Head Nurse

Job Summary

The Head Nurse is chosen from amongst the available staff nurses and demonstrates appropriate qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience to lead the area in a competent manner to meet the goals, objectives and standards of the ward or unit. The position is performance related.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

1. Commitment to Hospital

• Practice in a manner which is always client centered and fitting to an excellent private hospital, reinforcing the impression that the hospital regards the client (patient/family) as the focal recipient of excellent care, respect, friendly communication and professional behavior
• Practice in a manner which promotes positive image of nursing and hospital to patients, family and visitors.
• Take immediate action to resolve or clear any negative impression, complaint or distress expressed in any way by the patient or family

2. Job Competence – Daily Jobs

• Coordinate patient care with medical staff and other healthcare professionals
• Promote optimum patient/ visitor/ staff relations
• Act as patient advocate and develop supportive relationships with all patient / family maintaining a professional role and using an interpreter when needed
• Make patient care assignments based on staff qualifications and experience, staff availability and patient activity and acuity and resolve staffing situations as required
• Always move around and remain aware of the situation in the ward or unit at all times
• Assess patient nursing care needs and ensure correct nursing intervention is given through use of the Nursing Process
• Assure continued work towards improving KPIs
• Implement unit /ward and Nursing Department policies and procedures
• Make rounds with team members and physician to determine an effective nursing approach to patient needs and problems
• Perform other applicable tasks and duties assigned by Area Manager and DON.
• Ensure order of supplies, drugs, diets are placed correctly at the correct times
• Monitor appropriate and cost effective use by subordinates of supplies, instruments and other equipment allocated to assigned areas
• Provide an appropriate unit orientation for all new staff, delegate preceptors
• Develop , participate in and conduct orientation , in- service and on- the job training educational activities for RNH nurses and those from outside contracted programs
• Conduct performance evaluations on staff and discusses outcome with Area Manager.
• Submit monthly reports, monthly rosters and statistics in timely manner as directed
• Ensure cleanliness, tidiness and good general appearance of the ward or unit
• Work closely and cooperatively with patient relations, security staff and social worker
• Develop manpower, material and equipment budgets for Nursing Services as requested
• Report activities, problems and actions to Area Manager in daily verbal activity report
• Conduct monthly staff meeting on patient care and personnel issues
• Provide suggestions how to improve services and quality of care

3. Reliability

• Coordinate nursing services with those of other departments for optimal patient care
• Ensure compliance of nursing staff with all established policies and procedures
• Direct staff in emergencies.  Coordinate nursing disaster response
• Report activities, problems & actions in daily activity report

4. Teamwork and Communication

• Work cooperatively as part of the multidisciplinary team to provide high quality care
• Make rounds with team members and physicians to determine an effective nursing care approach to patient needs and problems
• Promote a positive work environment conducive to productive, collegial relations among all members of the health care team
• Notify DON of the admission of any VIP patients or patients requiring special attention
• Promote optimum patient/visitor relations in assigned area

5. Attitude, Professionalism and Confidentiality

• Always display a positive approach towards the company, the hospital, the job, fellow employees and patients
• Assume responsibility for own actions
• Adhere to dress code, standards of excellence and always give a professional appearance
• Maintain all aspects of confidentiality

6. Management of Work

• Complete minimum of 3 full sets of rounds per shift to assess overall functioning  of the patient care areas, to ascertain condition of patients and ensure correct staffing levels
• Receive and give  report from each patient care area regarding census, status and acuity of ARAMCO patients and other identified problems relating to staff, visitors and patients

7. Productivity and Time Management

• Always punctual and  present at work when required
• Work accurately, effectively and efficiently

8. Quality and Customer Service

• Develop objectives for the area in response to area needs which are in line with the hospital and department objectives
• Participates in the initiation, formulation, revision and evaluation of the effectiveness of overall nursing services, as well as overall nursing objectives, policies and practices
• Support and monitor the KPIs and Quality Improvement systems in the area and evaluate outcomes of patient care
• Complete all relevant documentation including daily and monthly reports and statistics, as relevant to their area of responsibility.
• Provide suggestions on how to improve patient services and the quality of care
• Investigate occurrences/variance/accidents as per process involving appropriate staff and take appropriate disciplinary action with incidents that require immediate attention
• Evaluate employees yearly, or as required, recommend developmental objectives and monitor follow-up. Make necessary recommendations to DON
• Promote continuous improvement by identifying opportunities for positive change
• Investigate complaints on assigned shift and report results to the shift/ area manager.

9. Personal and Professional Development

• Provide leadership, supervision, functional guidance and development activities for the charge nurses in the area and encourage problem solving and  critical thinking skills
• Identify the learning needs of staff in the area & conduct on site teaching sessions and monitor and assess the professional development of nurses in clinical areas
• Promote own professional and educational development

10. Management of Resources and Environment

• Monitor utilization of manpower, supplies and resources and general expenditure for area, ensuring economical and efficient operations

11. Patient and Family Education

• Responsible to educate patients /families as per their needs and to implement their whole role regarding patient / family education process as mention in patient & family education policy and procedure including documentation in patient medical record.
• They are knowledgeable about their essential role in patient and family education.
• Involves the patient/families in plan of care and respects patients/families regarding their goals and choices of patient care.
• Provides health promotion and health teaching thru methods appropriate to a patients’ developmental level, learning needs, readiness and ability to learn, language preference, culture and situations.
• Allots time necessary to assess, plan implement and evaluate patient education provided to patients/families with appropriate documentation.
• Utilize the nursing process in creating and coordinating teaching plans for individualized patients.
• Create patient care assignments with the educational needs of the patient in consideration.

Reporting to

Area Manager

Supervises

Charge Nurse, Staff nurse

Qualifications

A minimum of:

Education:

• BSN Degree or Diploma  in Nursing
• Current Licensure (RN) with a nursing governing body from country of origin.  
• Professional Nursing License from Saudi Council for Health Specialties              

Experience

• Minimum of seven years clinical experience in an acute care hospital.
• Two years’ experience in a management role and Delivery Room.

• Fluent in spoken and written English.
• Exhibits professionalism and excellent interpersonal communication skills.
• Good in customer care, able to work in multidisciplinary teams
• Knowledgeable in computer applications.
• He / She must be able to manage projects and should be organized.
• He / She must be creative, flexible and have critical thinking skills.

• Must have good personal hygiene and be well groomed at all times