Nurses, Take Care Of Yourselves!

Nurses are one of the busiest persons in a hospital taking care of patients, day in and day out.  Bulk of their work requires them to be on their feet going from one room to another or performing their duties.

Being a nurse means having a lot of responsibilities during a shift but it does not mean that nurses should neglect themselves.  This should be top priority in order to carry out activities effectively.  

Here are some tips to care for yourselves.

Keep a healthy diet.

Before your shift, make sure to have a complete meal so your body will not crave for lost nutrients within the day or night.  It will also boost your body to help you carry out your duties.  Having small bites once in awhile is highly discouraged as it will not be adequate to keep your body energized.  Instead, take time to have a break and have your meal in order to keep you nourished.

Make your mind prepared.

 During your day-offs, spend quality time for yourself and do healthy activities to calm and relax your mind like yoga.  Also, do not forget to have relaxing time reading or going to the spa.  Your mind also needs some pampering and quiet times with soothing music also helps.

Spend time to exercise.

 Nothing beats keeping yourself fit to keep up with the demands of your work.  Remember that nurses have multiple tasks that take them not just from one bed to another but one floor to another.  Doing light exercises before your duty will make your muscles wake up and keep up with the many tasks for the day.

 Take deep calming breaths. 

Whenever you feel stressed out or faced with a challenging situation, the best way to calm yourself is to take deep breaths.  It is also advisable to stop and go to a quiet place to rejuvenate yourself and take those needed deep breaths.  Sometimes the body needs a little time-off just to adjust to the demands that is needed of a nurse.

Balancing work and life. 

Yes, nurses also have a life outside the hospital.  Work means doing the duties the nurse is tasked to do like taking care of their patients.  Nurses also need time to bond with family and friends and also time for themselves but when in the hospital, the number one priority is the welfare of their patients.  When a nurse is happy with their personal lives then they will also be happy with their professional life.

More sleep. 

At the end of the shift, a nurse needs to rest and have lots of sleep.  Doing all the stressful activities makes the body crave for a restful sleep but do not overdo it otherwise you will just feel tired.

A nurse’s priority may be taking care of the patients but an important part of the shift is also taking care of their health.  

Remember that behind a healthy patient is a healthy nurse.

nursingguide

Is it right to slap an STN?

Nurses, 

Why would an RN slap an STN? 

I really don't understand? This is an unethical behaviour! I mean the RN is not only a health professional but a mentor, a teacher, a guide and icon to whom the STN looks unto!

What would warrant such an unscrupulous behaviour?

Is it right to slap an STN? For whatever reason...?

Diary of a Nurse

DEAR DIARY,

Off Days are over... work continues... So tired to write my diary... 

And she asked me if i was tired....

But I LOVE THIS JOB

It really baffles me when patients come to the hospital in really bad shape and tell you how they began to feel the symptoms and how they didn't want to do anything about their health because "...It will soon be over... It's just a little fever..."

I have come to learn that there is no "little fever"... That "little fever" killed so many people!

 But you still find so many people - even after health education - doing the same thing!

THIS ONE REALLY PISSES ME OFF:

HE SAID HE IS A NURSE AND HE PREFERS TO USE TRADITIONAL MEDICINE TOGETHER WITH ORTHODOX MEDICINE! 

ACCORDING TO HIM: "IT WORKS FASTER"

GOSH!

YOUR USEFUL CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE OF HELP

HI. 

I HAVE AN ISSUE THAT HAVE BEEN BOTHERING MY MIND AND I JUST FEEL I SHOULD SHARE IT WITH U GUYS , PROBABLY I WILL GET ENCOURAGED BY SOME ONE THAT HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCE.

I WAS IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE THAT WAS HIV POSITIVE AND SHE HIDE HER STATUS FROM ME KNOWING FULLY WELL THAT AM NEGATIVE. 

I HAD UNPROTECTED SEX WITH HER JUST ONCE (22ND MAY, 2015). AFTER WHICH WE BOTH WENT FOR TEST AND HER RESULT CAME OUT POSITIVE AND MINE NEGATIVE. EVER SINCE THEN I HAVE RAN SO MANY HIV TESTS AND MY RESULT STILL CAME OUT NEGATIVE. I TESTED NEGATIVE IN AUG 2015 WHICH IS 3 MONTHS AFTER MY RISK EXPOSURE. 

IN NOVEMBER 2015 I REPEATED THE TEST WHICH STILL CAME OUT NEGATIVE AND I DID THE LAST ONE IN DECEMBER 2015 AND IT WAS STILL NEGATIVE.

AM STILL WORRIED BECAUSE I DONT KNOW HOW POSSIBLE IT IS FOR A MAN THAT IS NEGATIVE TO HAVE UNPROTECTED SEX WITH A WOMAN THAT IS POSITIVE AND STILL REMAIN NEGATIVE AFTER 7 MONTHS. IS IT POSSIBLE PLS???

YOUR USEFUL CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE OF HELP.

Job Opening at International Medical Corps (IMC)

International Medical Corps (IMC) is a global, humanitarian, non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training, relief and development programs. Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, International Medical Corps is a private, voluntary, non-political, non-sectarian organization. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in under-served communities worldwide. By offering training and health care to local populations and medical assistance to people at highest risk, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations.

IMC has been operating in Nigeria since November 2013. It currently has its country office in Abuja and field offices in Kano, Sokoto and Maiduguri where it is implementing emergency Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects, building capacity of local health systems and structures, ensuring the provision of quality, accessible Nutrition and Health Care for Children under five years of age.

CMAM Assistants

JOB SUMMARY:

The incumbent will be responsible for implementation of Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) in collaboration with other nutrition staff. S/He will facilitate good practice and ensure compliance to applicable implementation guidelines.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITY:

·         Plan and organize OTP at designated OTP sites in liaison with SMoH staff and nutrition officer.

·         Work closely care group promoter supervisors, care group promoters and lead mothers to ensure all aspects of the program are understood and agreed and appropriate referrals take place to and from the community to OTP sites.

·         Supervise the activities of the CMAM team.

·         Work closely with the teams to ensure all children are screened correctly.

·         Ensure all criteria are respected and understood by the teams, including admission, discharge and transfer to and from the OTP/SC.

·         Ensure comprehensive health checks and correct clinical diagnosis at the time of assessment according to the CMAM protocols so that the patient receives appropriate treatment in the relevant program.

·         Ensure all children in OTP are immunized according to the national protocols.

·         Ensure timely identification of complications, non-responders, and referrals to the SC.

·         Ensure correctness, consistence and completeness of the information in the nutrition registers.

·         Ensure adequate availability of all medical and food supplies and ensure stock is pre-positioned as planned by discussing with logistics

·         Through liaison with the community volunteers provide effective follow up of all cases: particularly tracing of children who are absent from the program, sick children, long stay children, children not gaining weight, and children with social problems... etc.

·         Provide key health and education messages to beneficiaries based the protocol and guidelines

·         Respond to inquiries regarding the technical aspects of the program admission and discharge whenever necessary at the OTP sites.

·         Follow-up and ensure the field team interacts with the beneficiaries properly

·         Provide a daily and weekly CMAM report to the nutrition officer.

QUALIFICATION:

·         Over two (2) years’ experience

·         Registered nurse with a Degree in nursing a recognized nurse training institute.

·         Valid and current practicing license.

·         Knowledge of CMAM and MIYCN will be an added advantage.

·         Excellent report-writing skills.

KEY COMPETENCIES:

·         Strong communication skills: oral, written and presentation skills.

·         Should be a team player and culturally sensitive.

·         Demonstrated proficiency in computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, email and utilization of the internet

·         Strong leadership, team building, conflict resolution and ability to deliver IMC’s strategic objectives.

·         Extremely flexible, and have the ability to cope with stressful situations

Method of Application

Only Short-listed candidates will be contacted.

All applications should be addressed to the Human Resource Officer, International Medical Corps via the email: imcnigeriavacancy@gmail.com

Candidates MUST state the position that they are applying for as the subject of their email, otherwise applications will not be considered.

Application letter and curriculum vitae should be in a single Microsoft Word Document. Deadline for submission is February 5, 2016

Diary of a Nurse: 25-1-16

Dear Diary,

I feel a sense of satisfaction when I help a patient. Today is no different.

I THINK FINANCE PLUS EXTRA RESPONSIBILITIES, AND NOT RELUCTANCE IS THE REASON WHY SOME OF US (NURSES) HAVE NOT FURTHERED OUR EDUCATION.

MSF-Spain is looking to fill the positions of Pharmacy Supervisor and Medical Coordinator Assistant

Posted on: 25 January, 2016

Deadline: 29 January, 2016

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) is an independent international medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid in more than 60 countries to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural or man-made disasters or exclusion from healthcare. 

MSF-Spain is looking to fill the positions of Pharmacy Supervisor and Medical Coordinator Assistant.

Pharmacy Supervisor  

Position in the organization chart:

Hierarchically and functionally accountable to the Medical Coordinator (MedCo).

Objective of the position:

Ensure general functioning of the pharmacy and supervise pharmacy supply chain processes in accordance with MSF 's standards, in order to ensure its efficiency and operating availability.

General Requirements:

As a humanitarian organization involved in emergency programs all national and international MSF staff is expected to be flexible and available for emergency response activities. S/he should be willing to undertake other tasks as necessary and not specified in the job description, supporting the mission activities in the response to potential emergencies and cover HR gaps or needs at field level.

Required Skills:

Education: Essential, degree of pharmacy management.

Experience: At least 2 year certified work experience as a pharmacy manager.

Languages: Essential English  and local language

Knowledge: Essential computer literacy (word, excel and internet)

Others:

Good computer skills (knowledge of Word, Excel and Outlook is required; knowledge of Logistics 7 software is an asset)Due to the nature of MSF operations, flexibility is indispensable Committed to humanitarian principles  

Medical Coordinator Assistant

Position in the organization chart:

Hierarchically and functionally accountable to the Medical Coordinator (MedCo).

Objective of the position:

Assist and support the Medical Coordinator in the implementation of the overall medical content, activity and resources in the missions, by assuming some tasks delegated by him/her and giving personal assistance in other specific activities, in order to facilitate the proper medical management of the projects and medical follow-up of the staff in the mission.

General Requirements:

As a humanitarian organization involved in emergency programs all national and international MSF staff is expected to be flexible and available for emergency response activities. S/he should be willing to undertake other tasks as necessary and not specified in the job description, supporting the mission activities in the response to potential emergencies and cover HR gaps or needs at field level.

Required Skills:

Education: Medicine or paramedical degree essential. Specialization or training in tropical disease, desirable. 

Experience: Minimum two year clinical experience and one year working experience in a health related International NGO. Desirable working experience with MSF

Languages: Essential English  and local language

Knowledge: Essential computer literacy (word, excel and internet)

Others:

Due to the nature of MSF operations, flexibility is indispensable Committed to humanitarian principles 

Method of Application

All applicants should send a CV and motivation letter either by email to: 

msfe-abuja-finco@barcelona.msf.org 

OR

 in person to MSF office, Road 131 House 10 Gwarinpa Housing Estate, Abuja

Closing Date:  29 January 2016

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted