MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES FRANCE –BLANTYRE

 Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is a non-profit, independent international humanitarian organization committed to delivering medical aid to populations facing crises, with a steadfast commitment to impartiality and without regard to race, religion, creed, or political affiliation. In Malawi, MSF collaborates closely with the Ministry of Health and the local community, particularly in the Cervical Cancer project in the Blantyre district, as well as the CBO Project in Zalewa and Dedza District.

MSFF is looking for its Blantyre Cervical Cancer Project Office:

OPERATING  THEATRE (OT) NURSE – 1 POSITION

Workplace                   :        Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH), Blantyre

Type of contract :  1 Year Fixed Term Contract with Possible Extension  Start date :    April 2024

Job Summary 

The Operating Theatre (OT) Nurse shall provide direct and individualized nursing care (patient-centred care) to all patients undergoing surgical procedures for cervical cancer and other gynaecological cancers as may be validated by the project based on best-in-class operating procedures, nursing disciplines, and patient safety protocols; coordinate and consult with the Surgeons and Anaesthetists to assess, plan, implement and evaluate both minor and major operations while maintaining highest standard of infection control measures according to MSF standards and protocols.

Main purpose of the position

Organize and carry-out all nursing activities related to the operating theatre (OT) running, according to MSF health protocols, universal hygienic standards and in coordination with the surgeon and anaesthetist, to ensure a smooth functioning of the surgical activities (pre, intra, and post-operative care) offered to patients

Key Responsibilities 

• Carry-out and supervise administrative procedures and documents (check identity of patient and his/her consent for the operation, fill in patients’ files, forms, statistics, quantitative surgical data collection, etc.), and report any problematic situations and cases arising, to have updated and correct information about the day-to-day activity and ensuring proper transfer of information.
• Knowing, promoting, implementing, and following up the universal hygiene standards/precautions, bio-hazard prevention and infection control, security rules and other protocols and procedures in the medical premises and ensuring high standards of hygiene of his/her working environment including participating in Unit Deep Cleaning at scheduled times.
• Knowing and adherence to Accidental Exposure to Blood Protocol.
• Monitors patients’ physical and emotional well-being throughout the care continuum, and always respecting medical secrets and confidentiality, as well as patient’s privacy.
• Carrying out and supervising administrative procedures and documents (fills in patient’s files, forms, consumptions, statistics, etc.), ensuring appropriate written/oral handover, and reporting any problematic situations and cases that may arise. Filling in all necessary registers and health files; participate in data collection.
• Participating in the department-related pharmacy and medical equipment inventories, control, and maintenance (quality and its functioning, storage conditions, follow-up of expired drugs, stock taking of medicines and materials at every team changeover ensuring no material is taken out of nursing area/wards without prior authorization, etc.)
• Participating in preparing for each shift by ensuring the availability of adequate instruments and all other supplies required for surgical procedures and general patient care in the OT; ensures all user maintenance protocols are observed and that all accompanying checklists are correctly filled out, among other preparations.
• Ensuring proper care and maintenance of materials in the Operating Theatre by checking the function of equipment and instruments as per protocol; informing OT Nurse Specialist Supervisor for appropriate actions if there are defective ones; checking of expiry dates of instruments and supplies in general.
• Properly collects and disposes materials used for surgery and ensures that the cleaning of the Operating Room is completed before next operation and at the end of the day while ensuring that all recyclable instruments and materials used for surgical procedures are promptly transported to the CSSD for processing.

Scrub Nurse Responsibilities

• Preparing for every surgical procedure by ensuring that every member of the Surgery Team puts on correct attire, and patient is properly draped; ensures that instruments and supplies for surgery are available and properly used; ensures surgical hand washing as per protocol; ensures correct operation site preparation; ensures that surgical count sheet and surgical safety checklist are properly used, among other preparations.
• Assisting Surgeon(s) during operation via correct handling and passing of instruments, maintenance of sterile field before and during the operation, and ensuring that all personnel in the theatre follow rules of sterility and asepsis, among other tasks.
• Preparing patient to leave the Operating Room to Recovery Room aka post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) in collaboration with Anesthetist after surgery by ensuring that patient’s vital parameters are checked, drains and tubes are secure, and that patient is fit for transfer.

Circulating Nurse Responsibilities

• Properly receives patients in the operating theatre by checking patient’s identity, fasting status, allergies, duly signed informed consent form, among other protocol-prescribed preoperative requirements; reassures patients.
• Participating in preparing the theatre before surgery by ensuring waste, linen as well as used instrument bins are available; ensures, in collaboration with Scrub Nurse that all equipment, instruments and supplies for surgery are available.
• Ensuring patient safety via correct positioning and proper skin preparation; ensures that surgical count sheet and surgical safety checklists are correctly administered.
• Assisting Scrub Nurse and Surgeon(s) as required via ensuring that no member of the team breeches sterile field, controlling staff and staff movement during operation.
• Ensuring that all specimens are correctly labelled, stored and transported to the laboratory promptly.
• Preparing patient to leave operating theatre to Recovery Room in collaboration with Scrub Nurse and Anesthetist.

Recovery Room Nurse Responsibilities

• Ensuring optimal care for patients in the PACU in collaboration with the Anesthetist.
• Receiving patients from the operating room and takes handover instructions from the Anesthetist/Surgeon when necessary.
• Maintaining adequate patient care by checking and recording regular observations according to Anesthetist/Surgeon orders and MSF Protocols
• Notifying Anesthetist/Surgeon without delay if observations fall outside of defined parameters
• Always Remaining with patient in the PACU in the absence of the Anesthetist.
• Participating in handing over and transporting patients to ward Nurses after recovery as decided by Anesthetist/Surgeon

Training and Management Responsibilities

• Assisting in orientation and training of ALL new OT Staff.
• Participating in formation and protection of rules and measures that aides OT activities.
• Participating in Meetings and Training sessions whenever they are organized.

Data Collection and Reporting

• Accurately and promptly document all surgical procedures, patient outcomes, and any adverse events or complications in dedicated registers and files.
• Participating in collection of data required for monitoring and evaluation of overall surgical team activities/performance.

Requirements

How to Apply

Applicants meeting the requirements are encouraged to send their Cover Letter, Updated CV, ID Copy, and relevant certificates, in Pdf or word format, to the Human Resources Manager at Médecins sans Frontières France through email to  msff-blantyrerecruitment@paris.msf.org. Please use the subject line “OT NURSE, Your Full Name,” and ensure that each file is appropriately labelled, such as “CV – (Name)”. Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.

Closing date for receiving applications is 13^th March 2024 Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

MSF is an equal opportunity employer: all applicants will be equally considered under the same criteria and expectations. MSF does not charge any application/recruitment or training fees: if ever you are requested to pay any amount to process your application or access employment with MSF, do not pay and please inform the MSF administration on email: msff-blantyrerecruitment@paris.msf.org as soon as possible.