JOB SUMMARY

A staff nurse is a first-level professional nurse who works with one patient at a time or with a group of patients under her direct supervision.

Helps with ward oversight and management. The Ward Sister/Nursing Sister is her superior.

PERFORMING TECHNICAL TASKS

1. a) Administration of medication.
2. b) Assists Doctors in various medical procedures.
3. c) Preparing articles and patients for medical and nursing procedures:-

• Tube feeding.
• Giving enema
• Recording vital signs.
• Bowl wash, stomach wash.
• Dressing
• Collection and sending of specimen.
• Eye and ear care.
• Pre and postoperative care.
• Maintains intake and output chart.
• Imparts Health Education to the patient and his/her family.
• Helps with transfusion administration, foot care, breast care, infant care, etc.
• Maintains ward records and reports.
• Maintains safety of the ward equipment's.
• Hands over and takes over the patient and ward equipment's and supply.
• Supervises students and other junior staff working with her.

A staff nurse works directly under the ward sister's supervision. In addition to leading her team, she is in charge of providing nursing care for the patients under her care.

(a)       PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1. She knows the philosophy, purposes, policies and standard of the hospital and nursing service department.
2. Admission and discharge of patients
3. Communication with patients relatives and visitors and explains the nursing care needs of the patients.
4. She maintains accurate and complete records of nursing care and observation of patients.
5. She has knowledge of all patients and provides nursing care according to the patients needs.
6. She prepares patients physically and mentally for diagnostic therapeutic and operative procedures.
7. She provides intensive care to the seriously ill patients in the ward and keep ward sister informed
8. Assist medical Officer in performing medical procedures.
9. She recognizes signs and symptoms in patients and reports on the condition of her patient.
10. To administer drugs and keep record of each medication given
11. She reports any changes in the patient's condition to the doctors and ward sister.
12. Preparing of beds of patients and bed care of bed-ridden patients.
13. Checking and recording of vital signs.
14. Rounds with medical officer.
15. To give out right diet to right patient and get special food prepared if necessary.
16. To carry out all the nursing procedures completely.
17. Urine testing.
18. Collecting labeling and dispatching of specimens.
19. Four hourly or more frequent attention to pressure points of all the bed ridden patients.
20. Giving and removing urinals and bed pans of seriously ill patients.
21. Guide every patient to and from departments.
22. Giving and receiving reports.
23. To give terminal care to dead bodies.
24. Maintains personnel hygiene and comfort of the patient.

(b)       ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

1. She relives the ward sister whenever she is required to do so.
2. Handling over and taking overcharge of shift.
3. Participating in checking of inventories of equipment's and supplies.
4. Maintenance of all equipment's and supplies to keep them ready for use.
5. Dis-infection of beds, linen and other equipment's.
6. Assisting the ward sister in writing, staff and students evaluation reports.
7. Supervising and maintaining environmental hygiene.
8. Supervising the auxiliary staff and students in the ward.
9. Report to Ward Sister immediately in case of any accident in the ward.

(c)       GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Participation in staff education programme and staff meeting and other professional activities.
2. She manifests her interests in the spiritual welfare of all patients.
3. Motivating the patient and the family through health care teaching and continuing care, which is diverted, towards the level of health continuing care towards the optimal level of health?
4. Participating in research studies for improvement of nursing care within her assigned unit.

(d)       EDUCATIONAL FUNCTIONS

1. Participants in clinical teaching both planned and incidental.
2. Teaching and guides domestic staff.
3. Helps in orientation of new staff.
4. Participants in staff education programme.
5. Guides Student Nurses.
6. Any other job assigned by the Head of Office.