Introduction

NURSING SERVICES AT A.I.I.M.S.

A glance at Nursing Services at AIIMS, New Delhi...

Nursing services forms an integral part of any health care facility. These \services aim at high quality nursing care to the patients and community. The professional nurses work in an environment that encourages professionalism and expertise in providing holistic patient care with the members of allied disciplines in the hospital. The nurses at AIIMS conduct themselves within the boundary of ethical and legal framework.

Indeed, on any given day, nursing professionals handle a wide array of responsibilities ranging from patient care, ward management, humanre sources management, facilities management, as well as attendant’s management.

Importance of values in nursing

When working in healthcare, nurses often handle fast-paced situations that require quick decisions and specific skills, so having a value system in place is fundamental. Not only do they provide a frame work of behavior and help to influence important decision, they;

• Help to uphold high standards of care
• Promote collaboration amongst teams
• Enable nursing professionals to work more effectively together through shared beliefs
• Ensure that the legacy of caring behavior in nurses is maintained in the future work force.

Core Values in Delivering Patient Care

• Empathy
• Human Dignity
• Altruism
• Professionalism
• Integrity
• Autonomy
• Accountability
• Excellence
• Curiosity

ORGANIZATION OF NURSING SERVICES

Chief Nursing Officer - Nursing Superintendent - Dy. Nursing Superintendent - Asstt. Nursing Superintendent - Senior Nursing Officer - Nursing Officer

SIU Norms

One of the major challenges in nursing administration is staffing nursing units. Staffing in AIIMS, New Delhi is based on SIU Norms which are as follows :

• One Senior Nursing Officers (In Charge)for3:6nursingofficers
• One Assistant Nursing Superintendent for 4:5Senior Nursing Officers (In-charge)
• One Deputy Nursing Superintendent for 7:5 ANS.
• One Nursing Superintendent for 250-500 beds.
• One CNO for 500 or more beds

Job Description & Services

CNO (CHIEF NURSING OFFICER)

• She/he will be responsible for efficient running of Nursing Services of the Main hospital and various centres of AIIMS.
• She will assist the Director in formulating broad policies concerning Nursing Services.
• She will disseminate the AIM, objectives and policies regarding patient care to all cadres of nursing services.
• She will implement policies and procedures of Institute regarding nursing services.
• She/he will plan future requirements of nurses and carry out recruitment of nurses from time to time.
• She/he will plan and disseminate programmes for continuting education re-orientation programmes for nurses.
• She/he will closely interact with other hospitals regarding improvement of patient care.
• She/he will encourage research by nurses in their work areas.
• She/he will guide and conunsel the sub-ordinate nursing staff.
• She/he will keep herself abreast of latest happenings in nursing care by attending National / International conferences.
• She will strive to implement standard nursing practices and maintain highest quality of care.
• She will critically analyse the budgets for nursing services from Main hospital and various centers before being forwarded to Director.
• Evaluate confidential reports of higher level nursing officers and recommend for promotion.
• She will be assisted in her duties by nursing Supdt.’s, of Main Hospital and from the centres.
• She will keep the Director informed about the happening concerning the hospital.

NURSING SUPERINTENDENT

Nursing Superintendent is responsible to the C.N.O. for planning organisation and development of nursing services in the hospital in consultation with Medical Supdt./Chief of centres.

• She will be responsible and overall In-charge of Nursing Services in a hospital or specialized centres irrespective of the number of beds.
• She will be responsible to the Medical Supdt. or Addl. MS or chief of Centres of the hospital or centre as the case may be.
• She will be responsible for implementing hospital/centre policies amongst various nursing units.
• She will assist the CNO in formulation of hospital policy, particularly concerning nursing services.
• She will officiate as CNO in the absence of CNO (The senior most amongst the NS will do so).
• She will recommend personnel and material requirement for nursing various nursing service departments of the hospital.
• She will assist MS/Addl. MS or Chief of Centres in recruiting nursing staff.
• She will carry out regular rounds of the hospital.
• She will accompany MS/Addl. MS while making hospital rounds.
• She will ensure safe and efficient care rendered to patients in various wards etc.
• She will prepare budgets for nursing services.
• She will be a member of various condemnation boards for linen and other hospital stores.
• She will be responsible for counseling and quidance of sub-ordinate staff.
• She will attend hospital/intra hospital meetings and conferences.
• She will investigate all complaints regarding nursing care and personnel,and take suitable corrective action.
• She will initiate and encourage research in nursing services.
• She will evaluate confidential reports of her sub-ordinate staff and recommend for promotion, higher studies etc.
• She will maintain cordial relations with patients and Medical Social workers.
• She will periodically interact with clinical heads to discuss problems in patient care.
• She will educate nursing staff of all categories by conducting awareness programme on universal Precautions.

DEPUTY NURSING SUPERINTENDENT

Deputy Nursing Superintendent is responsible to the Nursing Supdt. and assist her in the administration of nursing services in the hospital.

NURSING ADMINISTRATION

• Supervise the nursing care given to the patients in various departments by taking regolar round of her area.
• Act as a liasion officer between Nursing Supdt. and the nursing staff of the hospital.
• Interpret the pliicies and procedures of the Nursing service department to sub-oradinate staff and others.
• Attend the emergency calls concerning nursing services or hostel problems.
• Receive evening and night reports from the Assistant Nursing Supdt./Supervisors.
• Keep records and reports of Nursing Services.
• Maintain the records of attendance of nursing staff and leave of any kind.
• Conduct regolar physical verification of hospital stocks, i.e. drugs, equipments etc.
• Initiate procedure for condemnation and procurement of hospital equipment/linen etc.
• Maintain the confidential report and records of nursing personnel.
• Assist the nursing supdt. in making master duty roster of nursing personnel.
• Assist the nursing superintendent in Recruitment of nursing staff.
• Assist the nursing supdt. on planning and organising nursing services in the hospital.
• Officiate in the absence of nursing supdt.
• Attend the official meetings.
• Keep the senior nursing Officials (CNO & NS) informed of the happenings in the wards.

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Assist in planning/organising and implementing staff development programmes.
• Ensure clinical experience facilities for student nurses in various clinical areas of the hospital.
• Provide guidance and counseling to nursing staff.
• Arrange orientation programmes for new nursing staff.
• Maintain discipline among nursing personnel.
• Organise educational programmes for graduate/post graduate students from different hospitals with the co-ordiantion of clinical instructor/lecturer clilege of nursing.

GENERAL DUTIES

• Escorts special visitors, Nursing Superintendent, Medical Superintendent for hospital rounds.
• Arranges and participates in professional and social functions of the staff and students.
• Maintains good public relations.
• Any other duties assigned to her from time to time.

ASSISTANT NURSING SUPERINTENDENT

Asstt. Nursing Supdt, is responsible to Deputy Nursing Supdt. for the total nursing care of patients, management and development of the unit assigned to her :

NURSING CARE

• Assist the total needs of patients in the unit and prepare planned nursing care.
• Demonstrate and Supervise the nursing care of patients in the unit.
• Attend regular round in the unit with the medical and nursing personnel.
• Reviewing reports from Sr. Gr. I regarding the nursing care of patients in each shifts.
• Give counseling and health education to the patients and their attendants.

WARD MANAGEMENT

• Plan and arrange duty for nursing personnel posted under her.
• To ensure availability of adequate nursing staff in all shifts.
• Maintain cleanliness of unit its annexes and environment.
• Interact with the engineering service department for proper up keep of the unit.
• Keeping Deputy Nursing Supdt., Nursing Supdt. informed of the needs of the patient care areas and bring it to their notice any special problems.
• Guide the Sister Grade-I to ensure supplies and equipments of different stores, and re-checking their use and care.
• Daily check of emergency and dangerous drugs, life saving equipments i.e.monitors, ventilators, defibrillators, suction machines and O2 points etc., to ensure their proper functioning.
• Periodical check of all stocks and supplies.
• Maintain good inter-personnel relationship with all categories of staff, patients and their relatives.
• Maintain good public relation with patients relatives and the public, and project positive image of the hospital.
• Maintain disciple of nursing and domestic staff.
• Interpretation of Hospital policies, rules and regulations.
• Daily check of attendance and reporting the lapses.
• Investigate complaints if any.
• Work evaluation and confidential reports.
• Guidance and counseling of nursing staff in the unit.
• Project the annual requirements of drugs supplies and equipments for the units.
• Take care of legal aspects and report about the medico legal cases in the ward.

TEACHING AND SUPERVISION

• Plan and implement a proper orientation programme for new nursing staff, student nurse and domestic staff.
• Participate in In-service education of nursing personnel and attend the meetings.
• Give incidental and planned teaching to nursing personnel in the unit, as well as domestic staff.
• Participate in clinical teaching for student nurses in Co-operation with the nursing tutor.
• Perform any other duties assigned to her for time to time.