MT04503
NUTRITION ASSISTANT
Level 3
Reports to (Hierarchical)
Nutritional nurse / Head of Nutrition Assistant
Reports to (Functional)
Nutritional nurse / Head of Nutrition Assistant
Job Family
Medical and Paramedical
Main Purpose
Under the supervision of the Nutritional Nurse, participating in the nutritional case management of children suffering from acute malnutrition according to MSF nutritional and hygiene protocols, standards and procedures in order to ensure the delivery of quality medical care for patients and their communities and improve the health conditions of the targeted population
Accountabilities
- Carrying out basic health care (swabbing, applying local treatments, etc.) following the rules on hygiene and asepsis.
- Informing caretakers on the functioning of the centre: lay out, daily activity plan (number and frequency of the meals, medical visit, weight measurement, etc.) and other general information.
- Distributing meals according to medical prescriptions for each patient, ensuring that no other food is given in place. Reporting on daily basis, the intake of the patients under nutritional treatment.
- Providing hygienic training and sanitation education to children, mothers and the targeted population and stimulating mothers to breast-feed.
- Monitoring and reporting weight and other vital indicators, if necessary, (temperature, heart and respiratory rates) of each patient. Applying the correct procedures in the event of a fever or hypothermia and reporting to the nurse pathologic symptoms such as, apathetic, anorexia, not drinking, vomiting, fever, dehydration, diarrhea, etc. Preparing ORS, when required.
- Supervising drinking water availability in the ward, and ensuring it is well identified.
- Supervising the maintenance of clean premises and materials
- Performing minor maintenance and cleaning of the biomedical equipment following user manual and protocols. Alerting the supervisor in case of malfunctioning of any device.
Education
Literacy and sound knowledge on nutrition protocols
Experience
Not required
Language Level Description
B1 Independent User
Threshold or intermediate
- Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.
- Can deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in an area where the language is spoken.
- Can produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest.
- Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
Technical Skills
Person / material hygiene
Under Supervision
Capacity to ensure adequate use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Infection control
Under Supervision
Knowledge and respect of universal standard precautions
Knowledge and respect of disinfection material guidelinesL1 Knowledge and respect of universal standard precautions
Knowledge and respect of disinfection material guidelines
Food Hygiene
Under Supervision
Capable to implement basic food hygiene principles (cleaning, storage)
Understand principle of food transformation( process, transformation, storage)L1 Capable to implement basic food hygiene principles (cleaning, storage)
Understand principle of food transformation( process, transformation, storage)
Patient handling
Under Supervision
Capable to implement basic patient handling procedures (ref. Red Cross guidelines)
Medical vocabulary
Under Supervision
Able to understand basic medical vocabulary about patient conditions
Pharmacy
Master
Able to issue accurate drug prescriptions
Stock
Under Supervision
Able to manage ward/OT material stock (inventory, refilling)
Able to evaluate equipment status (availability, functioning)
L1 able to manage ward/OT material stock (inventory, refilling)
Able to evaluate equipment status (availability, functioning)
Social Sciences methodology
Under Supervision
Able to administrate a quantitative questionnaire (interviewer)
Able to administrate socio-economical closed questionnaire
Able to collaborate in the mapping of a geographical area
Able to collaborate in the mapping of the different actors, organization, etc
Health promotion
Under Supervision
Perform basic HP activities of prevention and mobilization
Manage no more than 1 or 2 HP approaches (including animation techniques )
Manage no more than 1 or 2 medical topic (for instance : cholera)
Nutrition
Under Supervision
Understand of therapeutic feeding principles
Clinical competence
Autonomous
Able to assess physiological status (vital signs or mental health basic evaluation)
Lab
Under Supervision
Knowledge of laboratory equipment and organization
Bio Med
Under Supervision
Knowledge of MSF biomedical maintenance protocol: use and monitoring/functioning
Transversal Competencies
Commitment to MSF’s Principles
Demonstrates knowledge of and accepts MSF’s principles
- Respects the choices made by the organisation.
- Has basic knowledge of MSF’s mission and main activities.
- Respects and accepts the medical ethics and principles of MSF.
- Knows the difference between MSF’s activities and those of other NGOs and actors.
Behavioural Flexibility
Accepts changes
- Accepts changes without knowing the full reasons for them.
- Accepts new ideas in a positive way.
- Positively accepts changes in his/her environment.
- Accepts arguments opposed to his/her own.
- Is willing to listen and to take on new tasks in his/her job.
Stress Management
Manages own stress
- Expresses awareness of his/her own stress level.
- Is able to identify causes of his/her own stress and/or asks for help in detecting them.
- Is able to express to others his/her personal stressors at an appropriate time without overwhelming them.
Results and Quality Orientation
Performs his/her work
- Knows objectives of the job.
- Defines tasks to achieve objectives and establishes a working plan.
- Reviews and checks his/her work to detect mistakes and to correct them immediately.
- Values high-quality work.
Service Orientation
Knows and understands clients’ needs and interests
- Identifies and has a clear understanding of who the client to be served is.
- Identifies clients’ needs and concerns, and provides them with useful information and quick solutions.
- Listens to clients and asks them questions to determine their needs and motivations.
- Gets to know how the rest of the team works.
Teamwork and Cooperation
Acknowledges the importance of teamwork and cooperation
- Is responsible for his/her work because he/she knows the repercussions it has on the team or on others.
- Establishes and maintains good working relationships with colleagues, is accessible and listens to others.
- Cooperates with the team and supports decisions made.
- Demonstrates a predisposition to work with others and gives help when asked.
- Acknowledges there are common goals as well as individual objectives deriving from the personal plan of action.