Locum Flight Nurse at AMREF Flying Doctors

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE JOB

•  The Locum Flight Nurse is charged with rendering skilled pre-hospital and emergency life support care to the patients that he/she assesses, stabilizes, and manages their care in the field and subsequently transfers by air or ground ambulance to a more superior healthcare facility.
• The role collaborates with other team members to offer solutions and provide continuity of patient care. It is vital that the Locum Flight Nurse is committed to safe operations, premier customer service delivery, expert clinical practice, and management during all medical operations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Managing the Emergency Call Center

•  Operating the 24-hour Control Center and communicating as required using all modes of modern communication available, including radio communication.
•  Attending to emergency emails and responding on time.
•  Ensuring and confirming that all communication gadgets (telephones, printers, photocopiers, etc.) are in good working order.
•  Communicating effectively with outside institutions/agencies, including hospitals, EMS, and other operators for efficient medical service delivery.
•  Maintaining contact with patients, families, referring facility staff, and safety personnel during and after contact to provide continuous loop closure and information sharing.
•  Following up on in-patients and obtaining progress reports while handling medical assistance case files.
•  Ensuring all patient information/correspondence is documented.

Records management and Communication

•  Ensuring all correspondence is filed in relevant data files.
•  Ensuring reports are written and handed over to the next person(s) manning the Control Center.
•  Receiving, attending, and assembling Emergency Evacuation Requests and obtaining detailed information about the patient.
•  Informing all relevant person(s) of the request and following up according to the standards provided.
•  Dispatching the team for medical evacuation assignments.
•  Obtaining, maintaining, and processing complete and accurate patient records.
• Medical Evacuations  Accompanying Air Ambulance flights in Eastern Africa, continentally, and intercontinentally with and without a flight physician on a 24- hour duty roster.
•  Escorting patients on commercial flights.
•  Providing advanced life support to casualties at accident sites, airstrips, in flight, or on the ground until handover at the hospital, including stabilization and resuscitation.
•  Ensuring the safe transportation of patients from the evacuation site to the receiving hospital.
•  Assembling required emergency medical equipment and ensuring these are in good working condition.
•  Assisting patients during check-in and check-out with baggage clearance, wheelchair assistance, and immigration issues.
•  Handing over to the receiving facility, guardian, or family member.

Disaster Response/Mass Accidents

•  Responding to and traveling to areas of mass accidents with additional supplies to support the emergency response team.
•  Providing advanced life support to casualties at accident sites, airstrips, in flight, or on the ground until handover at the hospital, including stabilization and resuscitation.

Special events Coverage

•  Providing medical coverage at special events (Marathons, Horse shows, motor & field sports) by helicopter, ground ambulance, or in a makeshift medical facility (tents).
• General  Attendance to scheduled unit/departmental meetings.
•  Any other work-related duties.

QUALIFICATIONS

•  Higher National Diploma in Intensive Care Nursing.
•  Bachelors of Science in Nursing added advantage.
•  Current certifications in: Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) with experience in Pre-hospital emergency patient care.
•  Proficiency in computer studies (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, CRM system, Outlook, Internet).

Preferred Experience and Knowledge

•  4 years’ experience as a Nurse with 2 years’ experience in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
•  Be a Kenyan Registered Nurse or its equivalent patient care.
•  Registered with the Nursing Council of Kenya and maintain validity of the practice license from the Nursing Council of Kenya.
•  Advanced Trauma / Burn Provider training courses completed (ATCN, ATLS, TPATC, ABLS)
•  Neonatal Resuscitation (NRP) certification.
•  Teaching/Instructor experience in a healthcare related certification is an added advantage.

Skills and competencies

•  Excellent communication skills – both verbal and written.
•  Good interpersonal skills combined with empathy.
•  A team player with high levels of integrity and professionalism.
•  A critical thinker, solutions provider and ability to stay calm under pressure.
•  Ability to gather information with a keen eye for details.
•  Availability and commitment.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

•  AMREF Flying Doctors works within a twenty-four-hour work environment due to nature of its operation.