Change lives with CURE Kenya.

POSITION OVERVIEW:
To provide high quality clinical care to patients of CURE Hospital.  Under the direction of an Anesthesiologist, the Nurse Anesthetists primary responsibility is to provide patients with anesthesia-related care before, during, and after medical procedures.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

1. Performs pre-anesthetic screenings by discussing with patient and/or parent/guardian the type of anesthetics planned, explain the risks, and answer patient questions to alleviate any anxiety.
2. Assesses patients’ medical histories to predict anesthesia response.
3. Complete and document preoperative assessments on patients undergoing anesthesia
4. Inform senior medical staff members when patients require further treatment before anesthesia and/or when patients may be unstable before, during or after anesthesia.
5. Monitors patients’ responses including skin color, pupil dilation, pulse, heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, ventilation, or urine output using invasive and noninvasive techniques.
6. Manages patients’ airway or pulmonary status using techniques such as endotracheal intubation and extubation, mechanical ventilation, pharmacological support, and respiratory therapy.
7. Selects, prepares, or uses equipment, monitors, supplies, or drugs for the administration of anesthetics.
8. Selects, orders, and administers anesthetics, adjuvant drugs, accessory drugs, fluids or blood products.
9. Maintain records of all observations and anesthesia provided.
10. Responds to emergency situations by providing airway management, administering emergency fluids or drugs, or using basic or advanced cardiac life support techniques.
11. Contribute to quality patient care by participating in case planning.
12. Performs or manages regional anesthetic techniques such as local, spinal, epidural, caudal, nerve blocks and intravenous blocks.
13. Evaluates patients’ post-surgical or post-anesthesia responses, taking appropriate corrective actions or requesting consultation if complications occur. Administers post-anesthesia medications or fluids to support patients’ cardiovascular systems.
14. Discharges patients from post-anesthesia care by providing a comprehensive evaluation of the patient to the recovery nurse.  If no recovery nurse, then the nurse is to monitor the patient until fully recovered and ready for discharge to the ward.
15. Review of patients post-operatively in the ward and answer any questions the nurses may have concerning the patient and anesthesia.
16. Overseeing of equipment, i.e.  Anesthesia machines, monitors and defibrillators in collaboration with the Biomed.

OTHER DUTIES
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.

Attend and participate in office devotionals, seminars, in-service education classes, on-the-job training programs, etc.

May be required to participate in mobile clinics or community outreach.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

1. Minimum Education Required: Graduate of Bachelor of Science in Nursing
2. License/Certificate Required: Nurse anesthetist certification or equivalent from a qualified, recognized institution. Current licensure or registration as a nurse anesthetist.
3. Minimum Experience Required: 3 years’ experience in private or hospital practice. 
4. Experience in the developing world is strongly preferred. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

1. Knowledge of standard concepts, practices, and procedures within the field of nursing
2. Must be knowledgeable of all types of anesthesia, equipment, and procedures
3. Ability to administer anesthesia and detect indications of unfavorable reactions
4. Should have knowledge on comprehensive pain management
5. Excellent verbal and written communication skills
6. Ability to handle multiple tasks, establish priorities and work independently
7. Ability to establish and maintain effective interpersonal relationship
8. Willing and able to function as a medical team member
9. Ability to handle confidential matters in an appropriate manner by maintaining patient and caregiver confidentiality     
10. Follow medical ethics according to the health guidelines and regulations

COMPETENCIES:

1. Attention to Details - Able to be alert in a high-risk environment; follow detailed procedures and ensure accuracy in documentation and data; carefully monitor processes; concentrate on routine work details, and organize and maintain a system of records.
2. Continuous Learning -  Able to stay informed of current industry trends; learn and apply new concepts and demonstrate career self-reliance; identify own areas of opportunity and set and monitor self-development goals.
3. Decisiveness - Able to stand by a decision, despite second guessing or disagreement from others; take quick action in a high-risk crisis; make difficult decisions and follow through; assess a situation and make an optimal and speedy decision despite limited information.
4. Policies, Process, And Procedures - Able to act in accordance with established guidelines; follow standard procedures in crisis situations; communicate and enforce organizational policies and procedures; recognize and constructively conform to unwritten rules or practices.
5. Team Work - Able to share due credit with co-workers; display enthusiasm and promote a friendly group working environment; work closely with other departments as necessary; support group decisions and solicit opinions from co-workers; display team spirit.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a co-worker encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. The co-worker must perform all duties in conformance to appropriate safety and security standards.

The noise level in the work environment is usually low.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a co-worker to perform the essential duties of this position successfully.

1. The co-worker must be able to regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
2. While performing the duties of this position, the co-worker is required to:
   1. Frequently; sit, use fine finger dexterity, talk, and hear.
   2. Occasionally; stand, walk, reach with hands and arms.
3. To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 
4. The co-worker must perform all duties in conformance to appropriate safety and security standards.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS
To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

 

1. Dispense drugs to in-patients upon discharge and out-patients as per need. Ensure educating    patients with instructions for proper use/cautioning on side effects is done always.
2. Scrutinize patient’s treatment sheets and prescriptions for suitability of prescribed drugs in relation to dosing accuracy, drug interaction and route of administration.
3.  Replenish stocks of in-patient medications as per treatment sheets.
4. Provide drug information to patients, clinicians, nurses and other medical staff.
5. Maintain an accurate record of all issued medicines in the bin cards, issue book and Odoo system.
6. Participate in regular monitoring of medication management in the clinical areas.
7.  Ensure cleanliness of the pharmacy.
8. In-charge of all quality activities in relation to this position as per the Hospital Standards.
9. Maintain the pharmacy store
10. Making medication orders for the pharmacy
11. Supply medication orders to other departments such as OR and wards.
12. Maintain the pharmacy cold chain.
13. Maintain all the pharmacy records and any other pharmacy administrative task as assigned.
14.  Prepare and send all required periodic reports.
15. Keep up to date with the current pharmacy practice and drugs.
16. Collaborates effectively with other members of staff in order to provide quality service to our patients and most importantly supporting the vision, mission and values of CURE.
17. Maintain and Manage OSHA Standards in Cleanliness, through Implementation of the OSHA Policy and, ensure that they wear the provided PPEs at all times.
18. In-charge of all quality activities in relation to this position as per the Hospital Standards (SAFECARE).
19. Compliance with the requirements of the CURE child protection and safeguarding policies