Nutrition Nurse

Job Description 

Job Title: Nutrition Nurse 

Reporting To: Nurse in Charge 

Matrix Management: Kenya Program 

Base Location: Dadaab 

Summary: 

This position exists under the Health and Nutrition sub-project. The overall objective is to provide safe, effective and curative health services, targeting the most important causes of illness and death among the refugee population. This position exists to ensure smooth running of the camps and efficient services of the same at Dadaab. 

Responsibilities 

• Ensure care of children admitted on stabilisation.

• Monitor screening of all under 5’s attending the hospital 

• Together with medical Doctor/clinician responsible for ensuring appropriate patient feeding with correct type of feeds and amount 

• Organize and participates in on job training of staff in her/his 

• Participate in the shift system and emergency call outs 

• To manage and supervise the provision of nursing care and nutritional rehabilitation in the therapeutic feeding centre 

• Undertake day to day assessment and provide clinical care to severely malnourished children n the Stabilisation centre 

• Manage treatment and nursing care regimes for severely malnourished children 

• Monitor and evaluate individual patients and ensure timely review of complicated cases by the doctor or clinical officer 

• Provide support to paediatric ward on identification of children who meet criteria for transfer to stabilisation ward 

• Supervise auxiliary nurses and oversee the organization of daily TFC activities 

• Ensure adherence to therapeutic feeding program protocols of admission and discharge criteria 

• Ensure adherence to systematic treatment protocols including micronutrient supplementation and dehydration guidelines 

• Ensure proper preparation of feeds and adherence to feeding protocols 

• Ensure daily progress monitoring including weighing, plotting and proper recording NUTRITION NURSE 

• Identifies patient care requirements by establishing personal rapport with potential and actual patients and other persons in a position to understand care requirements 

• Establishes a compassionate environment by providing emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients and families. 

• Promotes patient's independence by establishing patient care goals, family to understand condition, medications, and self-care skill 

• Assures quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards; measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and standards; making or recommending necessary adjustments 

• Resolves patient problems and needs by utilizing multidisciplinary team strategies. 

• Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations; calling for assistance from health care support personnel. 

• Protects patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols, medication administration and storage procedures, and controlled substance regulations. 

• Documents patient care services by charting in patient and department records such as nursing Cardex, treatment, observation charts and inputs and output charts 

• Maintains continuity among nursing teams by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities, and continuing needs. 

• Maintains parents/guardians confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential. 

• Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; following manufacturer's instructions calling for repairs; maintaining equipment inventories; evaluating new equipment and techniques. 

• Maintains nursing supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level; anticipating needed supplies; placing and expediting orders for supplies; 

• Ensures proper use of equipment and supplies as needed to accomplish job results. 

• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending participating in CMEs 

• Liaise with ward in charge head nurse on care of the patients in the ward 

• Maintains a cooperative relationship among health care teams by communicating information; responding to requests; building rapport; participating in team problem-solving methods.  Participate in on job training of auxiliary nurse 

• Train cleaners and other support staff on infection prevention 

• Ensure proper physical handing over of patients and inventory after every shift and thus staff will be accountable to ward in charge for all drugs, equipment’s and other ward materials. 

• Take charge of the ward during his/her shifts and should reports all incidents that occur doing the shift to the ward nurse 

• Attend mortality audit in the ward and all meeting in the hospital 

• Ensures ward is covered 24hours and being available in the ward thorough out his/her shift.  

• Educate the patient’s family about their care while in the hospital and what they will need to do at home. 

• Developing the day-to-day nursing care plans both in the hospital and for care after discharge, to be administered by families and care givers at home

 • Participate at the morning meeting with the hospital staff 

• Participate in daily ward rounds and oversee management of patients after the ward round in consultation with the clinical officer and camp doctor as necessary 

• Ensure patients in the ward receive timely treatment as required and all patient documentation is up to date including nursing Cardex, observation charts and treatment sheets 

• Liaise with the nurse in charge of the ward and head nurse through the head nurse to make sure ward materials and drugs are adequate (beds, mattresses, mosquito nets etc) 

• Responsible for the discharge summaries and writes the prescriptions for patients on discharge 

• Prepares drug orders for the ward and ensures safe custody. 

• Incorporate the duties of the nurse in charge when he/she is away on leave/RNR 

• In consultation with nurse in charge, prepare daily duty allocation in the ward 

• Ensure use of universal precaution of infection control and good levels of hygiene at the department 

• Supervise the work of auxiliary staff and to give help and support where needed 

• Oversee the kitchen staff and help mothers in distributing patient’s therapeutic and milk meals. 

• Ensure the waste management circuit runs smoothly 

• Undertake daily dump dusting of the ward 

• Follow the IRK guidelines and ensure that everybody adhere to them 

• Participate in weekly meetings to be held at hospital and present relevant issues to the Head nurse and the camp doctor 

• participate to any special exercise organised in the camps (Nutritional Survey, Mass Campaign) as need be: 

• Report any outbreak potential diseases to the nurse and head nurse 

• Substitute for other nurses as coverage demands 

• Follow the security rules of IRK 

• Collaborate with other agencies at camp level 

• Respect the internal rules of IRK and the MOH staff regulation 

• Respect IRK guidelines 

• Carry out any other duties as deemed necessary by the ward in charge and head nurse. 

Note: 

• Can be transferred from department to the other. 

• This job description can be adapted at any time by IRK Health and Nutrition Project 

REQUIREMENTS/ QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition. 

• Registered nurse to practice nursing/nutrition. 

• Experience in IMAM. 

• Previous experience in hardship area, in an area of insecurity with limited resources. 

• Humanitarian experience will be an added advantage. 

How to Apply:

Send in your updated CV with cover letter and 3 professional references to info@islamic-relief.or.ke or ir2012hr@gmail.com to reach us no later than Friday 21 June 2013 . clearly mentioning the position you are applying for. CVs will be screened on an ongoing basis and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

NOTE: CVs will be screened on an ongoing basis and Interviews will be conducted STRICTLY in Nairobi office,only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.