Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare. MSF offers assistance to people based on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation.
Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of neutrality and impartiality.
A worldwide movement
MSF was founded in Paris, France in 1971. Its principles are described in the organisation’s founding charter. It is a non-profit, self-governed organisation.
Today, MSF is a worldwide movement of 24 associations, bound together as MSF International, based in Switzerland.
Thousands of health professionals, logistical and administrative staff – most of whom are hired locally – work on programmes in some 70 countries worldwide.
Humanitarian action
MSF’s work is based on humanitarian principles. We are committed to bringing quality medical care to people caught in crisis, regardless of race, religion or political affiliation.
MSF operates independently. We conduct our own evaluations on the ground to determine people’s needs. More than 90 per cent of our overall funding comes from millions of private sources, not governments.
MSF is neutral. We do not take sides in armed conflicts, we provide care on the basis of need, and we push for independent access to victims of conflict as required under international humanitarian law.
Bearing witness and speaking out
MSF medical teams often witness violence and neglect in the course of their work, largely in regions that receive scant international attention.
At times, MSF may speak out publicly in an effort to bring a forgotten crisis to public attention, to alert the public to abuses occurring beyond the headlines, to criticise the inadequacies of the aid system, or to challenge the diversion of humanitarian aid for political interests.
Quality medical care
MSF rejects the idea that poor people deserve third-rate medical care and strives to provide high-quality care to patients. In 1999, when MSF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the organisation announced the money would go towards raising awareness of and fighting against neglected diseases.
Through the Access Campaign, and in partnership with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, this work has helped lower the price of HIV/AIDS treatment and stimulated research and development for medicines to treat malaria and neglected diseases like sleeping sickness and kala azar.Responsibilities
Administration:
Check whether the patient files are filled in correctly (e.g. Biodata, drugs chart, documentation of feedings,weight graphs, documentation of important information in the nurse’s notes using ISBAR, etc.).
Check for clear identification of every patient (bracelets and files)
Follow up of the stock of blank patient file documents (e.g. doctor’s notes, nurse’s notes, PEWS, Pesomal sheet, SDTM sheet, dietary prescription, discharge forms, etc.). Inform the Nurse Activity Manager in a timely manner when the quantities become low, so that photocopies can be made before ruptures occur.
Generate the monthly rosters in a good time.
Participate in the MMR and Q/Annual reports.
Facilitate induction and onboarding of new nursing staff
Medical care:
Assist the nurse team leader (responsible) in bedside coaching and training of the nurses, and nutrition assistants with the support of the Head of nutrition assistants.
Report the training needs to the Nurse Activity Manager in order to create and organize teaching tools and trainings together.
Supervise the quality of nursing care provided: e.g. preparation and administration of medication, measuring and interpretation of vital signs, reaction on EWS, application of the medical protocols, clinical follow-up, re- hydration, and early detection of the medical complications.
With the Head of nutrition assistant, make sure feeding sessions are correctly done, well documented and ensure the participation of all staff.
With the Head of Nutrition assistant supervise the anthropometric follow-up: correct measurement and documentation of the weight, height, MUAC and edema.
Assist in the morning ward round / pre departure for external clinic, to identify problems that should be attended to immediately and to prepare accordingly.
Check whether the nurses, and nutrition assistants understand the medical instructions to be performed (e.g. calculation of drug doses, calculation of infusion rate, steps in case of deterioration of the patient, changes in the medical and nutritional treatment, etc.).
Ensure a good and complete handover between the different shifts, different teams and different locations.
Assist the nurse team leader in maintaining a strict application of the IPC protocols in the units and for the equipment.
Supervise the respect of the standard precaution guideline and additional precautions by all staff members.
Support the nurse team leader with the inventory of the pharmacies in each unit and with the composition of the pharmacy order. Report discrepancies in consumption to the Nurse Activity Manager/Head Nurse (NKH or External activities)
Assist the nurse team leader in the follow up of the medical equipment: cleaning, maintenance, safety, replacement, daily inventory.
Perform nursing care if necessary (e.g. in case of heavy workload, in case of doubt or problem for any staff).
Overall responsible for correct waste segregation and disposal as per MSF protocol, constantly monitoring and reminding team leaders and staff of the importance.
Make sure all staff in ITFC and External activity team knows their tasks and how to perform in a satisfactory way.
Ensure that the dignity and confidentiality of the patients and the caretakers are respected.
Ensure all patients admitted are properly installed in the ward/unit and immediately registered upon entry or exit on the ward/unit register
Patient orientation:
Ensure that comprehensible health education sessions are given for all caretakers, performed by the health promoters and the medical staff.
Make sure that communication between the mental health counselor and other medical staff is clear and that mental health support is given to patients/caretakers needing it.
Ensure that the dignity and confidentiality of the patients and the caretakers are respected.
Make sure that attention is paid to the psychosocial stimulation of the patients (HP, nurses and nutrition assistants).
Teamwork and cooperation:
Ensure a good working relationship between all the staff in all the departments (internal and external) Assess and solve problems occurring between the patients and the staff following the protocol.
Assess and solve problems occurring between staff, in collaboration with the Nursing Activity Manager and Head Nurse following the protocol.
participate in team meetings, briefings and training sessions.
Requirements
Interested candidates should possess relevant a B.Sc qualification with at least 2 years of experience.
