German Red Cross humanitarian surge roster - Nurses Pool

The German Red Cross is expanding the surge capacity of its Clinical Health Pool and welcomes applications from qualified, licensed nurses who have the skills and expertise to be deployed as delegates in an emergency response anywhere in the world for a minimum of six weeks and up to three months.

GRC nurses are typically deployed as part of a clinical Emergency Response Unit (ERU) team. A clinical ERU provides primary and/or secondary healthcare to disaster or crisis affected communities together with sister National Societies overseas. An ERU is a standardised package of trained personnel plus modules of equipment ready to be deployed at short notice by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. In certain circumstances nurses may also deploy in response to an alert from the International Committee of the Red Cross.

When deploying with the German Red Cross, you will work as part of a team led by a Head Nurse to support affected communities in collaboration with Movement partners and delegates as well as local staff, volunteers and health authorities.

You will undertake medical duties in accordance with professional standards of practice to ensure safe, high-quality care to inpatients and outpatients. When deploying as a nurse, there may be instances where you need to work outside your regular work scope, meaning that as a paediatric nurse you might also need to support as a general nurse.   

Working together with international and national health personnel is key. Your work will therefore likely include the supervision, mentoring and training of local nurses and other health professionals. Some of your duties may be similar to those in a regular hospital setting, while others will differ.

Your field of activity may, among other things, include the management, organisation and quality assurance of nursing services, patient flow and bed occupancy. In addition, you and your colleagues will ensure documentation of nursing care, implementation of national and international nursing guidelines as well as the maintenance and inventory of medical equipment, drugs and consumables.

Please note that the technical equipment at your disposal as well as the set-up of the medical facilities may significantly differ from what you are accustomed to in your home country, even though they comply with international WHO standards.