Professional Nurse – Online / Virtual Consultations (Contract Position) at Profile Personnel

Position Summary

• We are seeking an experienced, professional and patient-focused Professional Nurse to provide high-quality nursing consultations through an online/virtual healthcare platform.
• The successful candidate will conduct virtual patient assessments, provide appropriate nursing advice and education, assist with the management of suitable conditions, identify red flags, and ensure timely referral to a doctor, emergency service or face-to-face healthcare facility when required.
• The nurse must be comfortable working independently in a digital healthcare environment while maintaining professional nursing standards, patient confidentiality and accurate clinical documentation.

Minimum Requirements

• Registered as a Professional Nurse with the South African Nursing Council (SANC) and in good standing.
• 3–5 years' relevant professional nursing experience.
• Previous experience in primary healthcare, general practice, outpatient care, triage, telehealth or a similar clinical environment would be advantageous.
• Strong clinical assessment and decision-making skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Comfortable communicating with patients via telephone, video and/or digital platforms.
• Good computer literacy and ability to work with electronic medical records and digital healthcare systems.
• Ability to work independently and make appropriate clinical decisions within scope of practice.
• Strong understanding of patient confidentiality, informed consent and professional ethics.
• Ability and willingness to work shifts, including weekends, public holidays and night shifts.
• Night-shift allowance will be provided.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct professional and patient-centred online nursing consultations.
• Obtain an appropriate patient history and assess the patient's presenting complaint.
• Identify symptoms, risk factors and potential clinical red flags.
• Provide nursing advice, education and appropriate self-care guidance within scope of practice.
• Assess whether the patient is suitable for virtual management or requires face-to-face assessment.
• Escalate and refer patients appropriately to a doctor, emergency department, ambulance service or other healthcare professional when clinically indicated.
• Provide appropriate follow-up advice and safety-netting to patients.
• Document all consultations, assessments, advice, referrals and clinical decisions accurately on the electronic system.
• Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with applicable healthcare, privacy and professional requirements.
• Follow approved clinical protocols, guidelines and escalation pathways.
• Participate in quality assurance, clinical audits and ongoing professional development.
• Maintain professional conduct and ensure all care is provided within the nurse's SANC scope of practice.
• Recognise situations that cannot safely be managed online and ensure appropriate referral and escalation.

Key Competencies

• Strong clinical judgement
• Excellent patient communication
• Empathy and professionalism
• Effective telephone/video consultation skills
• Ability to triage and prioritise patients
• Good clinical documentation skills
• Ability to recognise clinical deterioration and red flags
• Confidence working independently
• Good digital/computer literacy
• Ability to remain calm and professional under pressure
• Commitment to patient safety and quality care

Preferred Experience

• Experience in any of the following would be beneficial:
• Primary healthcare
• General nursing
• Triage
• Emergency nursing
• Occupational health
• Outpatient/clinic nursing
• Chronic disease management
• Telehealth or virtual healthcare
• Healthcare call-centre environments
• Digital health platforms

Compliance

• The nurse must practise in accordance with the Nursing Act, applicable SANC regulations, the SANC Code of Ethics, the applicable scope of practice and the organisation's clinical policies and protocols.