Community Nurse: Feed the Children Jobs in Kenya

Position: Community Health Nurse
Reports to: HIV/AIDS Programme Manager
Closing date: 04 Aug 2010
Location: Kenya

The Community Health nurse is responsible for providing an integrated, comprehensive continuum of care for people infected with HIV and AIDS in the FTC HIV/AIDS programme areas, mainly within the slum areas of Nairobi.

The incumbent must be trained on Home and Community based Care.

Having work experience of at least 3 years in a Home and Community based Care programme

Has proven skills and competence in provision of Home based care services
Specific duties and responsibilities include;

  • Leading, guiding and working with the HIV/AIDS Treatment and Care Team in provision of HCBC
  • Training and working closely with CHWs and Family Care givers to perform day-to-day tasks such as bathing, lifting and bandaging the patients
  • Identifying all sick adults and children needing treatment and care and ensure they are appropriated served. (either at home or though referral to Health facility.)
  • Ensure quality care is given to all PLHIV and their children as required .e.g. hygiene, exercise, and feeding.
  • Working with the nutritionist in ensuring proper diet for all beneficiaries, especially for those with special needs e.g. those with severe or moderate malnutrition.
  • Providing regular physical examination of the HIV infected adults and children with occasional assessment of physical and mental development (for the children)
  • Growth monitoring including monthly weight and height of children born of HIV infected mothers.
  • Making prompt referrals for more professional medical help that may not be provided at home.
  • Maintaining regular contact and partnerships with other organizations to provide a holistic care to the patients, families and Communities.
  • Establish and maintain links to a hospital or health facilities, NGOs or faith groups, for further assistance to the patients’ wellbeing
  • Provide regular home visits to strengthen the PLHIVs, and the family care givers emotionally.
  • Ensuring that the client’s social, psychological and emotional needs – often termed ‘psychosocial’ needs are met.
  • Involve the social workers, CHWs, Counsellors, and local communities in providing ongoing support and ensuring integration within existing health systems
  • Provide Patients/ family treatment literacy and Support adherence to ARV drugs and medication for HIV related illnesses, as well as helping with nutrition, as the person’s diet may differ from other members of the household.
  • Monitoring and recording progress, making notes of events such as toilet visits, fluid intake and symptom occurrence are also other tasks that will be undertaken by family and home based care workers and volunteers.
  • Maintain communication between the families and home based care groups
  • Establish and maintain a system for tracking the distribution and utilization and replenishment of HBC Kits .
  • Ensuring that the HIV infected people under the HBC programme are sufficiently supplied with food ration for their nutritional upkeep
  • Ensuring children of the HIV infected mothers are immunized against preventable childhood infections by referring them to the MCH.
  • Making sure ARVs are given as prescribed, and patients have an adequate supply in stock and that children on ARVS have their CD4 count checked every six months.
  • Maintaining the drugs and HBC kits’ inventory.
  • Making hospital/HC schedules, liaising with transport department and other special medical departments e.g. surgical, ophthalmology, ENT, renal and dental for the patients’ referral
  • Attending to emergencies in the homes and organizing emergency hospitalization and accompanying patients to hospital when very sick.
  • Completing monthly medical statistics and other medical reports.
  • Ensuring all the Treatment and Care Team members, CHWs and all Carers follow infection control measures.
  • Providing education on daily care and necessary follow ups to CHWs and carers when patients are discharged from hospitals
  • Prepare weekly medical reports and participate in weekly HIV teams meeting.
  • Working in collaboration with all Prevention and Social support Teams to ensure smooth running of the programme.
  • Any other duties assigned by the HIV/AIDS manager
Qualifications
  • Registered or Enrolled Community Health Nurse.
  • Registration or enrollment with the Nursing Council of Kenya.
  • At least three years nursing experience in a HBC set up.
  • Good people and organizational skills
  • Basic computer skills.
  • Good interpersonal and communication skills
How to apply

Send an application letter and attch CV to hr@feedthechildren.co.ke
You can also visit www.kenyanvacancies.com for more jobs