Nurse

Mission and objectives

UNAMA was established in 2002 as a Political/ Peacebuilding Mission, exceptionally) directed and supported by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO).

Context

This mandate tasks UNAMA with the promotion and support of humanitarian assistance in line with humanitarian principles, human rights, equality for women and girls, inclusive governance, resilience, and economic stability, and with the use of our good offices for principled and constructive engagement with all national, regional, and global stakeholders in the pursuit of Afghanistan’s peace and stability. UNAMA reaffirms its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and national unity of Afghanistan; as well as its continued support for the people of Afghanistan, within the framework of the UN Charter and other international laws and instruments. UNAMA's vision is for a stable and prosperous Afghanistan that lives at peace with itself and its neighbours, where the rights of all the people of Afghanistan are upheld, without discrimination. On 15 June 2026, UNAMA’s mandate was extended for another year by UN Security Council Resolution 2727 (2026).

Task Description

UNAMA Medical Section is the primary provider of reliable, client-oriented, cost-efficient, and prompt primary health care to all personnel from participating UN entities. The Section aims to protect and promote staff health, sustain, and improve their working capacity, contribute to a safe and healthy working environment, and promote the adaptation of work to the capabilities of staff, taking account of their health status. Under the direct supervision of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), the UN Volunteer Nurse will perform a broad range of duties, including but not limited to the following key responsibilities: 1. Clinical Nursing Care, Patient Management, and Continuity of Care

• Attend the UNAMA medical clinic on a full-time basis and provide safe, timely, and professional nursing care to patients.
• Provide hands-on nursing care, including administering medications, monitoring patients’ conditions, managing intravenous lines, maintaining nursing records, and promptly communicating relevant findings to physicians.
• Observe nursing care and visit patients to ensure that treatment is carried out as directed and in accordance with physicians’ instructions.
• Accompany physicians on rounds and keep them informed of special instructions and significant changes in patients’ conditions.
• Collaborate closely with nurses, paramedics, physicians, the pharmacist, and other JMS and MERT personnel to support multidisciplinary teamwork, effective communication, integrated patient care, operational readiness, and continuity of service.
• Coordinate transportation arrangements for patients referred or transferred to external hospitals.
• Coordinate, as required, overnight security coverage for admitted international personnel in external hospitals in accordance with applicable procedures.
• Upload patient medical reports received from referral hospitals into the appropriate patient records or medical information system, as applicable.
• Provide health promotion, patient counseling, and health education, and interpret patient information to support appropriate nursing action and escalation when required. 2. Nursing Supervision, Coordination, and Quality Assurance
• Supervise, coordinate, and support nursing activities within JMS to ensure efficient and effective service delivery.
• Evaluate nursing activities to ensure quality patient care, good staff relations, and efficient service delivery.
• Identify the learning needs of nursing staff and contribute to the planning and delivery of training and skill development activities.
• Serve as a role model for nursing personnel by demonstrating professionalism, sound judgment, leadership ability, and fair decision-making.
• Inspect clinical areas, treatment rooms, and wards to ensure cleanliness, orderliness, patient comfort, and readiness for service delivery.
• Supervise deep-cleaning activities in all clinic areas and ensure that required standards of cleanliness and hygiene are maintained.
• Participate in continuous quality improvement initiatives related to clinical care and nursing services. 3. Emergency Preparedness and Response Readiness
• Maintain continuous emergency preparedness at the clinic, including routine checks of crash carts, emergency medications, oxygen, suction, defibrillators, ventilators, monitors, and other essential emergency equipment and supplies.
• Ensure that emergency medications and consumables are available, properly stored, clearly organized, and within validity periods at all times.
• Identify, document, report, and follow up on expired, missing, damaged, or non-functional emergency drugs, consumables, and equipment.
• Maintain inventories of MCI boxes and ETB bags located in bunkers and ensure their timely replenishment to sustain emergency preparedness.
• Support the activities of the Critical Care Team as required.
• Participate in emergency drills, preparedness activities, and emergency response improvement measures. 4. Medication Management and Medical Logistics Support
• Dispense medications in accordance with established medical protocols, physician instructions, and applicable clinic procedures.
• Support safe medication management through appropriate storage, stock monitoring, record keeping, and expiry-date checks.
• Assist in monitoring stock levels and consumption of medicines, and consumables, and initiate timely replenishment requests.
• Support the pharmacist and medical team in maintaining accurate inventory control to ensure uninterrupted clinic operations.
• Conduct regular checks of medical equipment to ensure functionality and operational readiness, and promptly identify equipment faults requiring replacement, servicing, or replenishment. 5. Nursing Administration and Operational Duties
• Coordinate team meetings, including scheduling meetings and arranging the assignment of the chairperson and minute-taker.
• Organize monthly team lunches and other appropriate team-building activities.
• Coordinate staff leave planning to ensure adequate staffing levels and uninterrupted clinic coverage.
• Prepare and submit the monthly nursing report in accordance with established reporting requirements.
• Coordinate the onboarding of new arrivals in accordance with the applicable Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
• Requisition non-medical clinic supplies, including stationery, cleaning materials, and other routine operational supplies, and monitor stock availability to support uninterrupted clinic operations.
• Identify clinic repair and maintenance requirements and coordinate necessary works with the Engineering Unit or other responsible service providers, as applicable.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the Chief Medical Officer.

Competencies and values

• Client Orientation
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Leadership/Supervision
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Judgement and decision-making
• Planning and organizing
• Professionalism

Living conditions and remarks

Afghanistan is a unique country and UNAMA is a unique (humanitarian) operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential. https://www.unv.org/