Specialist Nurse

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, healthcare exclusion and natural or man-made disasters. I- Scope of responsibilities: The specialist nurse is the case manager for those patients with chronic disease and should: Ensure follow up and coordination of services for patients with chronic disease (Respiratory, Diabetes Mellitus, Cardio-vascular or mental health). Function as the focal person in the health centre for specific chronic disease/s and ensure personal knowledge and clinical skills are adequately and regularly enhanced. Ensure protocols and policies are followed and contribute to patient management protocols as requested. Ensure supervision and training of a team in the specialist area, abide by international standards for medical ethics and infection control. II- Function responsibilities: a- Medical activities: Apply medical knowledge and skills to clinically manage the patient (helped by clinical examination, laboratory results and exams available) Ensure a medical follow-up of quality and if necessary  refer to other clinicians or health facilities Ensure the patients receives multi-disciplinary care and identify gaps in the treatment package Ensure the patient and the family receive adequate education and support Apply hygiene standards in all medical activities b- Patient care: Know, apply and make sure universal hygiene standards and security rules are respected for medical premises, routing of patients, routing of linen. Ensure asepsis rules during all nursing cares. Ensure quality of the sterilization process. Compensate (or make sure that someone can compensate in the right way) patient lack of autonomy especially regarding his feeding, his personal hygiene, his movements and his comfort. Organise and carry out care and treatments according to doctor’s prescription and MSF protocols. Ensure that quality and continuity of care are respected. Carry out surveillance of the patient, assessment of his health state evolution, identification of emergency situation and information of the doctor. In case of emergency, carry out first aid care and treatment according to prior written protocol done by the doctor. During medical consultations, ensure the sorting and detect priority acute cases. Carry out when necessary a therapeutic education of the patient (and family) using a patient based approach. c- Management: Ensure staff training (formal and informal), under the supervision of the hierarchical referent. Manage efficiently the pharmacy and medical equipment: drugs orders, follow-up of the stock, storage conditions, inventories, follow-up of expired drugs and their destruction if required. d-  Monitoring, analysis and reporting; Participate in the development of the plan of action Participate actively in the monitoring and the reporting of medical activities (correctly fill in patient files, forms, statistics, reports) and propose analyse of these statistics. Ensure a relevant transfer of information to the next duty team. Report immediately to the technical referent any problem arising in the service, especially the loss/ robbery/damage of medical equipment or medicines. III- Specific Activities linked to context: The specialist nurse is expected to have or develop the skills to be/become an expert in their field The specialist nurse may operate both within the health centre and outside including home visits and community educational work As all staff, the specialist nurse is expected to maintain good relationships with other specialist centres, referral centres, local organisations and the community in order to contribute to the effectiveness of the health centre as a health service provider