JOB DESCRIPTION – Psychiatric Nurse

Job Title: Psychiatric Nurse

Reports to: Mental Health Program Coordinator

Location: Kigutu, Burundi

Background

Village Health Works is an American-Burundian NGO based in Kigutu, Vyanda commune in Bururi Province, whose mission is to provide quality and compassionate health care in a dignified environment while addressing the root causes of disease, poverty, violence and neglect in collaboration with those we serve.

The care of mental health patients at VHW includes outpatient psychiatric and psychosocial evaluation, psychoeducation for patients and their families , home visits,  treatment in the community  and  inpatient  admission for stabilization of   acute mental crisis.  Our interdisciplinary mental health team includes clinical psychiatric nurses, general physicians, ward nurses, psychologists, community health workers, and lay counselors who work together to provide comprehensive hospital community-based care.

Outpatient evaluations are done either in the community or at the outpatient clinic by the interdisciplinary team.  VHW staff evaluate acutely ill patients, including those with presentations of serious mental illness, suicidality, substance abuse or family crises in the Emergency Room, and, if necessary, can admit patients to the hospital for stabilization, but the definitive care is done in the community setting. Our approach integrates clinical services with education, food security, economic development, environmental protection, music, arts, and social and community services.

Main tasks:

Clinical Responsibilities

• Conduct intake assessments through interviews with patients and relatives to gather case history.
• Diagnose and prescribe treatment as well as manage patients with mental disorders
• Promote and oversee the integration of mental health in the clinic
• Plan and provide nursing care for patients along with ward nurses
• Administer and note reactions to psychotropic drugs and other medications
• Create treatment plans for complicated mental health cases with the interdisciplinary team and/or a consultant VHW psychiatrist.
• Work with other team members in maintaining a safe and secure environment for staff and patients.
• Assist the client and family in understanding the nature of emotional disturbances and accepting the need for treatment.
• Work collaboratively with physicians to address medical needs of psychiatric patients.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation of patient information, treatments and laboratory results.
• Maintain patient confidentiality.
• Participate in call schedule to ensure consistent and continuous care of patients

Education and Research

• Plan and organize educational trainings on mental health
• Transmit knowledge, clinical expertise and skills to team members and clinic staff in general.
• Work with other team members to forward quarterly and other clinical reports to the appropriate authority and participate in mental health program meetings.
• Share mental health knowledge and expertise in the development of  grant applications
• Participate in ongoing research activities related to clinical care at VHW

Community Outreach

• Organize and participate in community mental health activities with other team members;
• Ensure that communities are sensitized to mental disorders and support early detection of mental disorders in the community;
• Prevent mental disorders in the community through training and awareness-raising at all levels

Education / Qualifications:

• Baccalaureate degree in Health Sciences, option MENTAL HEALTH PSYCHIATRY, recognized by the Government of Burundi
• Additional training or proven experience in the management of patients with mental disorders and individual or group therapy
• Have at least 2 years of experience in the outpatient and inpatient management of patients with mental disorders
• Empathy, compassion, dedication, hard work, exceptional organizational skills, openness to challenge, good problem solver
• Computer skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Fluent in Kirundi, French, English and Swahili
• Commitment to social justice and the mission of Village Health Works
• Interest in rural health and vulnerable populations
• A spirit of initiative and proactive
• Be able to work at the Clinic and with the community.
• Ability to integrate and collaborate.

Salary and Benefits

Competitive salary, commensurate with experience.

How to apply

Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit a CV and a thoughtful cover letter describing your experience and how it applies to this position along with 3 professional references to: jobs@villagehealthworks.org. Please include “Psychiatric Nurse” in the subject line of your email.

• Village Health Works considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran or military status.

Closing date for applications: October 22nd, 2023.