Senior Nurse at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – Harare

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Nurse NSPA 7 position will support the health and wellbeing of UN staff and their dependents in Zimbabwe through effective medical care, emergency management, and health promotion activities, ensuring high standards of healthcare services in collaboration with local health authorities and other UN agencies. This role is integral to facilitating health and wellbeing within the UN community. UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Key duties and responsibilities include general communication and assistance of patients, reception and assistance for treatment by the UN Physician and Counsellor, responding to enquiries, and advising UN staff and dependants on available medical services in the country. The role involves translation between doctor/patient in English/Shona/Ndebele and networking with other health professionals for specialist referrals.

Responsibilities extend to the treatment and care of patients, management of emergency cases, treating minor ailments through nurse consultation including dressings, and dispensing doctor’s prescriptions, injections, and immunizations. Basic counselling on psycho-social issues and referrals, as well as collection of laboratory samples and follow-up on results, are also required. The Senior Nurse is responsible for maintaining the clinic in good order, ensuring cleanliness, safe record keeping of patient files, security of equipment, and safe keeping of medicines with adequate stock levels.

Administrative work attached to the clinic includes planning, organizing, and conducting Health Promotions among UN Agencies in Zimbabwe, producing patient medical reports, clinic mid-year and end-of-year reports, and supervisory duties as designated by the UN Physician, including mentoring and coaching other clinic staff. The role ensures the smooth running of clinic processes and administration of petty cash. The Senior Nurse assists the UN Physician with procedures and other delegated duties, processes medical examinations (entry, periodic, exit), refers patients to other UN Doctors, and manages emergency cases in the absence of the UN Physician. They also refer patients for external medical services like family planning and child immunizations, attend to emergencies after hours, and escort patients for specialized treatment locally or for evacuations to South African Hospitals.

Further responsibilities include planning and implementing health promotion programs for all UN Agencies in Harare and Sub-offices, ensuring the smooth running of UN Doctor’s Outreach Programs, Conferences, Health meetings, and maintaining professional clinic and part-time counselling services in the absence of the UN Physician and UN Counsellor. Any other administrative duties requested by the UN Physician are also part of the role.

The Senior Nurse will report to the UN Physician and work closely with UN Clinic staff, UN Common Services, and the operations team to ensure efficient medical emergency care and nursing services to UN staff and their eligible dependents.

- State Registered Nurse Diploma or Degree in Nursing with further qualification in either Anesthesia/ICU/Midwifery/Theater training.
- Critical Care and Trauma Certificate.
- Certificate in Advanced Cardiac Life support.
- A minimum of 7 years’ experience in Critical Emergency Care and administration for diploma holders or a minimum of 4 years for degree holders.
- Experience in capacity development on health matters at international level is desirable.
- Prowess to produce internationally acceptable reports is desirable.
- Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and knowledge of another UN language is an added advantage.
- Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) is desirable.
- Fluency in English Language and Shona and/ or Ndebele is required.