Job Description

Job Title:

Paediatric Nurse Specialist

Work Location:

Kono

Department:

Nursing

Report to:

Nursing Director

Line Management:

Organization Profile:

Partners In Health (PIH) is an international health organization relentlessly committed to improving the health of the poor and marginalized. PIH partners with local governments to build local capacity and works closely with impoverished communities to deliver high-quality health care, address the root causes of illness, train providers, advance research, and advocate for global policy change. Our delivered services in the field are based in our partnership with the Governments and Ministries of Health and the support to education, training and mentorship to Health care workers and students is one of our pillars for the Health care system strengthening.

PIH currently has implementation programs in Haiti, Rwanda, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Peru, Mexico, Russia, Sierra Leone and Navajo Nation. Through our partnership with Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, we support a wide range of programs in dozens of other countries around the world.

Our Work In Sierra Leone:

Partners In Health began supporting the government of Sierra Leone in response to the Ebola epidemic in October 2014. Recognizing the large need for continued investments in the health system after Ebola, PIH is committed to long-term health system strengthening in support of the Ministry of Health (MOH), guided by the same principles as our emergency response and our work around the world: public sector accompaniment, integrated and comprehensive services, social justice, nimbleness and flexibility, partnership, community ownership, and evidence-based interventions. In the aftermath of the epidemic, PIH is committed to supporting the delivery of comprehensive health services in Sierra Leone, from the community level to the health centre and to referral hospitals.

The PaediatricNurse Specialist will be an integral part of the clinical team, working collaboratively with others across all of the PIH-supported facilities to ensure that staff nurses consistently deliver high quality, patient-centered care and that nursing students meet their core clinical objectives during placement. It is also important that the Paediatric Nurse Specialist seeks to develop and maintain relationships with all of the clinical leadership, both within PIH and MOH and to promote the PIH model of social medicine in healthcare.

The Paediatric Nurse Specialist will provide optimal nursing care to relieve patients from pain and life-threatening conditions through the nursing process. He/She will also be responsible for promoting evidence-based nursing practice through training of staff in emergency critical care, by facilitating didactic, clinical skills and bedside mentorship.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The Paediatric Nurse Specialist is responsible for maintaining and developing the following key performance areas:

Clinical Practice:

• Support nurses in delivering care aligned with Sierra Leone’s Nursing and Midwifery standards, policies, and guidelines by providing ongoing clinical oversight and mentorship.
• Demonstrate advanced clinical knowledge by guiding staff in clinical reasoning, problem-solving, and evidence-informed decision-making.
• Share expertise in paediatric emergency/critical care to ensure staff are equipped with current best practices, evidence-based protocols, and the latest clinical guidelines.
• Model professional accountability by upholding high standards in nursing practice and promoting this standard among mentees.
• Offer real-time clinical support and coaching to nurses managing emergency & critically ill paediatric patients, including assistance with assessment, intervention planning, and monitoring.
• Guide nurses in the effective use of the South African Triage Scale (SATS), ensuring consistent and accurate triage practices.
• Provide training and mentorship in Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (BLS/ACLS), reinforcing life-saving protocols and competencies.
• Guide staff in performing and interpreting Electrocardiograms (ECGs), enhancing their confidence and accuracy in cardiac monitoring.
• Supervise and support nurses in collecting and interpreting blood samples, promoting accurate diagnostic practices and appropriate clinical responses.
• Oversee the safe administration of emergency medications, including monitoring for adverse reactions and ensuring timely, appropriate interventions.
• Support nurses in assessing and managing wounds in critically injured and trauma patients through hands-on coaching and clinical advice.
• Facilitate training and preparedness activities related to emergency response, fostering a proactive and coordinated approach to crisis situations.
• Promote comprehensive and accurate documentation practices among nursing staff to support continuity of care and legal compliance.
• Encourage and model collaborative practice with the broader healthcare team to ensure integrated, patient-centered care delivery.
• Reinforce adherence to Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) policies and protocols through training, role modeling, and regular audits.

Education and Research:

• Maintain current accreditation in all mandatory and extended clinical skills, and encourage peers to do the same.
• Deliver hands-on mentorship and training to qualified nurses, nurse interns, and student nurses in paediatric emergency & critical care, including guidance on specialized procedures and use of advanced equipment.
• Provide constructive feedback and guidance to nurses on their clinical and professional performance, supporting their continuous improvement and career development.
• Support the creation of teaching materials and actively facilitate a positive, inclusive learning environment that enables staff and students to develop the knowledge and skills required for their roles.
• Prepare clear, well-structured reports related to education and training activities, including session plans, attendance records, evaluations, and learning outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with the clinical nurse educator to identify opportunities for clinical research and quality improvement initiatives.
• Contribute to the development, implementation, and review of clinical and practice guidelines to ensure safe, effective, and current care delivery.
• Support the integration of nursing education objectives within the broader strategic plan of the organization, contributing to long-term capacity building.

Quality Improvement and Management:

• Continuously monitor and assess care delivery interventions against established standards.
• Promote and participate in quality improvement and safety activities as well as institutional accreditation processes.
• Participate in relevant committees, meetings and service activities as required and provide relevant feedback and dissemination of appropriate information.
• Participate in critical incident debriefings as required.

Professional Practice and Development:

• Actively pursue opportunities for advancing personal professional knowledge and skills through formal and informal learning.
• Promote and support nurses’ ongoing development by encouraging participation in professional development programs, specialty certifications, and lifelong learning.
• Maintain personal competence as an emergency and critical care nurse specialist through continuous education and active clinical engagement.
• Demonstrate commitment to the nursing profession through active membership in relevant professional organizations or associations.
• Stay informed on current nursing practices, national health initiatives, and emerging health issues that impact paediatric nursing care.
• Participate in health promotion and community outreach activities aimed at improving child and family health outcomes.
• Contribute to the planning, setup, and effective management of the Paediatric Resuscitation Unit and Paediatric Ward.
• Carry out additional responsibilities as assigned, in alignment with organizational needs and priorities.

Qualifications:

• Masters of Science in Nursing (Pediatrics nursing, or Paediatric critical care or Pediatrics’ Emergency nursing) or Higher diploma in Pediatricsnursing
• Valid Basic Life Support (BLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support certifications
• Valid registered Paediatric nurse licensure and registered with a nursing professional body of your country of residence
• At least 5 years’ experience in a Pediatrics emergency room or Pediatrics critical care settings
• Experience working with NGOs and other international organization a plus
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work effectively in a high-stress environment
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills
• Computer skills such as word, excel and electronic Medical Record

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

At Partners In Health, we are committed to ensuring that those who benefit from our work- including our patients, families and community members – as well as our staff are treated with dignity and respect and protected from sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment. A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Partner In Health’s PSEAH policy. Partner In Health will request information from applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Social justice:

We are a global health and social justice organization that responds to the moral imperative to provide high-quality health care globally to those who need it most. We strive to ease suffering by placing patients at the center of all care, bringing the benefits of modern medicine to all.