Palliative Care Nurses at The African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE)

Job Purpose

• The Palliative Care Nurse will deliver compassionate, holistic nursing care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and complex symptom burdens. This specialized role focuses on pain and symptom management, psychosocial support, end-of-life care, and enhancing quality of life for patients and their families within the African Medical Centre of Excellence.

Key Accountabilities/Responsibilities

Patient-Centered Clinical Care

• Conduct comprehensive nursing assessments of patients with advanced illness, focusing on physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
• Administer and monitor pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for pain and symptom control (e.g., dyspnea, nausea, fatigue, anxiety).
• Provide expert wound care, including management of pressure injuries and malignant wounds.
• Deliver compassionate end-of-life care, ensuring comfort and dignity.

Psychosocial & Family Support

• Provide emotional support, active listening, and therapeutic communication to patients and families.
• Facilitate family meetings and support discussions around goals of care, advance care planning, and transition points.
• Offer bereavement support and refer to appropriate counseling services as needed.

Multidisciplinary Collaboration

• Work as an integral member of the interdisciplinary palliative care team, contributing to care planning and case reviews.
• Collaborate closely with physicians, social workers, chaplains, physiotherapists, and pharmacists to implement holistic care plans.
• Serve as a liaison between the patient/family and the wider healthcare team.

Education & Advocacy

• Educate patients and families on disease progression, symptom management strategies, and care options.
• Advocate for patient preferences and ensure care aligns with the patient’s values and wishes.
• Provide palliative care education and support to nursing colleagues and other healthcare staff.

Documentation & Care Coordination

• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential patient records in accordance with professional and institutional standards.
• Coordinate care transitions, including referrals to hospice, home care, or other community services.
• Participate in clinical audits and quality improvement initiatives related to palliative and end-of-life care.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse (RN) qualification with a valid practicing license from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).
• Post-basic certification or diploma in Palliative Care, Oncology Nursing, or a related field is highly desirable.
• Minimum of 3 years of clinical nursing experience, with at least 1 year in a setting providing palliative care, oncology, chronic disease management, or intensive care.

Experience

• Demonstrated competency in pain and symptom assessment and management.
• Experience in providing end-of-life care and supporting grieving families.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and emotional resilience skills.
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Commitment to patient-centered, compassionate care.
• Proficiency in nursing documentation and basic IT skills.