Reporting to: Nursing Manager
Job Purpose:
The promotion of the physical, social and psychological wellbeing of patients and providing a safe, supportive environment for patients and relatives that will promote healing or comfort the dying.
Qualifications
Registration with the South African Nursing Council as a General Nurse.
Any other relevant qualifications or skills would be an advantage.
Skills
Basic skills required include, but are not limited to
• General nursing skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Administrative skills
Competence
Competencies in the following areas are required:
• General nursing duties
• Administrative skills
Pre-requisite Knowledge
• Anatomy and physiology of the human body
• General medical and surgical conditions affecting patients of all ages
• Prevention of complications when nursing patients
• Wound care and the prevention of infection
• Communicable diseases and the prevention of cross-infection
• Basic pharmacology and drug interactions
• Knowledge of SANC Rules and regulations, scope of practice and any other relevant legislation
• Community resources
• Referral procedures
Key performance areas (KPA)
• Promotion of the physical, psychological and social health of patients
• Administration
• Care and maintenance of equipment
• Stock control
• Liaison with multi-disciplinary team, relatives and community resources
Execution of key performance areas
1.Promotion of the physical, psychological and social health of patients, within the scope of practice by:-
• Nursing interventions – monitoring, recording and interpretation of vital signs, physical and psychological assessment of the patient on admission and on a daily basis; daily assessments of patients' daily needs.
• Supervise and administer basic nursing care – basic hygiene; pressure part care; catheter care; wound care etc.
• Nutritional requirements – liaise with chef re special dietary requirements; refer patient to dietitian if necessary; educate patients re diet; feed patients where necessary orally or via peg.
• Administration of medication as per doctors' orders – intravenously, orally, subcutaneously, nebulisers, per rectum; erect intravenous therapy when needed and administer blood transfusions
• Carry out special procedures as ordered by the doctor e.g.
catheterization; bladder washout; ECG's; Blood tests
• Monitor intake and output of patients to ensure adequate hydration and urinary output and ensure it is recorded
• Meet specific needs of patients e.g.
care of stomas; tracheostomies; wound and other specific diagnoses i.e.
palliative care; diabetes; unconscious patients; strokes; post-surgery; severe neutropenia
• Wound care and infection control
• Promotion of safety and prevention of accident e.g.
falls, medico legal hazards
• Ensure that the dying patient is nursed in a culturally sensitive manner that ensures the patient dies peacefully and with dignity
• Liaise with families and keep them updated on the patient's progress and arrange for care post discharge.
2.
Administrative duties include:
• Completion of all documentation relating to patients' admission and stay
• Keep personal attendance register up to date
• Ensure admission packs and other sheets of stationery are kept 'topped up'
• Administration and recording of medication and keep medication charts up to date
• Report writing
• Assisting with doctors rounds and write up and implement them
• Attend monthly staff meetings
• Complete daily checklists
3.
Care and maintenance of equipment
• Report faulty equipment immediately so that it can be repaired
• Ensure that you are updated as to correct use and operational techniques of equipment
• Ensure correct and safe storage of equipment to prevent damage
4.
Stock control
• Hash for all stock used on a patient
• Daily counting of schedule drugs
• Prevent wastage and use stock with care and consideration
5.
Liaison with multi-disciplinary team (MDT), relatives and community resources
• Accompany doctors on rounds and ensure orders are correctly written up and implemented
• Interact with physiotherapists, occupational therapists, wound care specialists, dietitians etc.
to ensure that they are updated on patients' condition and that the nursing staff are aware of recommended treatment
• Keep relatives updated on patients' condition and expected outcome of treatment and counsel them when necessary.
Try and ensure that they make application for some form of assisted living timeously if required
• Inform other facilities – frail care, retirement home, acute facility – of the patient's progress.
Write a detailed transfer letter if patient transferred to acute facility or discharged to a home
• Promotion of 'teamwork' amongst colleagues and the MDT by being considerate, courteous, communicative, friendly and adopting a good work ethic