EMERGENCY is an independent and neutral international organisation founded in 1994 to provide free, high-quality medical and surgical care to victims of war, landmines and poverty. EMERGENCY promotes a culture of peace, solidarity and respect for human rights. We work in a sustainable way: building healthcare facilities, training local personnel, and conducting search and rescue missions in the Mediterranean Sea.

ROSTER POSITION FOR:  Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Uganda

TYPE OF CONTRACT: fixed term contract (6 months), which includes a monthly salary, travel expenses, board and lodgings, insurance cover (liability, health and accident insurance), a period of paid leave to be taken at the end of the mission

This role requires complete and autonomous management of the nursing care of paediatric and/or neonatal patients.

BACKGROUND AND ORGANISATION OF WORK

The Paediatric Nurse supervises, teaches and works alongside the national staff colleagues – in the clinic and in the ward – in collaboration with the centre’s medical team and with the international Paediatrics (Neonatology) specialist.

The Paediatric Nurse is responsible to the Head Nurse of the project.

The main areas of work are:

• TRIAGE: area dedicated to paediatric triage;
• OUTPATIENTS DEPARTMENT: 2-3 treatment rooms, also equipped for the management of medical emergencies;
• PAEDIATRIC WARD: the paediatric ward has between 8 and 18 beds, depending on the project;
• NEONATOLOGY (Afghanistan only): Special Care Baby Unit (Level II), neonatal follow-up, and nursery.

Assignment to a designated department will be made according to the specific skills and professional experience. The Paediatric Nurse will be present in the hospital 5-6 days a week (depending on the project), and will participate in clinical activity and the ward round. On-call 24/7 in case of paediatric/neonatal emergencies on the ward.

The Paediatric Nurse, together with the Head Nurse of the project, organises the shifts of the national staff, ensuring nursing coverage 24/7 on the ward.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

All EMERGENCY personnel are expected to know and follow the hospital admissions criteria, guidelines, protocols, and the diagnosis and treatment standards in use in the Centre, and to ensure the correct compilation of clinical records and statistics in both computer and paper formats.

The main duties and responsibilities of the Paediatric Nurse are:

• management of nursing triage for the main paediatric illnesses, in collaboration with the national colleagues;
• care of paediatric patients, who are often very young and malnourished;
• nursing care in the Level II Neonatal ICU and sub-ICU (Afghanistan only);
• nursing care of cardiopathic patients (adult and paediatric) presenting for INR checks, therapy, follow-up (where previously operated at the Salam Centre for Cardiac Surgery) and/or new medical examination;
• assistance in clinical research and record keeping as required by the scientific programmes of the specialist sector of the Medical Division of EMERGENCY.

MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING OF LOCAL PERSONNEL

Clinical activities and patient care are always carried out alongside and in collaboration with local personnel, who thus benefit from training in the field. There is also provision for more specific teaching activities, managed by the international specialists, in accordance with the clinical protocols in use and as agreed with the Medical Coordinator.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

• Nursing Degree (or equivalent Diploma) and current registration on the professional nursing register of your Country of residence;
• at least 3 years’ continuous professional experience in one or more of the following specialist areas: Paediatrics or Neonatology.