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, Sudan, 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 technical and operational, patient care and organisational tasks of the Operating Theatre department.

BACKGROUND AND ORGANISATION OF WORK

The Operating Theatre Nurse supervises, teaches and works alongside the national staff colleagues carrying out the various nursing tasks and roles in the operating theatre (scrub nurse, running nurse) and in areas auxiliary to surgical activity (sterilisation services).

The Operating Theatre Nurse is responsible to the Head Nurse, who is in charge of the management and organisation of the project.

The main areas of work are:

• STERILISATION;

• OPERATING THEATRES: 2-3 operating theatres depending on the admission criteria of the Centre

The workload and rotation are variable, depending on the needs and organisational set-up of the hospital; there will usually be at least one day off a week, with on-call 24/7 in case of surgical emergency.

The Operating Theatre Nurse organises the work of the national staff in his/her area of responsibility, together with the Head Nurse of the project.

DUTIES AND REPONSIBILITIES

All EMERGENCY international 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 international OT nurse – scrub are:

• management and supervision of sterilisation services;

• preparation of the theatre for operations and organisation of the work of the national team in theatre;

• direct participation in surgical procedures;

• assistance in clinical research and record keeping as required by the scientific programmes of the specialist sector of the Medical Division of EMERGENCY.

STERILISATION SERVICES

Each Centre is equipped to carry out the following procedures:

• steam sterilisation via autoclave, including very basic models;

• chemical sterilisation using formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde etc.;

• quality control of the sterilisation processes in use, via the appropriate tests (Bowie-Dick, biological and chemical tests).

MANAGEMENT AND ORDERS OF STOCKS AND SUPPLIES

The Operating Theatre Nurse is responsible for checking that levels of supplies of materials and equipment are always adequate in terms of quantity and quality, and for informing the team leader (where present) or Medical Coordinator of any requirements.

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 individual needs of each hospital.

The technological level of the equipment present in the Centres is suited to the clinical and managerial protocols in use, and the level of professional autonomy of the national staff, with the aim of achieving – and sustaining – high standards of care. Diagnostic equipment, basic laboratory tests, technical and auxiliary services are always available.

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 theatre areas: Emergency Surgery, Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Cardiac Surgery (including Paediatric), Paediatric Surgery as a scrub or anaesthesia nurse.

• good knowledge of the English language (at least B1, Europass)