Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is a non-profit, independent international humanitarian organization committed to delivering medical aid to populations facing crises, with a steadfast commitment to impartiality and without regard to race, religion, creed, or political affiliation.

In Malawi, MSF collaborates closely with the Ministry of Health and the local community, particularly in the Cervical Cancer project in the Blantyre and Chiradzulu districts, as well as the CBO Project in Zalewa and Dedza District.

MSF is looking for its Blantyre Office:

IPD Nurse – 1 Position

Workplace: Blantyre

Type of Contract: 1-year Fixed Term with possibility of extension

Start Date: ASAP

Main Purpose

Providing nursing care, treatment and follow-up of patients, according to doctors’ prescriptions, protocols applied in service and universal hygiene standards/precautions, in order to ensure the quality and continuity of care for the targeted population.

Main Responsibilities

• Knowing, promoting, implementing and following up universal hygiene standards, bio-hazard prevention, infection control, and security procedures.
• Organizing and carrying out care and treatments according to medical prescriptions.
• Identifying and referring Sexually Gender Based Violence victims for appropriate care.
• Ensuring proper patient reception, installation, feeding, hygiene, movement, and comfort.
• Carrying out admission, surveillance, and follow-up of patients.
• Supervising administrative procedures and medical documentation.
• Participating in pharmacy and medical equipment control and maintenance.
• Supervising and training nurse aides, assistants, cleaners, and related staff.

Specific Accountabilities

The IPD Nurse in the cervical cancer unit provides comprehensive nursing care to patients admitted with cervical cancer. Responsibilities include:

1. Patient Care

• Conduct nursing assessments
• Monitor vital signs and complications
• Provide pre- and post-operative care
• Administer prescribed medications
• Manage pain, nausea, bleeding, and infections

2. Patient Education & Counseling

• Educate patients and families on diagnosis and treatment
• Provide guidance on nutrition, hygiene, and self-care
• Offer emotional support and counseling
• Promote adherence to treatment and follow-up care

3. Coordination & Teamwork

• Collaborate with doctors and multidisciplinary teams
• Participate in ward rounds and case discussions
• Coordinate referrals and continuity of care

4. Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain accurate patient records
• Document nursing care and interventions
• Report patient condition changes promptly

5. Infection Prevention & Safety

• Adhere to IPC guidelines
• Safely handle waste segregation
• Maintain a clean and safe environment

6. Wound Assessment & Management

• Conduct wound assessments
• Manage post-operative wounds
• Maintain aseptic techniques
• Detect complications such as infection, wound dehiscence, and necrosis
• Educate patients on wound care after discharge

7. Laboratory Sample Collection & Management

• Collect and handle laboratory specimens correctly
• Ensure timely transport and follow-up of results

8. Interpretation & Use of Laboratory Results

• Monitor hemoglobin, white blood cells, platelets, and renal function
• Report abnormal findings promptly
• Prepare patients appropriately based on results

9. Pre-Operative Preparation

Applicable procedures include:

• Vulvectomy
• Radical hysterectomy
• Dilation & Curettage (D&C)
• Conization
• Simple hysterectomy
• Ovarian tumor surgery
• Local excision procedures

10. Theatre Checklist Coordination

• Confirm completion of surgical safety checklist
• Verify patient details, consent forms, and investigations
• Ensure safe transfer to theatre

11. Post-Operative Care & Monitoring

Responsibilities include:

• Monitoring vital signs and pain
• Observing complications such as hemorrhage, shock, infection, DVT, and urinary retention
• Managing IV fluids, catheters, and surgical drains
• Supporting nutrition, hydration, hygiene, and comfort

12. Procedure-Specific Nursing Considerations

• Vulvectomy
• Radical Hysterectomy
• D&C / Conization
• Hysterectomy (Abdominal/Vaginal)
• Ovarian Surgery
• Local Excision

Requirements

Education

• Recognized Nurse Degree/Diploma
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing is desirable
• Valid membership with Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi

Experience & Abilities

• Minimum 2 years of previous experience preferred
• Previous NGO experience desirable
• Experience supervising and training teams
• Ability to work shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays
• Ability to handle cytotoxic medications and infectious materials

Language

• Fluency in English and Chichewa

Competencies

• Compassion and emotional resilience
• Attention to detail and documentation
• Results and quality orientation
• Teamwork and cooperation
• Behavioural flexibility
• Commitment to MSF principles
• Stress management

• Knowing, promoting, implementing and following up universal hygiene standards, bio-hazard prevention, infection control, and security procedures.
• Organizing and carrying out care and treatments according to medical prescriptions.
• Identifying and referring Sexually Gender Based Violence victims for appropriate care.
• Ensuring proper patient reception, installation, feeding, hygiene, movement, and comfort.
• Carrying out admission, surveillance, and follow-up of patients.
• Supervising administrative procedures and medical documentation.
• Participating in pharmacy and medical equipment control and maintenance.
• Supervising and training nurse aides, assistants, cleaners, and related staff.
• Conduct nursing assessments
• Monitor vital signs and complications
• Provide pre- and post-operative care
• Administer prescribed medications
• Manage pain, nausea, bleeding, and infections
• Educate patients and families on diagnosis and treatment
• Provide guidance on nutrition, hygiene, and self-care
• Offer emotional support and counseling
• Promote adherence to treatment and follow-up care
• Collaborate with doctors and multidisciplinary teams
• Participate in ward rounds and case discussions
• Coordinate referrals and continuity of care
• Maintain accurate patient records
• Document nursing care and interventions
• Report patient condition changes promptly
• Adhere to IPC guidelines
• Safely handle waste segregation
• Maintain a clean and safe environment
• Conduct wound assessments
• Manage post-operative wounds
• Maintain aseptic techniques
• Detect complications such as infection, wound dehiscence, and necrosis
• Educate patients on wound care after discharge
• Collect and handle laboratory specimens correctly
• Ensure timely transport and follow-up of results
• Monitor hemoglobin, white blood cells, platelets, and renal function
• Report abnormal findings promptly
• Prepare patients appropriately based on results
• Vulvectomy
• Radical hysterectomy
• Dilation & Curettage (D&C)
• Conization
• Simple hysterectomy
• Ovarian tumor surgery
• Local excision procedures
• Confirm completion of surgical safety checklist
• Verify patient details, consent forms, and investigations
• Ensure safe transfer to theatre
• Monitoring vital signs and pain
• Observing complications such as hemorrhage, shock, infection, DVT, and urinary retention
• Managing IV fluids, catheters, and surgical drains
• Supporting nutrition, hydration, hygiene, and comfort
• Vulvectomy
• Radical Hysterectomy
• D&C / Conization
• Hysterectomy (Abdominal/Vaginal)
• Ovarian Surgery
• Local Excision

• Compassion and emotional resilience
• Attention to detail and documentation
• Results and quality orientation
• Teamwork and cooperation
• Behavioural flexibility
• Commitment to MSF principles
• Stress management
• Ability to handle cytotoxic medications and infectious materials

• Recognized Nurse Degree/Diploma
• Valid membership with Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi