Psychiatric Nurse

Background

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst Humanitarian Crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving and life changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home. The IRC has been working in Uganda since 1998 supporting nationals, refugees and various institutions in the country notably the government, community-based organizations, civil society and the private sector. The current program portfolio in Uganda includes health, peace building, gender based violence, economic recovery, agribusiness, children and youth. http://www.rescue.org/country/Uganda. IRC has a country office in Kampala, a regional office in Kitgum, Adjumani, Kiryandongo and Moroto. Given the recent conflict outbreak in South Sudan, IRC re-opened the Yumbe Field site office to support refugees being settled in Bidibidi refugee settlement in Yumbe District, Imvepi refugee settlement in Arua District. As more refugees continued to arrive Imvepi got filled up, the government opened up Omugo - Rhino extension in Rhino Settlement with an estimated population of 43,000 to be settled across six sections of the settlement

Scope of work

• Conducts intake assessments through interviews with patients and relatives to gather case history.
• Plans and provides nursing care for patients.
• Makes nursing diagnosis of the medical and emotional status of patients and recommend treatment options.
• Consults with psychiatrists and other behavioral health staff in designing appropriate treatment         plans for clients.

• Administers and notes reactions to psychotropic drugs and other medications.
• Arranges further medical attention when necessary.
• Assists the client in understanding the nature of emotional disturbances and accepting the need for treatment.
• Assists in maintaining a safe and secure environment for staff and patients.
• Test for vital signs of pain and ensures treatments of pain.
• Documents all patient information on medical charts and follows physician’s written orders.
• Maintains patient confidentiality.
• Maintains accurate records and documentation of patient treatments, immunization, and laboratory results according to standard medical recordkeeping.
• Performs administrative assignments such as filing, answering phones, typing, and completing progress notes in the filing system.
• Provides courteous, high quality service to patients and members of the public by personal responding to requests for service or making appropriate referral.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS:

Knowledge of:

• Professional nursing principles, procedures, and techniques used in the care and treatment of psychiatric patients, Social, psychological, and physical factors of mental and emotional disorders.
• Medical and psychological terminology.
• Medications, including psychotropic drugs, and effects on psychiatric patients.
• Control, preparation and administration of medications.
• Regulations pertaining to psychiatric nursing and the treatment of the mentally and emotionally  disturbed patients.

• Theories, principles, and techniques of group and individual psychotherapy.
• Symptoms and behavior patterns of emotionally disturbed mentally ill patients.
• Medical and psychiatric emergency procedures.
• Basic computer programs.

Ability to:

• Apply professional nursing care principles and procedures in the evaluation and treatment of psychiatric patients.

• Develop interpersonal therapeutic relationships with psychiatric patients.
• Keep accurate written charts and records of patient activities and progress.
• Comply with laws, rules, regulations, protocols, and procedures.
• Use professional judgment to ascertain and to apply appropriate intervention techniques with   patients in crisis.

• Communicate effectively with a variety of individuals and function calmly in situations, which require a high degree of sensitivity, tact, and diplomacy.
• Provide prompt, efficient, and responsive service.
• Exercise appropriate judgment in answering questions and releasing information; analyze and project consequences of decisions and/or recommendations.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITI0NS

Work is normally performed in an office environment. Interaction with clients requires adaptability when confronted with emergency, critical, unusual, or potentially dangerous situations.

May be subjected to verbal and physical abuse from patients and exposed to contagious diseases.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Requires the ability to sit at a desk for long periods of time and intermittently walk, stand, stoop, kneel, crouch and reach while performing office duties: lift and/or move light weights; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls.
• Must be able to maintain effective audio, visual discrimination and perception needed for making observations, communicating with others, reading and writing, and operating office equipment.

Key working relationships

Position Reports to:Psychiatric Clinical Officer.
Technical support:Facility in-charge, Clinical Officers, Medical Officer.

Position directly supervises:None

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: WPE, community health, Protection, Supply chain and HR

External: MoH, UNHCR, UNFPA, District Health office.

Standards for  Professional Conduct:

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation