Mission and Main Activities
- Oversee the overall well-being of the child and promptly address various medical issues. Detect and respond swiftly to critical medical concerns in children, promptly notifying the physician of serious cases.
- These include conditions like hypo- or hyperthermia, tachycardia, arrhythmia, respiratory distress syndrome, dehydration, diarrhea, vomiting, refusal to eat, severe anemia, edema, wounds, and pain.
- Regularly assess vital signs according to the child's condition and record all findings, including temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, saturation, diarrhea, vomiting, edema, etc., on the monitoring sheet.
- Continuously monitor and revise the rehydration protocol for dehydrated children.
- Administer necessary treatments as required.
Main Responsibilities
- Medication Preparation and Administration:
- Prepare prescribed medications, adhering to specified dosages.
- Prior to administering medications, verify the card number and the child's bracelet for accuracy.
- Employ aseptic nursing techniques to ensure the child's safety and well-being.
- Create a conducive environment by calling the child and ensuring comfort for both the mother and child during treatment.
- Administer prepared medications by crushing tablets and diluting them with a small quantity of water.
- Ensure the child consumes the complete prescribed dose. If vomiting occurs within 10 to 15 minutes post-administration, re-administer the same dose.
Injection Procedure:
- When administering injections, adhere to precise injection site guidelines and employ rigorous aseptic techniques.
- Maintain accurate record-keeping by documenting the injection procedure on the processing sheet.
ORS Administration:
- Administer and regularly update the appropriate quantity of Résomal (or ORS for infants and moderately malnourished children) in accordance with the established protocol.
Fluid Infusions and Transfusions:
- Regularly assess and adjust flow rates for infusions and transfusions every 15 minutes as needed.
- Adhere to established protocols for monitoring blood transfusions and infusions, promptly reporting any irregularities.
- Document fluid administration on the child's monitoring sheet.
Dressing and External Care:
- Perform dressing changes following nursing protocols.
- Ensure proper placement and care of nasogastric tubes (SNGs), with daily attention and replacement every 3 days.
- Maintain strict hygiene and universal precautions during care.
- Consult children in different phases, including intensive care, and follow consultation schedules.
Clinical Examination and Care Decision:
- Conduct thorough head-to-toe clinical examinations, considering medical history, treatment, and weight trends.
- Make informed decisions based on observed signs and symptoms, respecting national protocols.
- Determine necessary laboratory tests, monitoring frequency, treatment adjustments, and potential consultations with the doctor.
- Evaluate the need for dietary changes following national nutritional guidelines.
Nutritional Monitoring and Management:
- Monitor children's nutritional status and understand admission, referral, transfer, and exit criteria as per national protocols.
- Calculate target weight using Z scores and validate weight curve accuracy.
- Inform mothers about their child's progress and provide explanations about the care process.
- Oversee morning weighing sessions and guide diet changes while adhering to nutritional protocols.
- Supervise nutritional assistants and ensure adherence to meal and hygiene guidelines.
Hygiene and Equipment Oversight:
- Maintain hygiene standards in different care areas, including ICU and Pediatric Ward.
- Verify drug availability and equipment integrity.
- Ensure proper equipment storage and maintenance, reporting damages as needed.
- Conduct daily checks of resuscitation equipment in the emergency room and update missing items.
Patient Education and Comfort:
- Educate mothers about children's care procedures and provide reassurance during treatments.
- Participate in health education for companions, emphasizing proper food and hygiene practices.
- Assist mothers with care when necessary to support their understanding.
Team Communication and Handover:
- Facilitate smooth transitions between teams through effective oral and written handovers.
- Provide comprehensive oral handovers during team changes, addressing specific child concerns with the relief nurse.
- Document all significant events during the shift in written handover reports.
Facility Maintenance:
- Maintain cleanliness and order in the care environment, ensuring proper equipment storage and sanitation at the end of each service.
Team Leadership and Care Oversight:
- Lead and motivate nurse aids and hygienists on a daily basis, ensuring optimal performance and adherence to care standards.
- Provide formal and informal staff training, in coordination with hierarchical referents, to enhance team competence and skills.
- Maintain oversight of care quality to ensure consistently high standards.
Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting:
- Actively engage in monitoring and reporting medical activities, including accurate completion of patient records, forms, statistics, and reports.
- Offer insightful analysis of gathered statistics to contribute to informed decision-making.
- Facilitate effective communication by ensuring correct information transfer to the next service team.
Timely Problem Reporting:
- Swiftly communicate any service-related issues, including medical facility loss, theft, or damage, to the technical referent for immediate resolution.
Adaptability and Assigned Tasks:
- Undertake additional tasks as directed by the direct supervisor, aligning with the position's objectives and contributing to overall effectiveness.
Experience and Requirements
- Essential: recognize Nursing Diploma / Degree
- Essential: Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria
- Essential: 2 years experience in a similar position in a Medical organization preferably INGO
- Previous experience as Nurse with ALIMA or another INGO is desirable
- Fluency in Hausa is essential.
- Oral and written English language are mandatory.
Behavioral Skills:
- Strong interpersonal skills, teamwork, active listening, and effective communication skills
- Cultural competency and patient advocacy
- Ability to work on initiative and adaptability to changing needs and situations
- Ability to work under pressure and calm in emergency situations.