Neonatal Nurse

Job Description

Job TitleNeonatal Nurse

DepartmentClinical Services

Grade

LocationBurera District

Reports toHoD Clinical Services

Positions reporting to

N/A
Main Responsibilities
1

Job Purpose

The Neonatal Nurse provides safe, high-quality, evidence-based nursing care to newborns, including preterm and ill neonates requiring specialized care. Working within a multidisciplinary maternal and newborn health team, the nurse is responsible for comprehensive assessment, monitoring, and management of neonatal conditions, including stabilization, thermoregulation, feeding support, and early detection of complications. The position also contributes to clinical teaching, mentorship of nursing staff and students, and continuous quality improvement to ensure patient safety and adherence to neonatal care standards and protocols.

2

Specific Responsibilities:

Clinical nursing care

• Develop, implement, and evaluate neonatal nursing care plans in collaboration with the maternal and newborn health and multidisciplinary team.

• Conduct comprehensive neonatal assessments upon admission and throughout care, ensuring early identification of risks, complications, and care needs, including maternal history review.

• Monitor neonatal vital signs and clinical parameters, responding promptly to any deterioration and escalating concerns to the neonatal or medical team

• Assist healthcare providers during neonatalogy procedures and interventions, ensuring aseptic technique and patient safety in the neonatal unit.

• Provide safe and effective neonatal care, including thermoregulation, feeding support, infection prevention, respiratory support monitoring, and management of common neonatal conditions.

• Educate mothers and families on newborn care practices, danger signs, feeding, hygiene, and discharge care instructions to promote continuity of care at home

• Ensure accurate, timely, and complete neonatal documentation, including nursing records, monitoring charts, and care plans in line with hospital standards and protocols.

Patient Safety & Quality Improvement

• Participate in neonatal adverse event reporting and root cause analysis processes in compliance with hospital patient safety and neonatal care quality standards.

• Contribute to neonatal unit continuous quality improvement initiatives, including neonatal mortality and morbidity reviews, infection prevention audits, and newborn outcome monitoring.

• Adhere to Rwanda Hospital Accreditation Standards and support neonatal unit preparedness for accreditation assessments and compliance with newborn care safety standards.

• Ensure proper use, sterilization (where applicable), maintenance, and inventory management of neonatal equipment, consumables, and supplies (e.g., incubators, radiant warmers, oxygen delivery devices); report any deficiencies to the unit in charge.

• Report neonatal incidents, adverse events, and near misses promptly in line with hospital policies and neonatal safety reporting systems.

Teaching, Mentorship & Professional Development

• Mentor and support orientation of new staff and students during clinical rotations on the ward.