If you are a passionate individual who wants to make a difference in the lives of people affected by end-stage renal diseases, you have got the right job here! 

It offers you a chance to pass on your knowledge about dialysis and kidneys and empower countless patients with the right tools so that they can take charge of their health. Kidney diseases may adversely affect lives but by educating them, you can change their lifestyle and help them get back to their usual selves.

Education is a powerful tool and when yielded it can make all the difference you need. So, if you aspire to be an educator in the field of medicine and want to connect with people, this job is just the right one for you! 

What does a kidney smart educator do?

DaVita’s Kidney Smart education program offers educator-led classes on kidney diseases in regions across the country. These comprehensive, 1.5-hour classes taught by Kidney Smart educators, empower people to take charge of their health by providing them with kidney disease and dialysis knowledge. From how a kidney functions to the causes behind chronic kidney conditions, you will have to educate the public to take better care of this vital organ, in this role.

Essential responsibilities and duties

The essential duties and responsibilities of a kidney smart educator will be as follows:

1. They should have program support from the respective Regional Operations Director and their supervisor.
2. Should complete the live Certified Kidney Smart Educator Training with a Kidney Smart Scholar.
3. Will be required to conduct the minimum number of monthly Kidney Smart Classes to reach KS education goals.
4. Should use only the approved Kidney Smart resources and materials.
5. Ensures that all Kidney Smart Classes are posted online on relevant channels to make them accessible to all participants.
6. Adheres to all KS compliance guidelines, rules, and policies.
7. Consistently enters and collaborates with the KS coordinator to enter data to Salesforce.
8. Commits to staying well-versed and up to date with the latest KS education curriculum and compliance regulations by attending online training, reading newsletters, and attending KS calls and meetings.
9. Follows up with the patient’s nephrologist after class regularly if applicable. 

Skills and knowledge

Being a regional kidney smart educator means having a multitude of skills necessary for the various tasks that you have to perform. You would also need to be rich in knowledge of various domains. Here are some that you definitely should acquire!

1. You must be proficient at reading and communication in order to teach the class effectively.
2. Interactive skills to engage with the patients enrolling in your classes, and therapy skills and knowledge to counsel and guide them. 
3. Must understand psychology, and sociology to understand your patients as well as the social trends so that you can modify the lesson plans accordingly. 
4. Understanding of the field of medicine to examine various symptoms, ailments, and diagnose your patients.
5. Possess judgement and decision-making skills that take into account various merits and demerits of a course of action.
6. Be a good listener and active learner in order to be a better instructor and counsellor.

Education and experience

To become a regional Kidney Smart Educator, you’ll need about 2 to 4 years of prior experience. You should also have a recognized Associate’s Degree or should have undertaken an apprenticeship in a relevant field. 

Certificate and registration

It is strongly recommended that you should be clinically licensed to apply for the role of a regional Kidney Smart educator. You can be an MSW, RN who specialises in dialysis, LSW, or RD to qualify. Or, you could be a Patient Care Technician who has a CCHT certification. 

Salary

The salary for a regional Kidney Smart Educator varies from $16620 to $54123 per annum. If you’re looking for a full-time job as a regional Kidney Smart educator, you can look for the post on reliable job-hunting platforms like Velju and apply for one, based on your preferences.

How to become a good kidney smart educator?

To become a good KS educator, you’ll have to be proficient at performing several tasks. 

These include collaborating with health officials and civic groups, preparing and distributing health education materials like infographics, maintaining cooperative working relationships with public health organisations and agencies, developing operational plans and policies to further health education objectives, and designing plus administering training programs for new employees, among others.