Akeso Enrolled Nurse

ROLE SUMMARY

The Enrolled Nurse is responsible for direct and/or indirect nursing care of a patient or group of patients and will function under the direct and/or indirect supervision of the Registered Nurse. They can function as either a shift leader or as support to the Registered Nurse (RN). The EN plays a pivotal role in managing the nursing team to ensure that each patient is always treated with dignity and respect. The EN ensures that the patient is in a safe environment and that their individual needs are addressed, thereby delivering high-quality mental health care and physical health care to patients within Akeso Clinics. The EN always has knowledge and skills to confidently role-model a high standard of nursing practice.

Position description is a broad indication of the work required from individual personnel holding a particular position. The personnel may be required to undertake certain duties which may not be indicated in this description. No Job Description is regarded as a precise specification of duties but should be regarded as a guide to main responsibilities

Nursing activities form part of a nursing regime that is planned and initiated by the Registered Nurse. The Enrolled Nurse will be responsible for the assessment, care and meeting of patient needs and will also be responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of appropriate programmes of care to ensure high-quality patient care.

KEY WORK OUTPUT AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

CONSISTANCY OF CARE

Responsibilities and duties

• The EN is responsible to the RN and in his/her absence the Nursing Unit Manager (NUM) and ultimately to the Nursing Services Manager (NSM).
• As an integral member of the nursing team, he/she is expected to work in co-operation with all his / her nursing colleagues.
• The EN will work in co-operation with all members of the Akeso Clinic Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT), Administrative Team and Hospital Management

Administration management / responsibilities

• Ensure that all documentation is maintained timeously and accurately, reflecting patient care.
• Ensure all stock is charged appropriately.
• Assist with file compilation.
• Ensure that task allocation of subordinates i.e. Enrolled Nurse Auxiliaries (ENAs) and Health Care Workers (HCWs) is done at the start of each shift.
• Ensure that proper handover takes place at the start of shift and during the shift.
• Participate in twice-yearly appraisals of subordinates.

Governance, quality and risk management

• Maintain a therapeutic, clean and safe environment that is free from medico-legal hazards.
• Adhere to Netcare medical waste management principles and all other waste management principles.
• Maintain a safe working environment in accordance with the Machinery and Occupational Safety Act.
• Report potential/actual risks identified.
• Ensure all stock is well controlled.
• Responsible for ensuring correct use, cleaning and storage of equipment.
• Report equipment needing repair or replacement to sister-in-charge.
• Maintain professional conduct and standards at all times in accordance with hospital policies and procedures.
• Maintain patient confidentiality at all times.
• Act in a supervisory capacity over ENAs

Patient care

• Practice patient care according to his/her scope of practice and assume total responsibility for these activities.
• Contribute to the holistic care of patients.
• Participate in ward's/unit's quality improvement programme.
• Attend handover of report at shift commencement.
• Promotion of patient overall health and wellbeing.
• Practise the principles of infection prevention and all standard precautions.
• Promote and maintain good public relations with patients, relatives and visitors.
• Refer all complaints from patients and doctors to sister-in-charge of the unit.
• Carry out all departmental duties as assigned by supervisors.

Meetings

• Attend meetings as delegated by the RN and NUM, e.g. ward rounds, Nursing Management meetings, Administration meetings, Health and Safety Committee meetings, Infection Control Committee meetings, Employment Equity Committee meetings and Risk Management Committee meetings.
• The EN is expected to actively participate in meetings by making suggestions, offering contributions and being involved with problem-solving with regard to improving the patient experience whilst a patient is at an Akeso Clinic.
• He/she is responsible for giving feedback to other members of the nursing team by means of a verbal and written handover.

Finances

• Although the EN is not directly involved with the financial aspects of Akeso Clinics, he/she is expected to be prudent in the supervision of human resources, ensuring that personal attendance is good, with judicious use of sick leave, and encouraging the above in subordinates.
• Prudent in the utilisation, control and management of material resources
• Ensure that medication and medical consumables are managed and controlled as per policy.
• Ensure that patients are billed for ward-stock medication and medical consumables.
• Ensure that equipment, furniture and the infrastructure are maintained and items for repair are reported promptly.

Organisation

• In the absence of the RN or as a delegated duty, the EN must be able to plan systematically, adapt as circumstances change and be able to successfully carry a greater workload.
• Delegate duties in accordance with the knowledge, skills and competencies of subordinates, within their scope of practice and job description, thus maximising the utilisation of manpower and improving productivity.

Control

• Exercise control over all available resources in a responsible manner:

Medication:

• The ordering of medication for patients to be done according to policy.
• Ward-stock medication and schedule medication to be kept at a manageable level and controlled as per policy.
• Ensure safe-keeping of medicines as per policy.

Medical Consumables:

• Medical supplies to be kept at a manageable level and controlled as per policy.
• Prevent stock shortages through planned ordering.

Equipment:

• Ensure that equipment is used correctly.
• Ensure maintenance of equipment.
• Ensure safekeeping of equipment as per policy.

Environment:

• Ensure that electric lights, heaters and air-conditioners are turned off when not in use.

Report maintenance issues

• Comply with Health and Safety Representative role and function.

Personnel administration

• The Enrolled Nurse, in the absence of the Registered Nurse, is responsible for the day-to-day supervision of his/her subordinates.
• The delegation and supervision of subordinates is done according to their knowledge, skills and competencies in order to ensure quality nursing care is rendered.

Educational responsibility

• The EN is to be aware of the importance and implications of staff development and the responsibility towards development of self and others.

In-Service Training:

• The EN must lead by example and monitor subordinates.
• The EN is involved in the planning of in-service training programmes in conjunction with the RN and NUM, looking at the needs of the group and planning accordingly.
• The in-service training programme is a participatory function and therefore all ENs are encouraged to make contributions towards development, implementation and evaluation of the programme.
• The EN is expected to be on time for the in-service training / journal club and encourage colleagues and subordinates to do likewise.
• The EN will prepare and present at the in-service training if requested to do so.
• The EN is involved in the day-to-day in-service training by making maximum use of the teachable moment for their subordinates. This is done by placing emphasis on basic nursing skills, basic psychiatric nursing skills, incident-reporting, record-keeping, and computer literacy.
• The training register is to be signed and completed after each training session, be it formal or informal (the teachable moment).

Professional responsibility

Legislation

• All nursing activities must be executed according to the legislation applicable within the Scope of Practice for an Enrolled Nurse i.e. The Nursing Act No. 33 of 2005 and the Nursing Act No. 50 of 1978 and Regulations, as well as the Mental Health Care Act No. 17 of 2002 and Regulations.

Company and Clinic Policy

• The EN is responsible for ensuring that the Akeso Human Resources and Hospital Policy file as well as the Akeso Clinics Policy file are kept intact and well maintained.
• The EN is expected to be familiar with the content of the above-mentioned policy files and to disseminate the contents to his/her subordinates.
• The EN will ensure the implementation of the above-mentioned policies and procedures and that these are adhered to by self and subordinates.
• The EN takes an active role in policy and procedure review processes.

Clinical responsibilities

• To ensure that the patient receives the desired standard of nursing care, there must be active involvement in all aspects of clinical nursing which will fulfil the needs of each patient. To do this, the RN must develop the knowledge and skills required to successfully carry out all the aspects of clinical work delegated to him/her. This includes:
• Being responsible for giving feedback to other members of the nursing team by means of a verbal and written handover, especially regarding changes in the patient's treatment programme.
• Performing the psychiatric nursing evaluation and comprehensively completing the documentation.
• Provision of a therapeutic environment.
• Execution of instructions from the patient's doctor and other members of the MDT.
• The therapeutic use of self.
• Forming therapeutic nurse-patient relationships.
• Performing crisis intervention.
• Appropriate counselling of patient where it is not in conflict with the patient's therapeutic programme.
• Providing psychiatric nursing care.
• Providing pre- and post-procedure care to the patient receiving Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT), but is not to work in the theatre on his/her own.
• Administering and evaluating the effect of medication.
• Critical analysis of the patient's vital signs and reporting of abnormalities.
• Providing health education to patients, families and the public when appropriate.
• Providing discharge education individually and by means of encouraging patients to attend planned and specific nursing groups on a Saturday.
• Ensuring that all information pertaining to the patient is recorded chronologically, comprehensively, accurately, and legibly.
• Ensuring that confidentiality is maintained at all times.
• Carrying out patient care and specific duties as delegated by the Registered Nurse and Nursing Unit Manager.
• Ensuring that safe patient care is practised at all times, especially with regard to patients on Special Observation.
• Always Maintaining open communication with family members and significant others, whilst maintaining patient confidentiality.

Emergency procedures

• Carry out the appropriate emergency procedure / treatment as directed by Akeso Clinics policy.
• Exhibit competence about life-saving procedures.
• Ensure maintenance of stock, equipment, and oxygen to facilitate a successful outcome of a medical emergency.
• Assist the RN and NUM in being prepared for a potential disaster or emergency situation.

Research

• Actively participate in any authorised nursing / medical research in the practical situation.

Expectations of the Enrolled Nurse towards the patient and significant others

• Interact in a polite and professional manner.
• Treat the patient and others with dignity and respect.
• Listen and be non-judgemental.
• Be an advocate of the patient.
• Establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship.
• Ensure safekeeping of patients' property that has been handed in / confiscated.

Expectations of the Enrolled Nurse whilst in the employment of Akeso Clinics

• Be an advocate of Akeso Clinics.
• Work within the framework of the Akeso company and clinic policies and procedures.
• Be a positive role model.
• Treat all clinic personnel with dignity and respect.
• Be non-judgemental towards your colleagues.
• Demonstrate a helpful attitude.

TRANSFORMATION OF OUR SOCIETY

Teamwork

• Support the education and training of the ENAs.
• Actively participate as a member of a team to achieve goals.

Personal and professional development

• Active involvement in own professional development to maintain a satisfactory level of skill and knowledge.
• Keep up to date with Akeso and Netcare’s evolving policies and procedures.
• Assume responsibility for maintaining competence in CPR.

Build and maintain stakeholder relationships

• Work effectively and co-operatively with others to establish and maintain good working relationships that are mutually beneficial.
• Develop collaborative relationships to help accomplish work goals.

REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION

Required

• Current registration with the South African Nursing Council as an Enrolled Nurse or equivalent NQF 3 qualification.
• A grade 12 or