Clinical Nurse- NICU

JOB SUMMARY : 

The Clinical Nurse is responsible for competently providing safe and effective direct care. The Clinical Nurse assesses care needs, plans, implements and evaluates programs of care to include patients and families. The Clinical Nurse is responsible for ensuring that all duties are carried out to the highest possible standard, aligned to Sidra Standards of Practice. The Clinical Nurse participates in the supervision, orientation and training of staff and is responsible for education of patients, families and students.  The Clinical Nurse is professionally accountable to the Chief Nursing Officer.

Competencies to be assessed as outlined in the Pediatric NICU unit orientation and competency booklets. These competencies include but are not limited to:

• Hygiene care
• Assessment of the neonate and infant
• Recognition of deviations in clinical observations
• Oxygen therapy interfaces including:
• Nasal cannula
• Low flow oxygen therapy
• High flow oxygen therapy
• Interpretation of cardiorespiratory monitoring
• Non-invasive respiratory support:
• CPAP
• BiPAP
• Nutrition for the neonate/infant:
• Oral feeding
• Enteral feeding
• Parenteral nutrition
• Capillary blood sampling
• Developmental care of the neonate/infant:
• Positioning
• Skin to skin
• Minimal handling
• Intravenous medications and fluid management
• Assessment and management of pain in the neonate/infant
• Family centered care
• Parents as partners in care
• Safeguarding the neonate/infant
• Infection control practices in the NICU
• Specimen collection

The NICU CN will be expected to work toward achieving the following advanced competencies:

• Thermoregulation in the neonate and humidification
• Phototherapy
• Management of arterial lines
• Invasive ventilation including high frequency oscillatory ventilation
• Neonatal sepsis
• Hemodynamic monitoring
• Care of the neonate/infant receiving inotropes
• Preparation of infusions
• Administration and titration of infusions
• Care of the neonate/infant on nitric oxide
• Chest drain assessment and management
• Care of neonates/infants with repogle Tubes
• Care and transport of ventilated neonates
• Care of the post-surgical neonate
• Care of infants for neuroprotective/therapeutic hypothermia
• Management of central lines
• Care of neonates/infants with congenital anomalies
• Culturally sensitive bereavement care in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team
• Tracheostomy care

KEY ROLE ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Professionalism and Ethical Practice

• Practices within the DHP Scope of Practice according to licensure within the State of Qatar
• Provides total individualized patient care and assumes responsibility and accountability for assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating care, discharge planning for each patient.
• Ensures timely documentation of care, discharge planning and family education aligned to Sidra standards of documentation
• Demonstrates critical thinking skills by problem solving appropriately during patient care
• Independently initiates escalation of issues following the chain of command, utilizing resources as needed
• Independently maintains licensure and regulatory requirements (e.g. life support certifications and CPD requirements)
• Meets requirements of organizational, profession and departmental/role specific orientation competencies
• Role model’s appearance and behaviors that promote a positive image of nursing
• Adheres to time and attendance requirements
• Participates in new staff/student orientation, assists in maintaining a suitable learning environment and acts as a preceptor/mentor in the supervision and teaching of new staff/students to develop their competence.
• Actively participates and/or contributes the Shared Leadership structure to promote and embed Shared Leadership
• Assumes responsibility for own professional development through lifelong learning to ensure continued competence and performance improvement

Patient and Family Centered Care

• Provides holistic, patient and family centered care based on evidence and best practice
• Anticipates and responds to patient and family care requirements
• Evaluates learning needs of patient and/or family and provides patient and family education
• Maintains confidentiality at all times

Teamwork and Collaboration

• Treats colleagues, patients, and visitors with dignity and respect at all times
• Promotes and maintains effective communication and teamwork
• Demonstrates collaborative and respectful behavior
• Contributes to a positive work environment

Evidence Based Practice

• Adheres to Sidra’s Nursing and Midwifery Standards of Practice
• Ensures care is based on best evidence
• Incorporates credible critically appraised evidence into nursing practice and when initiating change

Quality Improvement

• Identify ways to improve services through quality improvement initiatives
• Participates in quality improvement initiatives and measure outcomes
• Contributes effective use of resources and identifies any opportunities for efficiency

Safety

• Acknowledges own limitations in knowledge, judgment and/or skills, and functions within those limitations.
• Seeks resolution in knowledge and competency gaps to ensure patient safety is maintained at all times
• Demonstrates consistent and reliable use of technology and standardized practices that support safety and quality
• Communicates observations or concerns related to hazards and errors to patients, families and the healthcare team
• Uses organizational error reporting systems for near miss and event reporting
• Demonstrates effective use of strategies to reduce risk of harm to self or others
• Assumes responsibility and accountability for own clinical decision, delegation and provides supervision to team members according to their  competence and scope of practice

Informatics

• Accurately, concisely and appropriately documents care, interventions and outcomes in a timely manner
• Practices contemporaneous documentation, ensuring entries into the medical record are recorded and signed in real time
• Utilizes data from the patient record to make decisions and responds appropriately to clinical decision-making supports and alerts
• Protects confidentiality of protected health information in electronic health records
• Follows all Hospital related policies and procedures.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Adheres to Sidra’s standards as they appear in the Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest policies
• Adheres to and promotes Sidra’s Values

This job description forms the basis of the requirements for the role. The incumbent may be required to undertake specific assigned tasks relevant to their area of work and are additionally required to demonstrate competencies specific to the post as outlined in the Job Description Addendum.

• Bachelor Degree in Nursing (4 years)
• Registered Nurse

• 2+ years of recent clinical nursing experience within the relevant specialty from a highly esteemed healthcare institution
• No minimum experience requirement for University of Calgary Qatar Graduates only

• Effective communication skills
• Excellent team player
• Motivated and enthusiastic
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite
• Fluency in written and spoken English