Vacancy Announcement

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 (PIH) 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 and Sanitation (MOHS), 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 center and to referral hospitals.

The Nurse/Midwifery Educator will be responsible for promoting evidence-based nursing practice through staff development, formal and informal training within and outside the clinical setting and ensuring optimal patient outcomes. He/she will serve as a role model, advocate, and provide guidance, while also sharing their clinical experiences to help nurses and midwives develop and gain confidence in their roles, most importantly thinking critically and solving problems independently. The Nurse/Midwifery Educator also acts as both adviser and role model for the nursing and midwifery students, assisting them in their journey toward become successful practicing practioners. They must have a commitment to lifelong learning and to the scholarly progression of the nursing/midwifery profession. The Nurse/Midwifery Educator must also have a strong knowledge base in theories of teaching, learning, and evaluation, be able to design curricula and programs, be able to assess a student’s needs, be innovative, and thoroughly enjoy, didactic and bedside/clinical teaching.

The Nurse/Midwifery Educator is responsible for maintaining and developing the following key performance areas:

Clinical Practice:

• Perform nursing and midwifery practices in accordance with Sierra Leone’s Nursing and Midwifery standards of practice, policies and guidelines
• Practice within own abilities and maintain accreditation in mandatory and extended skills
• Demonstrate accountability for nursing and midwifery practices
• Update, design and implement mandatory training skills for nurses and midwives
• Work closely with the RMNH directorate to develop the curriculum and training plan for all clinical staff at the MCOE
• Demonstrate a high level of understanding, knowledge and skills in reproductive, midwifery and neonatal nursing
• Maintain own competence as a Nurse/Midwifery Educator through certification and clinical practice
• Demonstrate expert clinical knowledge through problem solving and decision making
• Perform nursing and midwifery bedside care in a teaching capacity as needed
• Identify strategies for optimizing patient care in the clinical environment based on current research and evidence in clinical practice.

Education and Research:

• Implement and evaluate clinical education programs and in-services for practicing nurses and student nurses
• Implement and evaluate the Nursing/Midwifery Orientation and Student Nurses Orientation Programs in collaboration with the Directorates of RMNH, Nursing and Clinical Education
• Initiate, participate and contribute to the development of clinical knowledge and skills of new and existing nurses and midwives as well as student nurses
• Provide clinical support to new and existing nurses/midwives as well as students
• Develop and maintain clinical educational resources
• Identify individual learning needs of nurses/midwives in consultation with the staff member, Ward In-Charges, Hospital Matron and Directorates of RMNH and Nursing in order to support individual learning plans
• Perform clinical assessments of nurses/midwives and provide certification of competency where required
• Participate in the delivery of formal and informal education
• Develop, implement and evaluate extended skills programs for nurses/midwives in collaboration with the Directorate of RMNH and Nursing
• Actively participate in clinical and non-clinical activities that promote the professional development and education of nurses and midwives
• Foster an environment that supports the utilization of nursing/midwifery research
• Collaborate with the Directors of RMNH, Nursing and Clinical Education to identify research opportunities
• Participate in the development and review of clinical and practice guidelines for the Maternal Centre of Excellence and Koidu Government Hospital.

Quality Improvement and Management:

• Undertake necessary components of the performance evaluation process
• 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
• Assess and evaluate the quality of education resources and equipment required to meet the learning needs of nurses/midwives and student nurses in the clinical environment
• Contribute to the nursing education component of the strategic plan of the organization
• Participate in critical incident debriefings as required.

Professional Practice and Development:

• Demonstrate advocacy for nurses/midwives and patient groups
• Actively pursue opportunities to advance own professional knowledge and skill development
• Participate in relevant ongoing professional development programs
• Demonstrate a commitment to professional development through membership in relevant professional organizations or associations
• Demonstrate awareness of current nursing and midwifery practices, initiatives and related health issues that enhance adult, maternal and neonatal nursing care
• Participate in health promotion and community outreach activities
• Act as an effective role model for staff through mentoring and teaching so as to achieve optimal staff development and patient outcomes

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Midwifery with Master of Science in Midwifery preferred.
• Certification in Nursing/Midwifery Education from a known and reputable institution
• 5 or more years of clinical and educational experience, practicing in a hospital setting
• Exemplary interpersonal communication skills, verbal and written, required to effectively engage with senior leadership, partners, and clinicians on sensitive political and confidential issues
• Proven ability to exercise good judgment, demonstrate political astuteness, and tact especially when dealing with MOHS and external partners
• Excellent communication skills both oral and written, with knowledge of Microsoft Office and other relevant software
• Exceptional leadership qualities with the proven ability to work with others in the clinical environment
• Pursue attention to detail
• Experience in working in low resource settings is a requirement
• A strong commitment to social justice and health as a human right and passion for serving the poor and vulnerable, is essential in all aspects of this role
• Ability to collaborate effectively with culturally diverse staff across departments and country
• Evidence of providing culturally sensitive and competent quality care in an extremely stressful environment
• Humility, a sense of curiosity, and commitment to creatively tackling seemingly impossible problems
• Sense of humor and ability to laugh at self, and with others
• Demonstrated ability to be flexible and effective in the face of unexpected challenges as well as the willingness to accept a standard of living that is clean and comfortable but simple
• Ability to live in Kono District, Sierra Leone full-time with shared accommodation
• This is a description of the job as it is at present constituted. It is the practice of this organization periodically to examine employees’ job description and to update them to ensure that they relate to the job as then being performed, or to incorporate whatever changes are being proposed. This procedure is jointly conducted by each manager in consultation with those working directly to him or her. You will, therefore, be expected to participate fully in such discussions and reach an amicable conclusion with your manager.