Research Nurses at South African Medical Research Council

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) strives to improve the nation’s health and quality of life by funding and conducting relevant and leading health research.  It further aims to promote equity, career development and progression.  The organisation prides itself on three core values: being pioneering, striving for excellence and working collaboratively.

The SAMRC retains the right not to make an appointment. Should no feedback be received within 30 days of the closing date, kindly consider your application as unsuccessful.

Nurses will be appointed on Services Rendered short-term contracts (flexible hours on a need-driven basis) for the SA COVID-19 Point of Care Study (SA COVID-19 POC Study), over a period of approximately 3 months (June - September 2020). Appointments will be formalized after a short informal interview. Training will be provided and will include a post-training evaluation. Personal protective equipment will be provided. Nurses employed in this study will conduct clinical procedures that includes but is not limited to recruitment, sample collection, data collection, tracing of contacts, specimen transport and result dissemination, in the field and at a health facility participating in the SA COVID-19 POC Study.

Main responsibilities will include:

• Adherence to study-specific standard operating procedures, safety recommendations and SAMRC guidelines and policies
• Work with suspected COVID-19 participants, including taking oro- and naso-pharyngeal swabs, taking blood, taking sputum specimens
• Conduct home visits to follow-up COVID-19 diagnosed participants and their asymptomatic contacts and COVID-19 negative participants
• Conduct clinical procedures, sample collection, data collection and contact tracing activities
• Recruitment of participants into the SA COVID-19 POC Study
• Meet the study desired sample size and the follow up patients/participants as required
• Sample collection: nasopharyngeal swab, oropharyngeal swab, saliva, bloods and other sample types, if required
• Transportation/Coordination of delivery of samples to designated laboratory, at the different health facilities
• Conduct in the field rapid tests for COVID-19
• Checking for co-enrolment and capturing participant details onto the co-enrolment database
• Administration of informed consents and study related electronic data collection
• Conduct contact tracing and in the field sample collection, transportation and delivery
• Liaising with hospital staff/investigation team for efficient participant recruitment and data collection
• Participant reimbursement and maintenance of in the field financial records
• Health promotion and education of participants on COVID-19 related health issues
• Maintain a high level of confidentiality
• Maintaining a good daily recording system to document field activities and enrolments
• Compiling and submitting weekly reports
• Maintaining regular contact with the study project manager to provide updates
• Reporting progress and challenges to the investigation team
• Other duties as assigned by the management team

Core Requirements

• Three - Four-year nursing degree/diploma
• Registration with South African Nursing Council (SANC) as a Professional Nurse
• 2-3 years’ related working experience
• Under the age of 60 years with no known co-morbidities
• Computer Literate and experienced in using electronic devices for data collection (tablet, laptop, smart phones)
• Reside in one of the study districts, in close proximity to the health facility and be able and willing to use public transport to travel to allocated health facilities, within the province
• They must be able to speak at least two of the languages spoken in the above-mentioned provinces/districts i.e
  •  Durban - isi-Zulu/English
  •  Johannesburg/Pretoria - Afrikaans/English/Venda/Xi-Tsonga/Se-Pedi /SeSwati/SePedi
  •  Cape Town – English/Afrikaans/Xhosa
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of hospital routines and administration
• A Code 08 manual driver’s license is essential for the above post as the incumbent will be required to drive the company vehicle when necessary.