Clinical Nurse, Clinical Research Unit at Aga Khan University Hospital

Job Summary

To ensure safe, compliant, and competent management of administration of Investigational Products (chemotherapy, immunotherapy and other therapies) for participants on research trials.

Responsibilities

• Comply with and promote adherence of the institutional and Clinical Research Unit’s policies, SOP’s and confidentiality.
• Attend, participate and contribute in staff meetings and Unit activities, including preparing and presenting regular activity reports.
• Engage in continuing education, training and skill development.
• Practice ICH-GCP, good documentation practices, as well as ensure compliance of ICH-GCP.
• Perform comprehensive patient assessment prior to, during, and after treatment and monitor patients for reactions and adverse events. Initiate appropriate management in liaison with the nurse manager and investigator/designee.
• Assess patients to ensure their physical condition, blood parameters, etc. are satisfactory to safely receive treatment according to treatment protocols / regimes.
• Administer chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and other investigational medicinal products (oral, sub-cutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous/port-a-cath, etc.) as per study and institutional safety standards.
• Perform routine technical procedures such as vital signs, I/V cannulation, ECG, drug administration, etc. as per policies and procedures of AKUH, N and approved research protocols.
• Provide laboratory support services including phlebotomy and collection/handling of required specimens (e.g., stool, urine, nasal swabs) using standard techniques as per institutional practices.
• Provide information regarding treatment and sidpe effects to patients, such that they are prepared for their specific treatment.
• Involved with obtaining informed consent from participants, as necessary.
• Observe and follow infection control guidelines while caring for central venous lines, port-a-cath and be able to advise patients about care of those lines in the home setting.   
• Recognize and provide psychological and emotional support to patients and their families and be able to refer to counsellors when appropriate.
• Closely monitor patients undergoing treatments and be able to identify reactions/complications.
• Be prompt to communicate any adverse reactions/complications to the physician, CRC and nurse manager, and to participate in management of adverse reactions including Anaphylactic shock, extravasation, etc.
• Plan, organize, and engage in the day to day clinical and related research study activities under the direction of, and in consultation with the Principal Investigator and study team.
• Review research patients and plan daily tasks and study flow in treatment conjunction with the other study team members (pharmacy, lab, regulatory, etc.).
• Coordinate study patient visit schedules and work with the unit coordinator to book their treatments in the calendar.
• Document and maintain accurate records (such as, patients’ assessment, subject specific specimens collected) as part of source documentation and EHR requirements.
• Use communication skills to enhance and augment patient’s knowledge and understanding of their specific treatment and progress.
• Maintain timely records of treatment suite infusion logs, temperature monitoring logs & crash cart checklist.
• Perform monthly crash cart checks and liaison with nurse manager/ patient services coordinator for near expiry of crash cart items.
• Maintain logs for infusion related reactions for CRU treatment suite.
• Assist in other related tasks in times of low activity in the treatment suite.
• Participate in data collection and monitoring of unit-based quality indicators.
• Assist the manager to design and deliver unit-based nursing education, implement  quality improvement (QI) projects, perform audits, spot checks and skill checks.
• Be accountable for judicious and efficient use of resources (i.e. accurate and timely billing of ward stock drugs and consumables).
• Ensure compliance with established health and safety guidelines and maintain safe environment for staff and patients, reporting any accidents, incidents, hazards or equipment defects in accordance with regulatory and institutional policies.
• Any other duties may be assigned by supervisor.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (preferred); will consider Diploma in Nursing, only if candidate has significant past clinical experience
• Must have a valid and active Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) license
• Certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) required
• Certification for Advanced Care Life Support (ACLS) required

Relevant Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of work experience as a nurse in a hospital or related setting in inpatient and/or outpatient services with demonstrated knowledge and competencies in nursing clinical practices applied to direct patient care.
• Oncology/chemotherapy administration experience.
• Excellent knowledge in nursing practice, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Prior experience in operating basic medical equipment (e.g., Infusion pump, ECG machine, etc.).
• Versatility to work in a variety of related roles such as clinical/nursing care, patient services support, lab/bio-specimen processing, data management.
• Proficiency in use of computers and basic office software (Outlook, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).

Personal Characteristics & Behaviours

• Excellent interpersonal skills and communication - written and verbal.
• Excellent organizational capabilities and ability to handle diverse tasks for multiple studies (and clinics) simultaneously.
• Strong self-initiative while working as part of a team
• Maturity & ability to work independently.
• Ability to handle stressful situations and meet deadlines
• Customer service skills
• Demonstrate accuracy
• Attention to detail
• Culturally sensitive
• Empathic
• Good patient care and support skills