PMTCT Nurse (Kingston, Jamaica) - Bustamante Hospital for Children

The PMTCT Nurse (HPC/RN2) ensures eMTCT compliance, perform home visits, database entry, coordinate client care, secure data, follow up, conduct testing and counseling, assist in clinical assessments, and implement SOPs.

JOB PURPOSE
To report social, biographic and clinical data relating to HIV, Syphilis and related diseases from Perinatal and/or Pediatric and/or Adolescent clients;
To monitor the elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV and congenital syphilis in Kingston.

OBJECTIVE

To ensure that the eMTCT guidelines (Option B+) as stipulated by WHO for HIV& Syphilis positive mothers are being met at the respective Treatment Sites so as to prevent the risk of transmission to the unborn child.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

• Responsibility for compliance with the eMTCT protocols, good clinical and applicable regulations
• Home visits
• Database entry within 72 hours of child/neonate attending clinic
• Assist the relevant medical officer in coordinating the evaluation and treatment of clients
• Facilitate periodic monitoring and/or Quality Control visits/audits
• Ensure proper storage and security of eMTCT data
• Contact and follow up patients, their families and other groups via telephone
• Interview and educate clients within the programme, while maintaining strictest confidentiality
• Assist in performing testing (e.g., Rapid HIV and syphilis testing) for clients
• Conduct post-test counseling with clients
• Conduct physical examination of perinatal, pediatric and adolescent clients in clinics and wards
• Identify clinical signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS, Syphilis and related diseases and conduct necessary referral
• Assist the specialist medical officer in conducting initial assessments of all newly referred HIV positive and/or Syphilis reactive pregnant women in high-risk clinic
• Counsel women and adolescents regarding HIV and Syphilis, HIV and Syphilis testing, implications for their pregnancy, and the challenges of living with HIV
• Assist with implementing SOPs for the treatment and prophylaxis of pregnant women and POC testing on the Labor ward
• Monitor stocks of rapid test kits for HIV/Syphilis, HAART/ Penicillin
• Educate women regarding the benefits of antiretroviral prophylaxis and Syphilis treatment
• Assist the physician in assessing and preparing patients for HIV and Syphilis treatment and/or prophylaxis against HIV, syphilis and opportunistic infections
• Monitor clinical status and adherence to antiretroviral prophylaxis and Syphilis treatment, and provide continuing counseling and support during regular follow-up visits to the high-risk antenatal clinics
• Assess and assist in addressing potential barriers to adherence to antiretroviral therapy and Syphilis treatment
• Monitor syphilis treatment and post treatment testing during pregnancy and/or postpartum
• Ensure that treatment for HIV and Syphilis is provided as per protocol.
• Ensure that other treatment is provided as indicated for complications of HIV, Syphilis or pregnancy.
• Teach the principles of pill-swallowing to pediatric subjects
• Perform intensive follow-up to support and educate families, while monitoring adherence to clinic visits, investigations, medications, and viral response, as appropriate
• Enter key clinical data, biographic and demographic information into the programme data system
• Initiate efforts to find and counsel women who are delinquent for appointments, utilizing as needed, the services of local Contact Investigators and CHAs assigned to the HIV/STI/TB Programme
• See, whenever possible, women with HIV and Syphilis who are in labour, or postpartum
• Provide HIV exposed infants with antiretroviral prophylaxis and nutritional support in collaboration with the specialist medical officer and nutritionists
• Obtain blood for HIV virologic diagnosis by PCR/DBS at 4-6 weeks and 3 months after the first test.
• Obtain blood for confirmatory serologic testing at 18 months and send to NPHL with necessary follow up
• Provide Syphilis exposed infants with appropriate follow up until 18 months of age so as to ensure no clinical manifestations of Syphilis
• Assist in training of staff at antenatal clinics, labour and delivery ward, and postpartum areas in HIV and Syphilis testing, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, care of the HIV positive and/or Syphilis reactive woman, and referral of children, adolescents and pregnant women.
• Teach all staff the duty of respecting patient confidentiality and providing compassionate care to the HIV positive woman
• Measure body weight, height, fundal height and other measurements, as appropriate.
• Attend and actively participate in relevant committee and team meetings
• Travel to conferences and participates in other educational activities, as assigned (e.g.. at the Ministry of Health, Regional Health Authorities, UWI)
• Any other job related duties to pediatric, perinatal and adolescent HIV/AIDS & Syphilis which may be assigned

KEY OUTPUTS

• Evaluation and Treatment of clients coordinated within the required timeframe
• Monthly, quarterly, and annual pMTCT reports submitted by stipulated deadlines
• Detailed Summary Report of the HIV Positive Child submitted
• Data System updated with visits and key clinical, biographic and demographic information

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP

• Overall supervision will be provided by the SMO, BHC
• Direct supervision in by the Director of Nursing Services (DNS)
• The Officer shall report indirectly to the Paediatric HOD, BHC
• Indirectly reports to the Regional HIV/STI/Tb Coordinator
• Indirectly reports to the KSA SMO(H) and STT MO(H)

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs other related functions assigned

COLLABORATING RELATIONSHIPS

• Paediatricians
• Obstetricians
• Social workers,
• Pharmacist,
• Psychologist,
• Case Manager,
• Adherence Councilors
• Physicians,
• Administrative Assistants,
• Data Manager,
• Other PMTCT nurses,
• Staff in Antenatal and Paediatric Clinics, Labor Wards, Postnatal Wards, Emergency Room, Medical Records, Labs, Center for HIV/AIDS Research Education and Services (CHARES), Family Health Unit, Ministry of Health (MoH), Regional Health Authorities inclusive of their care facilities, the Project Coordination Unit of the HIV/STI/Tb Unit MoH, and other related organizations.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing
• Registered Nurse (RN) with the Nursing Council of Jamaica
• Certified Nurse mid-wife or Certified Nurse in HIV/AIDS care with at least three (3) years’ experience in general nursing
• Previous experience in counseling, phlebotomy, research, or public health nursing is an asset.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES

• Be knowledgeable of Jamaica’s HIV response and the eMTCT Initiative
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office & Google Docs
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Knowledge in Infection Control Guidelines and practices
• Basic knowledge of Occupational Health and Safety

SPECIAL CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE JOB

• Exposure to highly confidential and sensitive information
• Strict confidentiality must be maintained at all times
• May be required to work beyond normal working hours in order to meet deadlines
• Is required to work in conditions where strict guidelines are provided on disposal of used equipment; sterility of equipment for sample collection and wearing protective clothing (e.g., gowns, gloves and masks).

 Applications with curricula vitae are to be submitted to:

The Director,
Human Resource Management & Industrial Relations,
South East Regional Health Authority,
The Towers, 2nd Floor,
25 Dominica Drive,
Kingston 5.

Email: employment@serha.gov.jm

We thank all applicants for their expressions of interest however, only those shortlisted will be contacted.