Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) Nurse

The incumbent is responsible for reporting social, biographic and clinical data relating to HIV, Syphilis and related diseases from Perinatal and/or Pediatric and/or Adolescent clients; to monitor the elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV and congenital syphilis in the Region.

JOB SUMMARY

Under the general supervision of the Regional HIV/STI/Tb Coordinator, the incumbent is responsible for reporting social, biographic and clinical data relating to HIV, Syphilis and related diseases from Perinatal and/or Pediatric and/or Adolescent clients; to monitor the elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV and congenital syphilis in the Region. Ensuring that the eMTCT guidelines as stipulated by WHO are being met at the respective treatment sites for the HIV & Syphilis positive mothers, to prevent the risk of transmission to the unborn child.

Qualifications and Experience

• BSc. in Nursing

• Certified Nurse Midwife or Certified Nurse in HIV/AIDS care

• Registration with the Nursing Council of Jamaica

                      Plus

• A minimum of three (3) years’ working experience in the community

• Experience managing HIV/AIDS patients (definite asset)

• Previous experience in counseling, phlebotomy, research, or public health nursing is an asset

Required Knowledge, Skills & Competencies

 Working knowledge of HIV/AIDS

 Knowledge of Jamaica’s HIV response and the Eliminating Initiative

 Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.

 Good time management skills.

 Ability to maintain confidentiality

 Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Docs.

Key responsibilities will include:

 Compliance with the eMTCT protocol, good clinical and applicable regulations

 Accepting the need for and facilitating periodic monitoring and/or Quality Control visits/audits

 Ensuring proper retention of eMTCT data

 Interviewing and educating clients within the programme, while maintaining their confidence

 Performing post-test counseling for HIV and Syphilis clients

 Conducting physical examination of perinatal, pediatric and adolescent clients in clinics and on wards

 Recognizing the clinical signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS, Syphilis and related diseases

 Performing initial assessments of newly referred pregnant women with positive HIV and/or Syphilis rapid test results in high-risk clinics

 Counseling women and adolescents regarding HIV and Syphilis, HIV and Syphilis testing, implications for their pregnancy, and the challenges of living with HIV.

 Assisting with implementing SOPs and monitoring stocks of rapid tests for HIV/Syphilis, HAART/ Penicillin and the implementation of POC testing and treatment or prophylaxis for pregnant women on the Labor ward

 Assessing potential barriers to adherence to antiretroviral prophylaxis and Syphilis treatment and educating women regarding the benefits of these treatments.

 Ensuring that treatment for HIV and Syphilis is provided as per protocol.

 Ensuring other treatment is provided as indicated for complications of HIV, Syphilis or pregnancy.

 Educating women regarding the benefits of antiretroviral prophylaxis

 Monitoring clinical status and adherence to antiretroviral prophylaxis and Syphilis, and providing continuing counseling and support on regular follow-up visits to the high-risk antenatal clinics

 Entering visits and key clinical data, biographic and demographic information into the programme data system

 Initiating efforts to find and counsel women who are delinquent for appointments, utilizing, as need be, the services of local Contact Investigators

 Attending to women with HIV and Syphilis who are in labour, or postpartum

 Providing HIV exposed infants with antiretroviral prophylaxis and in collaboration with nutritionists, nutritional support

 Obtaining blood for HIV virologic diagnosis by PCR/DBS at 4-6 weeks and 3 months after the first test.

 Obtaining blood for confirmatory serologic testing at 18 months and send to NPHL

 Ensuring collection of blood samples and assisting with performing tests (eg, Rapid HIV and syphilis testing)

 Providing Syphilis exposed infants with appropriate follow up to ensure non-clinical manifestations of Syphilis until 18 months of age

 Assisting in training of staff at area antenatal clinics in counseling, testing, and referral of children, adolescents and pregnant women. Training staff in the high-risk antenatal clinic, labour and delivery, and postpartum areas regarding prevention of mother-to-child transmission and care of the woman with HIV and syphilis

 Measuring body weight, height, fundal height and other measurements, as appropriate.

 Assisting the physician to assess and prepare patient-families for adherence to treatment for syphilis and ART and/or prophylaxis against HIV, syphilis and opportunistic infections

 Monitoring for syphilis treatment and post treatment testing during pregnancy and/or postpartum

 Teaching the principles of pill-swallowing to pediatric subjects

 Performing intensive follow-up to support and educate families, while monitoring adherence to clinic visits, investigations, medications, viral response and follow-up, as appropriate