ANSAP RECOMMENDED NOMENCLATURE FOR NURSE MANAGERS

TOP LEVEL NURSING SERVICE CATEGORY

CHIEF NURSING OFFICER (Chief Nurse/Director Nursing Service)

 Executive head of the Nursing Service of a health care facility

 Carries full administrative responsibility and authority for the Planning, Organizing, Directing and
Controlling of the Nursing Service.

ASSITANT CHIEF NURSING OFFICER (Asst. Chief Nurse/Asst. Director Nursing Service)

 Assists the executive head in managing nursing service and in the development of the Nursing
Service policies through planning, organizing, directing and controlling.

MIDDLE LEVEL NURSE MANAGER CATEGORY

 Head, Clinical Areas (Clinical Supervisor)

- Middle level nurse manager in-charge of the particular nursing division responsible in the
PODC and implementation of policies/SOP within the area.
 Head, Training & Education
- A middle level category in-charge in planning and implementation of staff development
programs for different categories of nursing personnel including nursing students and other
affiliates.
 Research Head
- Initiates evidenced-based researches for the improvement of nursing patient care.

FIRST LEVEL NURSE MANAGER CATEGORY (Head Nurse)

 Unit Manager
- First level nurse manager responsible for the administration and supervision of a particular
nursing unit.
 Nursing Duties
 As a chief nurse, you are responsible for maintaining clinical and patient-care standards. To do this,
chief nurses work closely with senior health management professionals, offering advice on the best
ways to improve facility care. You are also responsible for coordinating the implementation of new
nursing strategies. You must have extensive knowledge of the health care practices within the
hospital, particularly the nursing procedures, staff rules and patient policies. A chief nurse may
develop and manage care programs for patients while planning new patient services. They may
conduct assessments and evaluations to gauge the efficiency of the different departments within the
hospital.
 Administrative Tasks
  A chief nurse may be involved with clinic recruitment. This includes interviewing potential
employees, supervising their training and making decisions on retention. You may establish new
policies and guidelines for nursing operations and patients care. A chief nurse may be included in the
management and disbursement of the nursing budget as well as the different nursing benefits. In
addition, the chief nurse may sometimes be involved in disciplinary decisions.
 Liaison With Physicians
 A chief nurse serves as the closest link between physicians and nurses. She ensures that RNs, LPNs
and LVNs offer the best possible support to physicians in their respective departments. To achieve
this, you may need to revise hospital policies or recruit new nurses. A chief nurse keeps track of
emerging technologies, ensuring the hospital readily adapts to positive changes in the health care
environment.
 Leadership Role in the Workplace
 As part of your duties as a chief nurse, you will be expected to maintain the high standards all other
nurses must follow. A chief nurse also works toward creating the best working environment for nurses
by introducing measures aimed at fostering collaboration. Your duties may extend beyond the
workplace to serving as a spokesperson or trainer at conferences and seminars. A chief nurse reviews
the certifications of nurses to ensure they are in compliance with the workplace directives. Strong
emotional stability, detail orientation and organizational skills are required for the job. You must be
compassionate when dealing with patients and nurses, but still capable of taking the right corrective
actions when needed.

Nursing Duties
A chief nurse is mandated by the hospital administration to maintain clinical and patient-care
standards. This includes ensuring that the patients are safe in the hospital and have access to the
right medical care. In order to do this, the chief nursing officer has to work closely with the
hospital management and stakeholders to acquire the right infrastructure and resources. He also
offers the best insights to the management on how they can improve the quality of care in the
facility. A chief nursing officer is also responsible for formulating and implementing new
nursing strategies. This requires extensive knowledge of the nursing procedures, staff rules and
patient policies.

Administrative Roles
A chief nursing officer has a wide range of responsibilities, including administrative roles. He
sometimes performs the duties of a chief administrator or CEO of the hospital. He plans and
oversees the daily activities within the hospital and ensures everything runs as planned. This
includes organizing, directing and coordinating medical and health services in compliance with
the government regulations and policies set by the board of trustees. He may also shortlist,
evaluate and hire nurses and assist in educating them on the best healthcare practices. In some
instances, a chief nursing officer may help in planning budgets and setting rates for the health
services.

Related resource: 35 Most Affordable Online Master's Degrees in Healthcare Administration

2017
Leadership Roles
A chief nursing officer is expected by the government and hospital management to maintain high
standards other staff members can follow. He inspires others based on what he does and
encourages them to uphold the best practices when handling patients. He works towards
establishing a conducive environment for other nurses by developing strategies aimed at creating
collaboration. His leadership duties may go beyond the scope of nursing to serving as a
spokesperson, representative or trainer at medical conferences and seminars. A chief nurse may
also review the certifications of other nurses to make sure they comply with the existing
professional regulations in the industry.

Advisory Roles
Many hospitals in the US treat CNOs as chief advisers. They play a major role in helping the
hospitals run smoothly and observe the existing healthcare standards. They do this by carrying
out extensive research, evaluating results and preparing reports on the best approach the hospital
should take to streamline its operations. They also advise the management on how to recruit new
nurses and train them. Chief nursing officers working in the public sector may also provide
advice to the government.

Liaison with Physicians

Many hospitals struggle to keep a perfect working relationship between physicians and nurses. A
chief nurse acts as the closest link between the physicians, nurses and hospital administrators. He
ensures that all the RNs and LPNs offer the best possible support to the doctors in their
respective departments. The support may include retrieving patient information, observing the
patients based on the doctors' instructions and providing the right diagnostic tools. To achieve
this, the nursing officer may need to review the policies of the hospital and make changes where
necessary.

Being a CNO is a serious decision that requires a clear understanding of the existing patient care
policies and procedures. You must also be able to show great leadership and organizational skills
to succeed as a chief nursing officer.

Essential Functions

• Promotes the mission, vision, and values of the organization.

• Knows and practices the prescribed philosophy, purpose, policies, and standards of Nursing/Patient
Care Services.
• Organizes, directs, and administers the Nursing/Patient Care Services in order to provide the level of
care required by current medical and nursing standards.

• Plans and coordinates with the CFO, utilizing the respective Nursing Leadership members for planning
the budgeting requirements for personnel, supplies, and equipment.

• Responsible for cost controls to insure maximum effectiveness of funds expended from the approved
departmental budgets.

• Supports and develops Nursing/Patient Care Services in the coordination of the employee selection
process, work assignments, performance evaluations, and staff development for these services.

• Maintains continuing quality assessment and improvement analysis and evaluation of patient care
delivery and communicates with Administration on the activities/issues of Nursing/Patient Care
Services.

• Plans and recommends to Administration new facilities or equipment, or modification thereto,

needed to provide patient care.

• Recommends, supports, and participates in education services, programs of education, and training,
including orientation of new employees. Encourages and facilitates the professional advancement of
employees by affording opportunities for further education and experience.

• Recommends the modification, addition, or deletion of personnel policies to insure reasonable hours
and acceptable working conditions to provide patient care coverage.

• Initiates and participates in problem-solving, policy-forming conferences for Nursing/Patient Care

Services. Maintains close coordination with all department to insure continuity and collaboration of
services.

• Insures that cordial relationships are maintained with patients, their families and friends, clergy, and
other interested groups in the community. Interprets the goals of the Nursing/Patient Care Services
areas to the community by maintaining harmonious and effective relationships with the education
system, volunteer groups, agencies, and the community.

• Participates in policy decisions that affect Nursing/Patient Care Services in the hospital. 2

• Participates in the Administrative Counsel, Board of Trustee, and Medical Staff Meetings.

• Responsible for the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of performance improvement and
CQI.

• Assures Nursing Leadership support for staff by maintaining a Nursing Administration Call rotation at
all times.

• Participates in Administrator on Call rotation with the CEO and senior administrative leaders. Non-
Essential Functions

• Perform other duties as assigned