ICU Nurse

Update

Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan emphasizes improving high-quality primary and tertiary healthcare. The UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2024-2028) supports strengthening Bhutan's healthcare system, while the UNDP Country Programme Document prioritizes enhancing national and subnational healthcare capacities. Bhutan is facing significant challenges with clinical staff attrition, with a current rate of 9% for doctors, 7% for dental surgeons, and 20% for nurses. The Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH) has a nurse-bed ratio of 1:6, below the recommended 1:3 for teaching hospitals and 1:5 for general hospitals. The country has only 4.6 doctors and 20.9 nurses per 10,000 people, far below the WHO's recommendation of one doctor per 1,000 population. These ratios, combined with rising attrition, threaten healthcare access, quality, and progress in health equity. In response, the Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) is implementing measures and opportunities to increase the number of trained nurses through national institutions within the next 1-2 years via initiatives that create short term bridging measures and to fill immediate gaps within the Bhutanese health system.

The Volunteer will serve as a qualified international ICU nurse, working closely with the Ministry of Health and healthcare facilities to enhance service delivery and address urgent healthcare challenges in Bhutan and overall supervision of the UNDP’s Deputy Resident Representative. This role will also focus on leveraging the skills and expertise of Bhutanese professionals to contribute to sustainable development in the healthcare sector.

Key Responsibilities:
1. Capacity Strengthening
• Collaborate with national health system stakeholders to enhance capacities through knowledge transfer from international expertise, addressing the urgent need for trained professionals.
• Provide mentorship to Bhutanese nurses, promoting their professional growth and advancing their ICU skills and knowledge.

2. Curriculum Development
• Participate in the development and delivery of training programs within national nursing educational institutions, incorporating international best practices and innovative techniques to improve educational standards.
• Share lessons learned and effective practices regarding professional engagement, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and quality care within the healthcare delivery system.
• Advocate for the integration of international best practices in critical care nursing, supporting Bhutan’s health equity and quality improvement objectives.

3. Collaboration with Local Stakeholders
• Work closely with national healthcare professionals and institutions to facilitate capacity support, ensuring effective skill transfer and strengthening the local workforce.
• Foster collaboration between international volunteers and local health professionals, cultivating a supportive and innovative healthcare culture that enhances service delivery.
Monitoring and Reporting
• Assess and report on the impact of training and mentorship initiatives, providing actionable feedback for ongoing program improvement and ensuring alignment with Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan goals for high-quality healthcare.

Results/expected outputs:

1. Enhanced Quality of Care
• Significant improvements in the quality of critical care services across Bhutan’s healthcare facilities, leading to better patient outcomes and increased health equity.
• Greater awareness and adoption of international best practices in critical care nursing throughout Bhutan's healthcare system, fostering overall health system strengthening.
• Creation of a comprehensive repository of lessons learned and effective practices related to diaspora engagement and nursing education, enhancing knowledge management within the health sector.

2. Strengthened Local Capacity
• Increased competencies among Bhutanese nurses, resulting in a more skilled, confident nursing workforce capable of delivering advanced ICU care.
• Effective mobilization of Bhutanese healthcare professionals, facilitating sustainable healthcare development through knowledge sharing and resource support.
• Positive feedback from Bhutanese nurses regarding mentorship experiences, demonstrating enhanced skills, knowledge, and professional growth.
• Ongoing engagement in professional development activities by both international nurses and Bhutanese counterparts, fostering a culture of lifelong learning in the nursing profession.

3. Improved Educational Standards
• Development and implementation of an enriched curriculum for nursing education that integrates international best practices and addresses current trends in critical care.
• Establishment of sustainable training and mentorship programs that ensure continuous professional development for nursing staff, ultimately raising the standard of healthcare delivery in Bhutan.