Nursing Officer at Lwala Community Alliance (LCA)

Job Summary 

• Lwala Community Alliance is seeking to employ a compassionate and skilled Nursing Officer to deliver high-quality nursing care to patients and clients. The ideal candidate should have a strong background in nursing practice within the not-for-profit sector, ensuring patient-centered care while promoting the consistent delivery of exceptional health services. This role involves providing professional and ethical nursing services at the health facility and through community outreach, contributing to improved health outcomes in alignment with our mission and values. 

Key Responsibilities 

General Nursing Care 

• Provide quality medical care to both in-patients and outpatients 
• Follow universal hygiene standards taking into consideration quality and continuity of care. 
• Obtain health histories and perform comprehensive physical examinations, including psychosocial, functional, and developmental assessment. 
• Apply medical knowledge and skills to develop differential diagnoses and aided by diagnostic and laboratory results, develop/order therapeutic plan of care according to MOH and Lwala protocols and evidence-based practice standards. 
• Evaluate patient’s response to plan of care and modify as needed. Provide patient/family counselling and education. 
• Consult with other clinicians to provide the optimum level of care. 
• When necessary, arrange for patient referrals or consultations to other health facilities for specialty or higher-level management and accompany patients on referrals as needed. 
• Document all aspects of patient care and maintain accurate and complete medical records. 
• Actively participate in clinical training programs, including on-job training and skills building and training for professional development, and continually improve and update self to be able to function in all departments within the facility (ANC, MCH, PSC, OPD, and in-patient). Also attend CMEs, case review meetings, and brown bag lunches as scheduled. 
• Assist with outreaches or other activities such as health talks or community programs. 
• Ensure that the Health Facility is always in clean condition, by performing duties such as sterilising equipment, packaging kits, and changing patient sheets. 
• Maintain organisation of supplies and other materials in the facility, work with team supervisor and other staff to indicate the needs in medical equipment and drugs 
• Document all activities and record vitals as indicated by patient status and Lwala protocol. 
• Provide proper hand-off of patients during shift change. 
• Follow the reporting chain for conflict, loss or damage property, complaints, etc. 

Triage Nurse 

• Receive patients at the Clinic after registration and take the patient’s vitals carefully and accurately. 
• Examine patients giving highest priority to the injured or severely ill patients and assist them to the emergency/treatment room. 
• Assess and triage urgent and emergency cases and consult with the Clinical Officer on-call/duty to assist 
• Keep updated files and records of patients. 
• Ensure availability of equipment/instruments that may be required. 
• Mobilise all the staff required to handle emergency cases professionally and with speed. 
• Ensure patient information is treated and handled with highest confidentiality. 
• Prepare and present reports on each patient as necessary. 
• Ensure general cleanliness of the area the triage nurse is operating in. 

Inpatient Nurse 

• When monitoring inpatients, obtain vital signs, deliver scheduled medications, and carry out patient care in accordance with the directions given by the clinician. 
• Administer medication to patients. 
• Answer patients’ calls and attend to requests promptly and provide personal care and support when needed; helping them to turn in bed, support in walking, responding to calls for assistance, changing uniform and bed linen etc, as necessary 
• Conduct safe deliveries according to standards and protocols. 
• Decontaminate, clean, sort, sterilise and store surgical instruments and assist in management of medical equipment and drugs 
• Ensure facility is kept clean, tidy and orderly, and prevent highly infectiously materials or instructions by carbolizing beds, damp dusting and bed making, as appropriate 
• Ensure maintenance of documentation and records as per care procedures and standards of personal and professional conduct 
• Adhere to universal infection control standards when carrying out their duties 
• Ensure patient comfort and safety needs are met and employ use of equipment safely and property (foot stools, side rails, restraints, etc.) 
• Ensure patients get bedpans and urinals and disposal as appropriate. 
• Ensure feeding, dressing and undressing and cleaning of patients, as is necessary. 

Documents/Records 

• Document all patient information and test results in the appropriate database and records 
• Document all processes and results to ensure availability of supportive information 
• Implementing all set stock control procedures to ensure accountability 
• Ensure that data from the lab is handled confidentially at all times. 
• Prepare the clinic returns/expense reports for funds received on a weekly/monthly basis. 
• Work in liaison with accounts office to quantify what is needed and order laboratory chemicals with attached report on usage. 

Health and Safety Systems 

• Comply with all relevant safety and infection control policies and procedures and ensure tidiness of laboratory rooms, benches, and proper house-keeping. 
• Contribute to a safe and secure environment for patients, visitors, clinicians and co-workers by following established standards and procedures; comply with local and national legal regulations. 
• Maintain quality results by running standards and controls, verify equipment function through routine equipment maintenance and advanced trouble-shooting; calibrate equipment utilising approved testing procedures; monitor quality control measures and protocols. 

Quality Controls and Assurance 

•  Ensure that established procedures are adhered to in order to maintain quality assurance in delivery of clinical services. 
• Maintain quality standards established for health service delivery by the facility. 
• Ensure adherence to regulations for clinics established by Health Authorities. 
• Ensure timely reporting to the supervisor on matters that need attention/information. 
• Promote initiatives that support delivery of high-quality Clinical care services and ensure that the hospital maintains effective client service. 
• Report matters that need the respective attention/information/action of the Nursing Officer In Charge and Medical Officer Incharge/ Hospital Director in a timely manner. 

Monitoring and Learning 

• Supports monitoring and evaluation initiatives at Lwala including submission of monthly and scorecard reports 
• Maintain and use strong monitoring systems to track and report on activities and results to support effective delivery of nutrition care services 
• Periodically review performance metrics with the R&L team and employ use of data for decision making that promotes high quality clinical care services. 
• Facilitate documentation and dissemination of appropriate case studies, experiences, best practice and lessons. 
• Encourage sharing of learning and experience with the team, across the organisation and with like-minded/peer organisations. 
• Coordinate and organise teaching and educational sessions to enhance staff knowledge in nursing matters. 

Other Duties and Responsibilities 

• Perform any other duties as may be directed by management from time to time. 

Qualifications and Experience

Education and Experience Profile 

• KCSE with a minimum grade C+ 
• Diploma in Nursing from a recognized institution. 
• Must be registered with the Nursing Council of Kenya with a valid practicing license. 
• At least one (2) year relevant experience as a practicing nurse or in a similar position as a facility nursing officer. 

Personal Attributes 

• Must be a self-driven individual, diligent, honest and responsible 
• Good interpersonal and communication skills 
• Highly professional and patient to listen and attend to clients 
• Good spoken and written English and Kiswahili. 
• An individual with a passion for the wellbeing of patients 
• Calm and ability to go beyond the call of duty 
• Must be able to pay attention to detail and report accurate 
• Demonstrate excellent management and supervisory skills with the ability to work without supervision. 
• Demonstrated knowledge on HIV/AIDS management trends and best practices 
• Ability to work with impart knowledge to trainees at different literacy levels especially during health education sessions 
• Ability to offer quality services at all times to all patients without discrimination.