Cortez, Marie Anne V.

BSN IV-A/ Grp. 2

Responsibilities of Chief Nurse

The duties and responsibilities of a chief nurse depend in part on
the place of employment. Chief Nurses in small medical centers
may focus more on administrative duties and patient
management, while those in large hospitals may primarily work
in managing the nursing staff and ensuring that everybody has
a set job within the structural system of the center.

Identification
• Chief Nurses are always registered nurses with at least a bachelor's degree
in the field. Those who get into the field with the intention of achieving
administrative positions usually have a master's in health administration or a
similar degree, since chief nurses are more likely to work in policy
implementation than in the medical field itself.

Experience
• To obtain a position as a chief nurse, most hospitals and organizations
require at least 5 years of experience in a field similar to what you are
planning working as management in. For example, those who aspire to a
position as chief nurses in a hospital should understand the ins and outs of
how hospitals are run and organized, so they can better implement changes
and formulate new workplace regulations.

Responsibilities
• Chief Nurses sometimes work in the educational field, teaching other
nurses, conducting seminars or leading practice rounds. They may also assist
in research and the organization of presentations and lectures. When reports
are required by external agencies, chief nurses are often in charge of setting
up summaries of internal performance and policy follow-up.

Overall Duties
•Chief Nurses are often responsible for creating a vision of what patient care
in a particular unit (or sometimes in the whole medical facility) should be
like. This may include operational performance of staff and procedures, the
implementation of care systems and the direct execution of patient care
activities.

Potential
• In the absence of a CEO or hospital administrator, either temporarily or for
longer periods of time, a chief nurse may take over staff direction,
performing administrative duties, making executive decisions and assuming
full responsibility over the management of the immediate expert team.

°Develop innovative strategies in patient care activities.

°Lead, direct and guide other nursing staff in delivering patient care.

°Ensure comfort levels to be at the highest in delivering patient care.

°Ensure proper and effective training to nursing staff in administering patient

care.

°Develop and implement high quality and cost-effective health care to

1
Cortez, Marie Anne V.
BSN IV-A/ Grp. 2

patients.

°Coordinate with doctors, administrative and other staff involved in health

and patient-care activities.

°Interact with patients and their families to enhance confidence and comfort
levels in them.

°Actively participate in hospital's strategic meetings to enhance and

improvise operational performances.

°Integrate the best practices in nursing patients and delivering health care
systems.

°Ensure compliance of facility or hospital's laws and regulations.

Responsibilities of Head Nurse

A head nurse oversees nursing activities in a range of health care
settings, such as clinics, hospitals and nursing homes. To
qualify for head nurse roles, a candidate must become a
registered nurse (RN) by completing an undergraduate degree
from an accredited university or nursing school and passing a
licensing exam. In addition to nursing education, a head nurse
typically requires leadership skills and a compassionate nature.

Nursing Duties
• A head nurse is expected to undertake normal nursing duties when staff
resources are lacking. Typical duties in this role include monitoring
patients' vital signs, administering medication and changing wound
dressings.

Administration Role
• A head nurse initiates and maintains work schedules for the nursing staff in
her department. In addition to assigning duties and organizing shift patterns,
she ensures medical records are securely stored and accurately maintained.

Maintaining Standards
•Head nurses assess general hospital ward areas and patients' rooms to
ensure they are kept in a hygienic and comfortable state. They accompany
doctors on their rounds of patient visits and take notes of any special
instructions with regard to treatment or care changes. Head nurses also
ensure all care and treatment activity is carried out in strict accordance with
state regulations.

Hospital Inventories
•Head nurses are responsible for ordering drugs, medical solutions and
equipment needed for patient care. They also must keep accurate records of
the amounts and types of medication administered to individual patients so
they can assess recovery times and speak to physicians about treatment
changes when necessary.

1
Cortez, Marie Anne V.
BSN IV-A/ Grp. 2

Staff Supervision
• A head nurse oversees nurses administering medication to ensure all
regimens are in strict accordance with the physician's instructions, as stated
on the Career Planner website. Head nurses are ultimately responsible for
the quality of the work performed by nursing staff. They evaluate work
activities such as the maintenance of patient records, end-of-shift reports
and prescribed treatment records. Head nurses also identify and resolve any
conflicts among nursing staff members to ensure a positive work
environment is maintained.

Staff Development
• Head nurses ensure nurses are fully trained and capable of performing the
duties assigned to them. They also assist in preparing training materials and
techniques for nurses failing to perform their duties correctly and for those
recently hired.

Patient Complaints
• Head nurses field complaints from patients or their relatives regarding
issues with nursing care or the efficacy of treatment regimens. If a head
nurse cannot deal with the complaint herself, she might refer it to the
director of nursing or the facility administrator.

Responsibilities of Staff Nurse

A staff nurse provides professional nursing care in accordance with
physicians' orders. Nursing is defined as the protection and promotion
of health; the prevention of illness and injury; alleviation of suffering; and
advocacy in the care of individuals and communities.

Essential Tasks

•Staff nurses are responsible for the treatment of patients, administration of

medication and injections, health education, assistance during diagnostic
testing, and follow-up.

Specialization
•Staff nurses can specialize by work setting (such as ambulatory care),
specific health condition (diabetes), organ or body system (orthopedic), or
population (geriatric).
Education
•The position requires a bachelor's degree in nursing, an associate's degree
in nursing or graduation from a diploma school of nursing.

Licensure
•State licensure as a registered nurse is required. This is obtained after
graduation from an approved nursing program and passing a national
licensing exam.

Work Environment

1
Cortez, Marie Anne V.
BSN IV-A/ Grp. 2

• Staff nurses usually work in a health-care facility such as a hospital or

physician's office. Some are home health nurses or public health nurses, who
travel to homes or community sites.