Critical Care Nurse Specialist

The Critical Care Nurse Specialist is an integral part of the clinical team who works collaboratively to ensure staff nurses consistently deliver high quality, patient-centered care in the High Dependency Unit (HDU), at Neno District Hospital. This position integrates advanced clinical practice, mentorship, education, and quality improvement to ensure high quality, patient-centered care aligned with national nursing standards and Ministry of Health Guidelines

The position will also facilitate a high level of hands on education and clinical care provision as well as provide adequate time for the individual to work on educational projects, curriculum development, and facilitate time to develop and maintain relationships with MOH clinical leadership to promote the PIH model of social medicine in healthcare.

The critical care nurse specialist will also be responsible for promoting evidence-based nursing practice through training staff, facilitating didactic and clinical skills training, and providing bedside mentorship, ensuring that practice standards are continuously met and adhered to.

The role requires strong clinical judgment, technical competence, leadership ability, teaching experience and commitment to equitable, high-quality care in a rural district health system.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Practice

• Deliver comprehensive, evidence-based nursing care to critically ill patients in the HDU
• Conduct focused and head-to-to-toe assessments with early recognition of deterioration.
• Monitor and interpret vital signs and advanced monitoring parameters.
• Manage oxygen therapy, ventilators (where available), infusion pumps, and cardiac monitoring equipment.
• Provide advanced interventions including airway management, sedation management, hemodynamic monitoring, and infection prevention.
• Participate in emergency resuscitation procedures (BLS/ACLS).
• Ensure safe medication administration and IV therapy.
• Participate in multidisciplinary ward rounds and care planning.
• Ensure accurate and timely clinical documentation.

Education & Capacity Building

• Provide bedside mentorship and supervision to nurses, intems, and students.
• Identify leaming gaps, implement and support individualized development plans.
• Lead formal and informal clinical teaching sessions.
• Lead orientation programs for newly recruited HDU nurses.
• Promote evidence-based practice and critical thinking.
• Participate in and/or lead quality improvement initiatives and guideline development.

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety

• Lead, promote and participate in quality improvement and safety initiatives.
• Participate in morbidity and mortality reviews and critical incident debriefings.
• Monitor adherence to clinical standards and protocols and work with departmental leadership to improve clinical quality of care.
• Support implementation of early warning systems.
• Maintain competency through continuing professional development.

OTHER STRATEGIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Operations & Logistics

• Ensure availability and functionality of essential HDU and emergency equipment.
• Report equipment failures or stock-outs promptly.
• Collaborate with biomedical and pharmacy teams to maintain service continuity.
• Support optimization of critical care spaces and systems.

Data Management & Reporting

• Maintain accurate patient documentation and critical care registers.
• Support collection and analysis of quality indicators.
• Participate in audits and data-driven improvement initiatives.
• Contribute to reporting aligned with district and national priorities.

Professional Practice & Leadership

• Demonstrate accountability and professional integrity.
• Act as a role model and advocate for patient-centered care.
• Maintain professional registration in good standing
• Promote a respectful and therapeutic care environment.