Research Professional Study Nurse - Pietermaritzburg at HSRC

Job Advert Summary    

The Centre for Community Based Research (CCBR) exists within the Division of Public Health, Societies and Belonging (PHSB). The mission of the CCBR is to understand, identify and improve community wellbeing by exploring, describing and addressing health, education, and quality of life through novel mixed-methods approaches that combines multidisciplinary capacities, and to serve as a hub for knowledge generation, capacity building and training.

Through engagement and advocacy for community-informed approaches, the CCBR is a champion for this work within the Division and across the HSRC. The CCBR currently have staff in both Durban and Pietermaritzburg with plans to grow activities and capacity beyond the borders of the Sweetwaters office.

The CCBR is looking for a suitably qualified persons to take on the responsibilities of professional study nurse for research projects implemented at the Sweetwaters office. The successful candidates will be assigned to multi-year projects to implement and evaluate health interventions to reach identified population groups in the communities designated for the research study.

The professional nurse/data collector will report to the study project manager and project team and site support staff to successfully implement their role. This position is offered on a 13 month contract.

Minimum Requirements    

• Registration as a Professional Nurse with the South African Nursing Council;
• Minimum 3 year’s nursing experience including rapid testing and collection of blood specimens
• Fluency in isiZulu and English.
• Relevant knowledge of HIV/AIDS
• Preference will be given to applicants with:   

Research experience

• 1 year, Code E or similar, unendorsed driver’s license;
• Exposure to data collection on mobile devices
• Good organizational skills and problem-solving skills
• The ability to work accurately, independently and in a team
• Willingness to work after hours and over weekends and in rural communities

Duties & Responsibilities    

• Conduct Informed Consent process
• Administer study specific questionnaires
• Perform clinical examinations
• Conduct point of care assessments and rapid assays from fingerprick;
• Facilitate sputum collection and nasopharyngeal specimen collection from participants;
• Conducting venous blood draws on participants;
• Ensuring bio-hazardous waste is disposed of according to waste management guidelines;
• Ensuring safe storage of blood specimens;
• Adhering to universal precautions during and after blood draws;
• Providing clients test results in the field;
• Ensuring accurate record keeping of client information;
• Carrying out any other activities deemed necessary for the effective and productive functioning of the team
• From time to time coordinate study personnel, study activities or project phases as delegated

Additional Responsibilities:

• Mobilising participants to receive counselling and testing.
• Recruiting and screening participants to the study