Occupational Health Nurse Mary Begg Health Services

Role Description

At MBHS, an occupational health (OH) Nurse works closely with the occupational health doctors and other occupational health nurses and technicians to provide high quality care to all clients at MBHS. They are often the first point of contact for all clients, visitors and health care professionals accessing MBHS OH services.

Our occupational health nurse conducts herself/himself in a professional manner and always demonstrates good customer service towards all our clients, visitors, health professionals and MBHS employees.

All MBHS OH Nurses must provide client-centered, compassionate, competent and quality care. They must adhere to the MBHS and General Nursing Council of Zambia’s Code of Conduct and must practice safely and ethically at all times according to the MBHS standards.

Educational Requirements

• Must have a current RN qualification (essential) following completion of Diploma in Nursing (essential)
• Must have a current practice license from the NMCZ.
• Training in occupational health nursing with certification would be an asset.
• Training in Audiometry, Spirometry and Vision testing with appropriate certification will be an asset.

Experience Requirements

Minimum 4 years general nursing experience

Key Accountabilities

• Ensures that MBHS standard operating procedures (SOPs) and policies are followed with regards to the efficient organisation and day-to-day running of the occupational health services and nursing care that is in keeping with Zambian nursing scope of practise.
• All MBHS SOPs are read, understood and signed for policy compliance.
• Provide nursing care that is always respectful, ethical, compassionate, competent, caring and professional.
• Receive, assist and direct clients in a courteous, efficient and welcoming manner projecting a positive, friendly and professional image.
• Be available to work any overtime when required during busy periods.
• Must be accessible at all times when scheduled for work.
• Maintain client dignity and confidentiality at all times. Make ethical decisions related to consent and confidentiality. Any breach in client confidentiality will result in a disciplinary action.
• Maintain effective timekeeping of OH operations to ensure that the service runssmoothly and with minimum total time spent at the OH department Promote high quality occupational health screening by performing daily/weekly checks and quality testing on all OH medical equipment if required and trained to do so. Report any faults or inaccurate results immediately to the Unit leader for review and repair.

Key Responsibilities

Occupational Health Services

1. Ensure administrative duties such as registering clients, entering information on the electronic health record system are done timely and correctly.
2. Assist clients with completing documentation as required for the occupational health examinations.
3. Triage clients by checking vital signs (pulse, blood pressure, temperature and oxygen saturation) and conducting weight and height checks and assisting in conducting musculoskeletal screening tests.
4. Prepare and tidy doctor’s consultation room before/after clients as required.
5. Must demonstrate competence in effectively using the spirometer, audiometer and vision equipment and ability to understand the parameters of abnormal readings.
6. Inform the OH doctor immediately of any abnormal test results.
7. Ensure all OH screening results are signed, dated and filed in the correct client’s medical folder.
8. Promote high quality screening by following respective procedures as directed by the OH doctor.
9. Act as a chaperone for female clients when requested.
10. Maintain hygienic and safe work environments in compliance with the department’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
11. Attend clinic and department meetings when scheduled and raise any issues with regards to improvement in OH service or client care
12. Ensure that OH client files are complete and have necessary documentation present – like consent forms, pre-employment, periodic and exit screening & examination, laboratory results, and any diagnostic testing, any fitness to work certificates and injury on duty reports and follow-up assessments – before being presented to the OH doctor.
13. Ensure that all follow up visits for client assessments are carried out in a timely manner.
14. Conduct daily calibration of spirometers and sign and file appropriately when required and trained to do so.
15. Carry out weekly biological calibration of audiometers, and sign and file appropriately when required and trained to do.
16. Carry out daily listening checks of audiometers and the background noise checks in the booths when required and trained accordingly.
17. Carry out otoscopic examinations prior to audiometry testing.
18. Continually demonstrate adherence to the Infection Control Policy, especially maintaining proper hand washing technique. Use and maintain correct personal protective equipment (PPE) where appropriate.
19. Support and/or mentor new members of staff as directed by the Unit Leader/OHNP/CMO.
20. Promote good health and client-centred care through patient education on recognising occupational hazards.
21. Attend mandatory role specific in-house training, as directed by the unit leader or training coordinator.
22. Comply with MBHS sickness and absenteeism policy.
23. Comply with the MBHS uniform policy.
24. Comply with all legal regulations set out by NMCZ or Health Professional Council of Zambia.

Customer Service

• Establish a good rapport with all clients and maintain a good bedside manner at all times.
• Demonstrate good customer service by listening to client’s concerns
• Be polite and respectful to clients and their families, and staff at all times.
• Report any evidence of poor customer service (i.e. bullying, rude behaviour, yelling etc.) to the CMO or HR Manager.

Administrative Functions and Reporting

• Ensure client demographic information is correctly recorded on the computerised system as well as documentation.
• Assist with maintaining OH department registers for services, including but not exclusive to hearing loss, pre-employment periodicals, exit medicals, follow-ups, injury on duty and fitness to work registers if required by supervisor.
• Ensure all incident and adverse event reporting is carried out according to MBHS SOP.

Professional

• Previous experience working as a registered nurse in a medical setting is essential.
• Previous experience working as an OH Technician or OH nurse is an added advantage.
• Attend in-house training to maintain up-to-date knowledge and competence.
• Able to demonstrate initiative and a proactive approach to problem solving.
• Demonstrates safety awareness for self and others.
• Demonstrates effective teamwork with other members of the healthcare team.
• Computer literate in Microsoft ‘Word’ and Microsoft ‘Excel’.

General

• Proficient in written and spoken English.
• Always adhere to the MBHS uniform policy and code of conduct.
• May be required to travel to other MBHS facilities.
• Must be honest, trustworthy and act with integrity at all times.
• No consumption of alcohol is allowed whilst on duty. Intake of alcohol while off duty is allowed but inebriation is forbidden in public.

Quality Management

• Proficient in managing infection control procedures.
• Upon request, conduct self-audits to ensure that the quality of services provided at MBHS is maintained at a high standard.