Nurse at Medecins Sans Frontieres

Job Description

• Providing nursing care, treatment, and follow-up of patients according to doctors’ prescriptions, protocols applied in service, and universal hygiene standards/precautions to ensure the quality and continuity of care for the targeted population.

Responsibilities

• Knowing, promoting, implementing, and following up on universal hygiene standards/precautions, biohazard prevention, infection control, security rules, and other protocols and procedures in the medical premises, ensuring high standards of hygiene in the working environment. Respecting medical secrecy and confidentiality at all times.
• Organizing and carrying out care and treatments according to medical prescriptions and assisting during consultations, daily rounds, and other medical procedures. Participating in health education of the patient (and family) when necessary.
• Identifying victims of sexually gender-based violence and referring them to the medical team for necessary treatment. Being aware of the importance and appropriate use of the Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Kit.
• Ensuring patients are properly received and installed, and assisting those with lack of autonomy, especially regarding feeding, personal hygiene, movements, and comfort. For ER and OPD nurses, ensuring triage of patients in waiting areas, wards, or during emergencies, detecting priority acute/emergency cases, carrying out first aid care, and referring them to the doctor when necessary.
• Sending materials for sterilization and retrieving them post-sterilization.
• Carrying out admission, surveillance, and follow-up of patients, including assessing their health status and identifying any emergencies or deteriorations.
• Handling and supervising administrative procedures and documents (patient files, forms, consumptions, statistics, registers, health files, etc.), ensuring appropriate written and oral handover, and reporting any problematic situations and cases that may arise. Participating in data collection and keeping doctors/supervisors informed.
• Participating in department-related pharmacy and medical equipment control and maintenance, including ensuring quality, functionality, storage conditions, monitoring expired drugs, and stocktaking of medicines and materials at every team changeover. Ensuring no material is taken out of the nursing area/wards without prior authorization.
• Performing cleaning and minor maintenance for biomedical equipment. Following the user manual and protocols, and alerting the supervisor in case of malfunction.
• Supervising and training nurse aides, nutritional assistants, cleaners, and other related staff under supervision, ensuring teamwork and adherence to all protocols and procedures.

Triage:

• Checking the general status of patients and giving priority for consultation to those showing signs of severity, including lethargy/unconsciousness, convulsions, fever, dehydration, respiratory distress, and malnutrition, following triage criteria (Red, Yellow, and Green for ATFC).
• Conducting proper triage in the screening area and ensuring children are sorted according to universal precautionary measures.
• Ensuring every child in the waiting area receives 50ml of sugar water.
• Prioritizing severe cases and informing the doctor for child admission.
• Ensuring proper reception of the child and maintaining good communication with the caregiver.
• Possessing the necessary techniques and skills for proper management, including systematic para-checks, Hb, glycemia, blood grouping, oxygen administration, venous tract placement, SNG, bladder catheter insertion, and vaccination.

Consultation/ER:

• Conducting clinical examinations of all patients on admission and following medical prescriptions.
• Taking vital signs (temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate) and correctly completing patient forms.
• Determining the weight/height percentage to identify the degree and type of child malnutrition (marasmus, kwashiorkor).
• Ensuring proper examination of the patient and appropriate reception by the nurse or Ass-Nut in the hospital room through proper handover.
• Observing universal precautionary measures.
• Ensuring all standard materials are available and informing the supervisor in case of shortages, while ensuring proper conservation.
• Knowing how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques.
• Recognizing the severity of different pathologies and promptly calling the doctor when necessary.
• Performing first aid, administering the first IV dose, and providing emergency treatment before transferring the child to the hospital ward.
• Possessing the techniques and skills for proper management, including systematic para-checks, Hb, glycemia, blood grouping, oxygen administration, venous tract placement, SNG, bladder catheter insertion, and vaccination.

Hospitalization:

• Ensuring proper reception and welcome of the patient.
• Taking children’s vital signs according to medical prescriptions and following treatment instructions.
• Checking for oedema and noting findings in the medical file.
• Ensuring proper administration and documentation of treatments.
• Observing universal precautionary measures.
• Conducting close surveillance of serious cases.
• Detecting complications in children and referring them to the doctor.
• Attending daily medical examinations.
• Noting changes in treatment.
• Strictly adhering to transfusion protocols.
• Monitoring infusions carefully (extravasation, drops per minute, duration of infusion).
• Ensuring proper change of SNG, bladder catheter, and seal according to MSF protocol indications.
• Accompanying the doctor during unit rounds and correctly following medication orders.
• Conducting thorough oral and written patient handovers.
• Managing drugs and equipment efficiently.
• Ensuring all standard materials are available and in good condition.
• Maintaining good communication and providing information on the child’s progress to the caregiver.

Others:

• Working in close collaboration with and supervising nurse assistants and nurse aides in all activities related to patient care.
• Collaborating with other medical and paramedical staff.
• Ensuring continuity of care through proper handovers of patients, drugs, biomedical equipment, data, and patient records.
• Organizing the ward efficiently and participating in patient ward rounds.
• Ensuring proper and timely administration of drugs according to prescriptions and protocols. Managing pharmacy stock, inventories, drug consumption, and storage.
• Participating in departmental meetings, routine training sessions, and mortality and morbidity reviews.
• Supporting and supervising Nut assistants during routine patient feeding.
• Leading the team/unit to ensure high-quality care.
• Respecting patients' rights and ensuring their consent.
• Upholding the dignity and privacy of patients and their families.
• Performing other responsibilities assigned by the supervisor related to patient care quality.

Requirements
Education:

• Essential: Recognized nurse degree/diploma with nutrition experience.
• Desirable: Bachelor's in Science of Nursing; post-basic qualification is an added advantage.

Experience:

• Desirable: Two years of previous experience, preferably in other NGOs.
• Demonstrable experience in supervising and training others in a team setting.

Languages:

• Hausa and English are essential.
• Mission language is desirable.

Competencies:

• Results and Quality Orientation (L1)
• Teamwork and Cooperation (L1)
• Behavioral Flexibility (L1)
• Commitment to MSF Principles (L1)
• Stress Management (L2)
• Documentation Skills (L1).

Remuneration

• According to MSF salary scale, plus a 13th-month allowance equivalent to one month of gross salary.