Professional Nurse

**JOB SUMMARY**

The incumbent, reporting to a Nurse Mentor, will be expected to provide expert nursing care. Provision of promotive, preventative, diagnostic and therapeutic services as per Primary Health Care package of services, Adult Primary Care (APC) and Advanced Clinical Care (ACC). Use of clinical algorithms as per latest updated STGs/EDL, APC and ACC Clinical Guidelines for the management of chronic communicable diseases such as HIV, AIDS and TB, and non-communicable diseases. The incumbent will also be required to report to senior management regarding quality clinical initiatives and programmes within the province.

**ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- Include but are not limited to the following:

- Provide quality care for HIV-positive clients:

- The provision of promotive, preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic services as per Primary Health Care package of services, Adult Primary Care (APC) and Advanced Clinical Care (ACC).
- Use of clinical algorithms as per latest updated STGs/EDL, APC and ACC Clinical Guidelines for the management of chronic communicable diseases such as HIV, AIDS and TB, and non-communicable diseases.
- Facilitate linkage between HIV testing, diagnosis, care, support and treatment.
- Provide adherence counselling and initiate HIV positive clients on ARV treatment.
- Link and refer clients to facility and community based psychosocial support services.
- Screening of HIV positive clients at every visit for TB (DS-TB and MDR-TB) and STI and integrate HIV, TB and STI services in co-morbid clients.
- Clinical management of co-morbidities among HIV clients (communicable and non
- communicable diseases) and screening for eligibility and initiating TPT and other prophylactic therapies for eligible clients.
- Support identification of defaulting clients for tracking and tracing.
- Comprehensive management of virally unsuppressed patients.
- Provide clinical review and routine follow-up consultations for monitoring of HIV clients (including scheduling and interpretation of laboratory results, e.g. viral load and CD4 tests).
- Adherence club management (decanting of VL suppressed and controlled NCD clients).
- Appropriate referral of clients where necessary to the required level of care, e.g. Medical Officer, hospital, etc.
- Maintain accurate patient records and statistics within the work frame.
- Submission of AHF and DoH monthly reports as may be required.

**Secondary duties**:

- Specimen collection (e.g. phlebotomy, sputum and others) for HIV/TB clients, suspects and contacts.
- Lab track pending laboratory results for HIV/TB clinical and treatment review.
- Monitor HIV and TB line lists for ensure timeous management of patients.
- Reproductive health: cervical cancer screening as per facility target and provision of contraceptives as per client’s choice.
- Prevention Strategies: PICT (Provider Initiated Counselling and Testing), PrEP, PEP and screening of existing and new HIV/TB clients for index testing.
- Provides health education to patient and patient's personal support system in areas such as adherence, disease management, safe sex, etc.
- Maintain client satisfaction through quality service, innovation and nursing care by upholding the principles of supported stakeholders and Ideal Clinic standards / Norms and Standards guiding accreditation processes.
- Participates in clinical governance and QI initiatives e.g. clinical and mortality audits, morbidity and mortality meetings, QI projects, time in motion surveys, client satisfaction surveys, continuous medical education (CME’s) etc.
- Support other (non-medical) AHF strategies, programmes and initiatives, such as Optimum Retention Initiative, Food for Health, etc.
- Promote and adhere to infection control and occupational health and safety protocols and practices.
- Conducts nursing care in a manner reflective of the philosophy of AIDS Healthcare
- Foundation.
- Participates in nursing staff orientation and serves as a clinical resource.
- Exercises appropriate judgement and good decision-making skills.
- Participates in all other staff and relevant meetings as advised by the supervisor(s).
- Promotes teamwork, good interpersonal relations and communication among staff at the healthcare setting.
- Participates in the case management of individual patients to ensure the continuity of care.
- Maintains compliance with Nursing Council of South Africa, and other regulatory agencies, statutes and standards

**Qualifications and Experience**:

- Diploma or degree in Nursing that allows registration with the South African Nursing Council as Professional Nurse.
- Must have minimum 5 years working experience with NIMART and Basic HIV management course
- Must be registered with SANC
- HIV and TB Basic knowledge training and exposure.
- Knowledge of HIV/AIDS and related medical and patient care and concerns in diverse population.
- Strong clinical nursing skills.
- Demonstrated proficiency in phlebotomy and intravenous