Primary Care Nurse

CURE Children's Hospital of Uganda, a Private-Not-For-Profit (PNFP) Christian hospital specialized in Pediatric Neurosurgery and Integrated Spiritual Ministry, is seeking experienced Individuals for the Full-time position of Primary Care Nurse.

Position Title:   Primary Care Nurse

Reports to:      Nurse Manager

Supervises:      None  

Duty Station:   CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda

Department:   Nursing

Location:        Mbale, Uganda

Duration:        Fixed Term

Position Overview

To provide bedside nursing care to patients admitted in the ward, ICU and OR.

Key Result Areas and Activities   

ICU/Ward Function

• Identifies changes in patient's condition and reacts accordingly with urgency during his/her shift.
• Ensures proper daily use and handover of ICU/Ward machines and equipment.
• Implements the patient's discharge and/or referral plan within his/ her shift.
• Identifies patient needs and immediately updates the multidisciplinary team and documents in the patient's chart within his/her shift.
• Ensures that the policies and procedures of the unit are adhered to whenever on duty.
• Ensures that emergencies are immediately attended to using ICU/Ward nursing standards and protocols of care.
• Ensure constant monitoring of all indwelling devices using the appropriate checklists within his/her shift.
• Interprets patient's vital signs immediately intervenes to changes and accurately documents the findings in the patient's chart.
• Understands the patient’s physiological parameters by customizing, retrieving, and reviewing this information during his/her shift.

Carries out Nursing Assessment and Care

• Collects comprehensive and accurate data regarding the patient’s health status.
• Analyses data effectively to identify the patient's health problems or risks according to the NANDA diagnoses.
• Develops a clear, measurable, realistic, and individualized care plan based on the patient’s needs and diagnoses.
• Implements the interventions outlined in the care plan to address patient needs.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of the interventions and outcomes of the care given.

Provide Health Education and Orientation to Patients and/or Caretakers

• Participates in daily and scheduled weekly health education talks to caregivers and patients as per CURE health education forms.
• Orients newly admitted patients and caregivers on the operations of the ICU/Ward during his/her shift throughout his/her shift.
• Immediately responds to information needs of patients and caregivers and documents in the patient's chart. 

Provide Pre- and Post-Surgical Care to Patients

• Ensures the patient is fully prepared 30 minutes before the time of call to the theatre.
• Ensures that the NPO is well communicated and understood by the patient /caregiver immediately after anesthesia review and accurate documentation is done in the patient’s chart.
• Ensures that the pre-operative vital signs are done and any other orders processed and all charted 30 mins before surgery.
• Ensures that the comprehensive surgical checklist is filled 30 minutes before the patient is called to the theatre.
• Ensures that all relevant preoperative lab investigations about the patient's surgery have been done and filed before the patient is called to the theatre.
• Ensures that the PACU form is signed immediately after receiving a detailed verbal and written report from the PACU Nurse.
• Ensures that the post-operative orders are read, understood, and implemented immediately after receiving the patient.
• Ensures that fluid balance chart is accurately filled and balanced off at the end of 24hrs when initiated on a patient.

Process Doctors Orders

• Ensures a well-organized workstation 30 minutes before the ward round starts.
• Actively participates in ward rounds with the multidisciplinary team during his/her shift.
• Follows up on laboratory tests 30 minutes after they are requested and immediately gives feedback to the attending clinician.

Cares For Wounds Using Sterile Technique

• Set appropriate sterile and non-sterile equipment/procedure room 10 minutes before the procedure.
• Performs immediate hand hygiene before the start of the procedure.
• Uses appropriate PPEs during the procedure.
• Appropriately disinfect all used instruments and prepare them for sterilization by 11:00 AM.
• Appropriately segregate and dispose off the waste in the proper bins immediately after the procedure.
• Documents all pre-, intra, and post-wound dressing findings in the patient’s chart immediately upon completion of the procedure.

Documentation

• Implement orders in the patient chart within 30 minutes of receiving.
• Provides a comprehensive, clear, and accurate record of the patient’s condition, treatments, and responses as per the patient’s chart.
• Ensures the documentation is complete, timely, and reflects real-time patient care as per the EMR timestamps.
• Ensures clear, legible, and easy-to-understand documentation with the use of standardized abbreviations.
• Adheres to privacy and legal requirements in the documentation process.
• Ensures documentation is consistent with the patient’s care plan as in the EMR.
• Effectively uses clinical tools and systems for documentation.
• Performs patient chart audit and records in the 24-hour chart check before 12am.

Conduct an Appropriate Handover Process

• Receives patient report from the previous shift and confirms the entries made as per patient handover form.
• Write a receiving report documenting the assessment findings as per CURE Uganda standards of patient assessment.
• Makes inventory of all available supplies and equipment before receiving or handing over as per equipment handover checklist.
• Writes as handover clearly stating what transpired during the shift, especially regarding vitals, medicines given, and status of the patient as per the patient handover form.

Daily Management of the Resuscitation Trolley During the Assigned Shift

• Ensure emergency trolleys are fully stocked and readily available at all times.
• Verify that all required drugs and equipment are present and within expiry date.
• Confirm that the defibrillator and oxygen supply are functional.
• Checking for expired drugs and supplies daily and notifying the shift supervisor of the short expiries.
• Complete and document daily trolley checks each shift as per the checklist.
• Report and follow up on any discrepancies or shortages promptly to the shift supervisor.
• Participate in audits and reviews related to emergency preparedness, identify areas of improvement, and implement corrective actions.

Carries Out Shift Leader Role

• Assists the shift supervisor in ensuring that all admitted patients have been assigned a bed and an attending nurse within 15 minutes.
• Assists the ward clerk/shift supervisor in ensuring that all discharged and referred patients have been entered in the discharge register by the discharging nurse within 30 minutes.
• Acts as a point of contact in the ICU/Ward in the absence of the shift supervisor.
• Assists the shift supervisor in ensuring that the team has prepared for the ward round 30 minutes before the starting time.
• Assists the shift supervisor in ensuring the ward is tidy at all times.
• Assists the shift supervisor in ensuring that clean hospital linen is available for caregivers during his/her shift.
• Assists the shift supervisor in ensuring that all patient investigations have been done and results filed in the patient's file by the attending nurse within his/her shift.

Spiritual Ministry Participation    

• Participates in the hospital’s Spiritual Ministry programs.
• Attend chapel and departmental bible studies with staff (depending on weekly schedule)

Continuing Professional Development Activities

• Identification of short-term training that can help you perform your role better.
• Participate in the scheduled training and sensitization arrangements by the hospital for all co-workers.
• Ensure that the professional training tracker is updated as per the above-mentioned trainings attended.
• A minimum of 3 professional development sessions - self initiated done in the fiscal year.
• Works with one’s supervisor to guide in mentorship and coaching for continual professional growth

Punctuality and Attendance          

• Report to work as scheduled.
• Report to work on time as per schedule.

Participation in Meetings

• Attend and participate in department meetings as scheduled
• Attend and participate in general co-workers’ meetings as scheduled.

. Occupational Health & Safety Function

• Following & complying with H&S policies, processes & applying them to your own work activities, including using/wearing Personal Protective Equipment as required.
• Participating in activities directed at preventing harm & promoting well-being in the workplace Identifying, reporting & self-managing hazards where appropriate.

Please note this position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the co-worker for this position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Co-worker must perform other tasks, duties, and projects as assigned, as a member of the Human Resources team.
Essential Qualifications

• Completed Diploma in Nursing, or an equivalent combination of higher education and relevant experience providing comparable knowledge and abilities 
• Possess a valid practicing license from the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council
• Good knowledge of general scientific principles, practices, specialized techniques used in the practice of nursing
• High degree of integrity and professional values.
• Excellent communication and report writing skills 
• Strong knowledge of primary care nursing practices. 
• Positive learning attitude and teamwork skills.      

Please note:  Candidates who have previously applied for this position should not re-apply.

Professional Essential Skills

• Knowledge to carry out the duties of the role. Ability to work in an accurate and consistent manner, utilizing systems and programs in the most efficient manner. High level of attention to detail.
• Accuracy, Ability to work on own initiative while remaining an effective member of a team. Demonstrate effective team skills Planning & Organizing, demonstrate flexibility and openness to change
• Maintaining structured systems, can multi-task, without losing focus manages competing and changing priorities in line with the demands of the in-patient unit.

Essential Experience and Knowledge

• Maintains open communication with members of various levels of management.
• Good teamwork and interpersonal skills. Good oral and written communication and presentation skills.
• High level planning and organizational skills including efficient and effective time management and the ability to prioritize tasks.

Essential Experience and Knowledge

• At least one-year experience in Nursing or demonstrated ability and desire to learn and embrace new ideas. 
• Experience working in a hospital environment.
• Demonstrated experience working with Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems for patient documentation and clinical workflows.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) for communication, reporting, and data management.
• Familiarity with Google Workspace tools (Docs, Sheets, Forms, Calendar) for collaborative tasks and scheduling.
• Ability to navigate hospital management systems and other digital platforms relevant to clinical and administrative duties.

Essential Personal Attributes and Aptitudes

• Demonstrate good command of the English language both written and verbal to effectively carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role.
• Demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively, with compassion and empathy with patients and their families.
• Display awareness and appreciation of the service users. 
• Ability to communicate at all levels.
• Draws on a variety of communication methods to fit situation/circumstances.
• Listens openly, using questions to check for understanding/avoid misinterpretation.
• Strong ability to learn CCHU Services, Core Values & Ethos.

Knowledge, Skills Competences & Abilities

• Willingness and ability to adopt new knowledge and research procedures.
• Flexible attitude to duties and to hours of work with ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Highly organized and meticulous.

This position is full-time fixed-term renewable and based in Mbale.

The deadline for receipt of applications is Open until position is filled.

“Applicants are required to submit copies of all relevant academic documents. Incomplete applications or failure to provide the necessary documentation will regrettably lead to disqualification.”

Important Notice on Recruitment

• CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (including application, shortlisting, interviews, reference verification, appointment, training, or any other stage).

• The hospital will not be responsible for fraudulent correspondences, loss of money, or theft resulting from engagement in fraudulent recruitment activities.

• Any form of lobbying or undue influence during the recruitment process will lead to automatic disqualification.