Chemotherapy Nurse (2 Positions)

JOB VACANCY

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 and Chiradzulu districts, as well as the CBO Project in Zalewa and Dedza District.

MSFF is looking for its Blantyre Cervical Cancer Project Office:

CHEMOTHERAPY NURSE – 2 POSITIONS

Workplace                   :        Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital – 4B, Blantyre

Type of contract        :        Fixed Term Contract, 3 Months

Start date                      :    August 2024

Main purpose of the position

Providing nursing care, treatment, and follow-up of patients, according to MoH and MSF protocols applied in service and universal hygiene standards/precautions, to ensure the quality and continuity of care for the targeted population.

Job Summary

• Administer premedication, chemotherapy treatments and other oncology medications as prescribed by the oncologist, ensuring adherence to established protocols and safety standards.
• Perform comprehensive assessments of patients prior to chemotherapy sessions, including, vital signs, and laboratory results to assess treatment readiness.
• Monitor patients during chemotherapy administration, promptly identifying and managing any adverse reactions.
• Educate patients and their families about chemotherapy procedures, potential side effects, and strategies for managing symptoms and promoting wellness.
• Provide emotional support and counseling to patients and families, addressing fears, concerns, and coping mechanisms throughout the treatment journey and refer the patient to MH if the patient has mental health symptoms.
• Coordinate chemoradiotherapy schedules in collaboration with MOH teams and the Liaison Office to ensure corresponding treatment plans for patients undergoing combined therapies.
• Assist chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) patients during chemotherapy sessions, ensuring comfort, managing side effects, and providing necessary supportive care.
• Maintain accurate documentation of chemotherapy administration, patient responses, and treatment outcomes in electronic medical records.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary medical teams, including oncologists, pharmacists, doctors, nurse, and the Liaison Office, to develop and adjust individualized treatment plans based on patient assessments and progress.
• Attend multidisciplinary team meetings, case conferences, and treatment planning sessions to discuss patient progress, interdisciplinary care coordination, and treatment plan adjustments.
• Ensure compliance with infection control protocols, chemotherapy safety guidelines, and regulatory standards to promote a safe treatment environment.
• Participate in ongoing professional development and training to stay current with advances in chemotherapy treatments, nursing practices, and oncology care.
• Contribute to quality improvement initiatives and participate in research projects aimed at advancing oncology care and treatment outcomes.
• Perform other related duties as assigned, supporting the overall goals and operations of the oncology department, and promoting excellence in patient care.

Specific Accountabilities

• Provides professional nursing care and coordinates the delivery of oncology treatments, to assigned patients in a medical oncology facility, ensuring adherence to hospital or department and unit policies and nursing procedures, standards, and practices within their scope.
• Knowing, promoting, implementing, and following up the universal hygiene standards or 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. always Respecting medical secrets and confidentiality.
• Organizing and carrying out care and treatments according to medical prescriptions, and assisting during consultations, daily rounds, and other medical procedures. Participating in health education of the patient (and family) when necessary.
• Ensuring patients are properly received and installed and that those with lack of autonomy are assisted, especially regarding their feeding, personal hygiene, movements, and comfort. For ER and OPD nurse, ensuring triage of patients in waiting areas, wards or during emergencies, detecting the priority acute/emergency cases, carrying out first aid care and referring them to the doctor when necessary
• Carrying out admission, surveillance, and follow-up of patients (i.e., assessment of the evolution of their state of health and the identification of any emergency or deterioration
• Carrying and supervising administrative procedures and documents (fill in patient’s files, forms, consumptions, statistics, registers, health files, etc.), ensuring an appropriate written/oral handover, and reporting any problematic situations and cases that may arise. Participation in data collection and keeping doctors/supervisors informed.
• Participating in the department-related pharmacy and medical equipment control and maintenance (quality and its functioning, storage conditions, follow-up of expired drugs inventories, stock takes of medicines and material at every team changeover ensuring no material is taken out of nursing area/wards without prior authorization, etc.)
• Perform cleaning and minor maintenance for biomedical equipment used. Following the user manual and protocols and alert supervisor in case of malfunctioning.
• Collaborate with and train nurse-aids, nutritional assistants, cleaners, and other related staff, ensuring teamwork and adherence to all appropriate protocols and procedures.

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 (MSF) France through email to   msff-blantyre-recruitment@paris.msf.org. Please use the subject line “CHEMO 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. Indicate only the Position and Your Full Name as the Subject Line of the email.

Closing date for receiving applications is 4^th August 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-blantyre-recruitment@paris.msf.org as soon as possible.