Head Nurse Job
Work Hours: Full-time, 08 hours per day
Salary:
Attractive
Job Deadline: 06 March 2026
Number of Jobs: 02
Hiring Entity: Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC)
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| Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) |
Location: In Uganda
Job Details:
The Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) is an indigenous medical organization that was established in
1991 as a limited liability not-for-profit Joint-venture between the Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH),
Ministry of Defense and Makerere University Medical School (now Makerere University College of Health
Sciences). JCRC is located on plot 101 Lubowa Hill Off Entebbe Road P.O. Box 10005 Kampala.
Joint Clinical Research Centre seeks to recruit a dynamic, motivated and innovative candidate for the
following position;
Job Title: Head Nurse
Reports to: Director Clinical Services
Site: JCRC- Lubowa.
Supervises: All Nursing Staff
Job Purpose;
The Head nurse directs, supervises and coordinates all associates, functions and activities in all
nursing care areas and other lines of responsibility. He/she provides leadership and direction to
nurses, is responsible for planning and evaluating nursing activities and ensuring quality nursing
care. In addition, he/she is a liaison between management and the nursing staff.
Specific duties and responsibilities;
1. Nursing Leadership and Management:
o Oversee the nursing staff, including nurse managers, registered nurses, and
support staff, ensuring that all patient care is delivered in accordance with the
highest standards of practice.
o Assign and manage staff schedules, ensuring appropriate nurse-patient ratios,
coverage, and workload distribution to maintain optimal patient care.
o Act as a role model and mentor for nursing staff, providing guidance, support, and
professional development opportunities.
o Organise regular meetings for all nursing staff.
o Develop and manage nursing duty rotas in the various work sections
2. Patient Care Oversight:
o Ensure that nursing care for patients is delivered in a safe, compassionate, and
evidence-based manner, adhering to established care protocols.
o Collaborate with physicians, pharmacists, and other members of the
multidisciplinary care team to develop individualized care plans for patients.
o Supervise the administration of medicines and blood products, as well as other
critical therapies, ensuring adherence to clinical guidelines.
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o Communicate clearly, effectively, and with empathy with patients, their families,
and caregivers regarding clinical conditions, treatment plans, and progress,
ensuring understanding, trust, and compassionate care.
3. Quality Improvement and Compliance:
o Conduct quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient outcomes, reduce
complications, and improve overall care delivery.
o Work closely with the Monitoring and Evaluation manager to track key
performance indicators and address areas for improvement in nursing practices.
o Ensure the completeness of all records and reports by the nurses in the unit
4. Staff Development and Education:
o Identify educational needs of the nursing staff and organize training programs to
enhance their clinical skills.
o Ensure staff competency by organizing routine and ongoing training programs
related to general patient care, data management and infection control practices.
o Promote continuing education and certification opportunities, encouraging nurses
to pursue further relevant education that will benefit them and the institution.
o Conduct regular performance evaluations for nursing staff, providing constructive
feedback, setting goals, and identifying opportunities for professional growth.
o Foster a culture of continuous learning and evidence-based practice within the
nursing team.
Resource and Financial Management:
o Manage resources and monitor inventory, ensuring that staffing levels, medical
supplies, and equipment are adequate to meet patient care needs.
o Assist in the development and management of budgets, identifying opportunities
for cost-effective care without compromising quality.
o Supervise non-professional staff to ensure cleanliness and orderliness of the ward
and other clinic areas as well as in the transportation of patients
6. Emergency Response and Crisis Management:
o Lead nursing staff in responding to emergencies or urgent situations, , ensuring
appropriate interventions and communication with the medical team.
o Ensure that nurses are trained and prepared to handle high-acuity patients,
including those requiring critical care or intensive monitoring
7. Any other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
Qualifications and skills required;
• Bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) required; master’s degree in nursing (MSN) or
healthcare administration preferred.
• Active Registered Nurse (RN) license.
• Minimum of 5 years of nursing experience, with at least 3 years of leadership or
management experience in a busy clinical unit.
• Proven leadership skills with the ability to mentor and develop nursing staff.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated significant clinical experience in an intensive care unit (ICU)/ neonatal
intensive care unit (NICU)/high dependency unit (HDU), or emergency department.
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Work Environment:
• Hospital-based role, with frequent interaction with other departments, including the ICU,
BMT unit, and pharmacy.
• Full-time position, with occasional on-call or weekend responsibilities to address urgent
or emergent clinical needs.
• Fast-paced, high-acuity environment requiring adherence to strict infection control and
patient safety protocols.
Other Requirements:
• Ability to perform physically demanding tasks, including patient assessments, responding
to emergencies, and standing for extended periods during rounds or patient care.
• Exposure to infectious diseases, hazardous materials, and high-risk patient care
environments, requiring strict adherence to safety protocols
• Possess the attitude to make patient care the primary concern.
• Maintaining professionalism at all times and serving as a role model to other staff.
• Flexible, adaptable and embraces change.
Application procedure
All applications should be addressed to the Head Human Resources of Joint Clinical Research
Centre via jobs@jcrc.org.ug.
• Applicants are STRICTLY advised to apply with a cover letter and CV combined in one PDF
document not exceeding six pages, quoting clearly the Position in the subject line e.g. Head
Nurse- Joint Clinical Research Centre.
• Label the PDF document with your full name.
• Failure to follow the above application procedure will lead to automatic disqualification.
Deadline: Friday 6th March, 2026 at 5:00pm
Posting Date: 2026-03-03
