High Acuity Unit Nurse Volunteer

Job Title : High Acuity Unit Nurse Volunteer

Report to : Nursing Director

Start Date : Variable, dependent on other volunteers already recruited.

Lao Friends Hospital for Children (LFHC) is a 52-bed acute pediatric hospital situated in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR. It is operated by a New York based non-profit organisation, Friends Without A Border, which is dedicated to providing high-quality and compassionate healthcare to children in remote areas of Southeast Asia. In 2015 the hospital was opened on the same campus as the Luang Prabang Provincial Hospital and has been developing its services since then.

LFHC is a teaching hospital offering emergency, inpatient, outpatient and surgical services to neonates and children throughout Northern Laos. Limited on-site radiology, pathology and pharmacy together with a homecare program complement these clinical activities. A major goal of this hospital is to promote clinical learning and professional development of the local staff such that key positions in the hospital are progressively filled by a well-trained and dedicated local workforce.

Position Summary

In July 2022 LFHC plans to open a High Acuity Unit (HAU) to cater for the most unwell children attending the hospital. The acuity of patients in this unit will vary from the sickest patients who have previously been treated in IPD and ED to more acutely unwell children who may need intubation, inotropes, invasive monitoring and ventilation. The plan is to open initially with two beds and increase to four as the number of nursing staff trained to work in the HAU increases.

The HAU Volunteer is primarily responsible for the education, training and development of the LFHC HAU nursing team. This includes the development and delivery of education and training, implementation of education curriculums, and development of trainers amongst the Lao nursing team. The volunteer will also be instrumental in the development of clinical guidelines and protocols in conjunction with both Lao and international staff. The role includes clinical shifts, both in a mentoring capacity and role modeling when demonstrating clinical excellence alongside Lao nurses. A vital component of the position is to enable Lao staff to create their own educational materials that can then be taught in-house, independently of international volunteers. This role differs from that of other LFHC nursing staff with respect to the specific duties that follow

Specific Duties

• Support the HAU Nurse Manager and Nurse Education Manager in improving and delivering education and training opportunities for the LFHC HAU nursing team. Ensure all HAU education programs are Lao-led and self-sufficient.
• Support the HAU Nurse Manager in the review of existing nursing specific and hospital wide clinical policies and protocols, and update for the HAU as appropriate.
• Support nurse mentors in providing both bedside and classroom teaching for nurses as required.
• Support the HAU Nurse Manager in developing and implementing strategies for the provision of care in the HAU.
• Support the HAU Nurse Manager in liaising with LFHC Executive Staff to coordinate and develop clinical guidelines in the HAU.
• Liaise with the Nurse Educator, HAU Nurse Manager, Education Coordinator and Medical Education Director in the coordination of joint medical and nursing education for HAU.
• Work in collaboration with the clinical team to identify new therapeutic measures to deal with more complex problems that are encountered in the unit and devise new treatment pathways for them.
• Support the Nurse Education Manager and HAU Nurse Manager in the regular assessment of nursing competencies, and work collaboratively with the team in mentoring nurses as appropriately needed.
• Work collaboratively with the education department in the creation of education and training materials which will be uploaded in the LFHC Moodle.
• Lead by example in demonstrating excellent high-acuity care on a daily basis • The volunteer will be required to work a mixture of administrative shifts (08.00 – 17.00) and clinical shifts (07.00 – 19.30) in response to the needs of LFHC. The organization of these shifts will be negotiated with the Nursing Director.

Qualifications and Qualities

• Registered to practice in home country
• At least two years experience working in an HDU or ICU environment
• Experience of working with ventilators, inotropes, invasive monitoring and intubated patients Experience working as a mentor or nurse educator
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team.
• Innovative in providing educational opportunities for others.
• Previous experience working in low to middle-income countries.
• Flexible and able to work under pressure with ability to adapt to rapidly evolving clinical situations.
• Experience of teaching nurses with limited English Work Conditions and Benefits.
• This role is for a minimum of two months but with an extension possible.
• Five days of leave will be given for each three months of work.