Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

Mental Health Nurse at Central University Hospital of Kigali (CHUK). Level: 7.II. Posts: 3. Under Statute.

Responsibilities or duties

Assess patients' mental, physical and psychosocial conditions. Identify mental-health needs, risk factors and changes in patients' behaviour or condition. Monitor patients in both outpatient and inpatient settings. Develop and implement individualized nursing-care plans. Provide care to patients with acute and chronic mental-health disorders. Provide basic medical and nursing care alongside specialized mental-health care. Manage and respond to psychiatric emergencies. Administer prescribed psychotropic medication according to professional standards and protocols. Monitor patients for therapeutic effects, adverse effects and changes in condition. Document medication and patient responses appropriately. Conduct therapeutic/psychotherapeutic interviews within the nurse's scope of practice. Facilitate group therapy and therapeutic activities. Provide emotional, psychological and psychosocial support. Promote patients' participation in activities that improve mental wellbeing and independence. Provide psychoeducation to patients and their families about mental illness, treatment, relapse prevention and rehabilitation. Involve families and community health workers in supporting patients. Help reduce stigma surrounding mental illness. Participate in rehabilitation programmes. Help patients develop social and vocational skills. Support social reintegration and community participation. Participate in home visits and follow-up where appropriate. Work closely with psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, physicians and other healthcare professionals. Present and discuss clinical cases with the multidisciplinary team. Participate in ward rounds, case conferences and referrals. Maintain accurate and confidential patient records. Record assessments, interventions, medication, patient progress and outcomes. Prepare and submit required clinical and departmental reports. Prepare patients and families for discharge. Develop appropriate follow-up and rehabilitation plans. Refer patients requiring specialized intervention and receive referred patients as appropriate. Participate in mental-health awareness and health-education activities. Identify risk factors for mental illness. Participate in preventive mental-health programmes and community education. Maintain patient safety and confidentiality. Participate in continuing professional development. Follow nursing ethics, CHUK policies and national professional standards.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Reports To: Senior Lecturer

Experience needed

12 months

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

Exams to be conducted: 1:PsychometricTest 2:Written 3:Oral

• Assess patients' mental, physical and psychosocial conditions.
• Identify mental-health needs, risk factors and changes in patients' behaviour or condition.
• Monitor patients in both outpatient and inpatient settings.
• Develop and implement individualized nursing-care plans.
• Provide care to patients with acute and chronic mental-health disorders.
• Provide basic medical and nursing care alongside specialized mental-health care.
• Manage and respond to psychiatric emergencies.
• Administer prescribed psychotropic medication according to professional standards and protocols.
• Monitor patients for therapeutic effects, adverse effects and changes in condition.
• Document medication and patient responses appropriately.
• Conduct therapeutic/psychotherapeutic interviews within the nurse's scope of practice.
• Facilitate group therapy and therapeutic activities.
• Provide emotional, psychological and psychosocial support.
• Promote patients' participation in activities that improve mental wellbeing and independence.
• Provide psychoeducation to patients and their families about mental illness, treatment, relapse prevention and rehabilitation.
• Involve families and community health workers in supporting patients.
• Help reduce stigma surrounding mental illness.
• Participate in rehabilitation programmes.
• Help patients develop social and vocational skills.
• Support social reintegration and community participation.
• Participate in home visits and follow-up where appropriate.
• Work closely with psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, physicians and other healthcare professionals.
• Present and discuss clinical cases with the multidisciplinary team.
• Participate in ward rounds, case conferences and referrals.
• Maintain accurate and confidential patient records.
• Record assessments, interventions, medication, patient progress and outcomes.
• Prepare and submit required clinical and departmental reports.
• Prepare patients and families for discharge.
• Develop appropriate follow-up and rehabilitation plans.
• Refer patients requiring specialized intervention and receive referred patients as appropriate.
• Participate in mental-health awareness and health-education activities.
• Identify risk factors for mental illness.
• Participate in preventive mental-health programmes and community education.
• Maintain patient safety and confidentiality.
• Participate in continuing professional development.
• Follow nursing ethics, CHUK policies and national professional standards.

• Psychometric testing
• Written communication
• Oral communication
• Patient assessment
• Care plan development and implementation
• Medication administration
• Therapeutic interviewing
• Group therapy facilitation
• Psychoeducation
• Rehabilitation program participation
• Multidisciplinary teamwork
• Documentation and reporting
• Patient safety and confidentiality
• Continuing professional development
• Nursing ethics

• Registered Nurse qualification
• Specialization or experience in Mental Health Nursing
• Ability to conduct assessments, develop care plans, and administer medications.
• Proficiency in documentation and reporting.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team.
• Knowledge of nursing ethics, CHUK policies, and national professional standards.