follow
safety and control practices and conform to Occupational Health Legislation when handling machinery,
tools, and hazardous substances.
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SECTION Q: SAFETY (patient, worker & workplace)
The successful applicant will demonstrate good stewardship in the identification, reporting & mitigation of
unsafe Acts or conditions
Prepared by:
Date: _______________________
Signature
Name (Please Print)
Approved by:
Date: ________________________
Signature
Name ( Please Print)
VP Approval:
Date:
Signature
Name ( Please Print)
DISTRIBUTION:
Human Resources Services
Department
Form revised 2010
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