Role of

the
Head
Nurse

By
D/ Ahlam EL-Shaer
Lecture of Nursing
Administration
Faculty of Nursing
Mansoura University

Out Lines
Definition of the head nurse
Nursing Management Levels
Criteria for selection of the head
nurse
Different roles of the head nurse:
I Patient care Management.
II Staff management.
III Unit management.

Definition of the head

nurse
The
head
nurse
professional nurse
responsible for one
unit, where nursing
provided

is
a
who is
hospital
care is

The head nurse fills a firstline management position of

the
nursing
management
levels.
The head nurse is a link
between top and middle
management levels and staff
nurses

Nursing Management
Levels
Top management
(director of nursing service department)

dle management (nurse supervisor)

st line management (head nurse)

Criteria for selection of the

head nurse
Educational qualification- 1
Professional qualification- 2
Personal qualification- 3

Different roles of the

head nurse
The head nurse has multi-roles
in different areas in nursing as
follows:

I
II
III

Patient care Management.

Staff management.
Unit management.

I. Patient

care
Management.
Head nurse must have a body of
scientific knowledge and proper
competencies to be able to use
the five steps of nursing process
and ensure that each staff nurse
is able to use nursing process to
provide patient care

II. Staff
management

A. Orientation of new staf

B. Staf utilization
C. Time schedule
D. Patient assignment
E. Staf supervision.
F. Staf development.
G. Staf performance appraisal

III. Unit management

Transcription of medical- 1
. prescription
Maintenance of supplies and
-2
.
equipment
Maintenance of records and- 3
.reports
Plant maintenance- 4
.Reception of visitors- 5
Handling telephone messages-6
.Dietary and housekeeping services -7