Patient House Nurse Attendant

Job Description

Position title: Patient House Nurse Attendant

Reports to: Oncology Program Director

Base Location: Kigali, Rwanda

Start Date:May 2019

PIH ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE

Partners In Health (PIH), headquartered in Boston, MA, is an internationally recognized non-profit organization whose mission is to provide a preferential option for the poor in health care. Through its service delivery, training, advocacy, and research, PIH works globally to bring the benefits of modern medical science to those most in need and to serve as an antidote to despair. PIH programs have worked in Haiti, Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, Russia, Rwanda, Lesotho, Malawi, Burundi, Kazakhstan, the Dominican Republic, and Boston.

In 2005, PIH and its Rwandan sister organization, Inshuti Mu Buzima (IMB), began working in partnership with the government of Rwanda to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic afflicting the population and to comprehensively strengthen the public health system in rural, underserved districts in Rwanda. Today, PIH supports delivery of comprehensive integrated non-communicable disease (NCD) services in three rural districts of Rwanda, including cancer care. Cancer care is predominantly based at the flagship Butaro Cancer Center of Excellence (BCCOE), which was inaugurated in June 2012 and has since provided care to over 7000 patients, with services ranging from cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. With the opening of the new radiation facility in Kigali, the program will transition to sending selected patients to Kanombe Military Hospital for radiotherapy services. Patients receiving radiotherapy at Kanombe Military Hospital and whose family are not in Kigali will be accommodated at an IMB patient hostel.

SUMMARY OF ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Nurse House Manager is a full-time position based in Kigali, Rwanda and will provide medical support to patients of all age and backgroundsstaying at the IMB patient hostel while undergoing radiotherapy at Kanombe Military Hospital. This person will be responsible for ensuring the safety and comfort of patients during their stay at the patient hostel and for coordinating care with the physician(s) involved in the patient’s care at BCCOE, Kanombe Military Hospital or other hospitals. He/She will perform routine medical care, including evaluating vital signs and administering medication, and provide first aid and respond to medical emergencies when necessary. Additionally, this person

will assess patient’s needs, monitor patient health and keep proper documentation of patient care, all while maintaining constant communication with all physicians involved in the patient’s care.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Serve as a liaison between PIH/IMB, Butaro District Hospital and Kanombe Military Hospital

Support patients staying at the hostel with services in their accommodation, meals and transport to and from Kanombe Military Hospitaland ensuring their safety and comfort while at the patient hostel

Assess patients’ conditions and perform evaluation tasks, including measuring vital signs and medication review, and documentobservations

Administer medication as prescribed by the patient’s physician

Deliver first aid and respond to medical emergencies

Identify care issues and make recommendations about changes to the patient’s care plan, under the supervision of the patient’s physician

Coordinate with physicians at Kanombe Military Hospital, BCCOE and anyone else involved in the patient’s care plan

Report adverse effects and medical emergencies to the radiation oncologist at Kanombe Military Hospital, medical oncologist at the shared clinic, and the Oncology Program Director at BCCOE

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POSITION

• Degree in nursing (at least A1)
• At least three years of experience in nursing or related field
• Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to manage high-stress situations
• Compassionate and friendly demeanor
• Understands and upholds principles of equity in health care
• Experience in oncology care preferred
• Ability to work mainly on night shifts