Head Nurse

The Head Nurse is responsible for the supervision of the nursing activities in assigned ward 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 unit.

• Staff Management
• Develop a nursing staffing plan of the unit and revise it on a yearly basis or as needed to address the current demands of the unit.
• Ensure the qualifications and validity of the licenses (professional registration IDs from country of origin and Saudi Council for Health Specialties (SCFHS), Life Support Provider IDs (BLS, ACLS, PALS, NRP etc.) of the unit nursing staff.
• Receive new staff and facilitate the nursing staff orientation and their smooth integration into the unit.
• Provide the staff with the orientation package and schedules.
• Ensure orientation to the unit facility, its policies and procedures and to his/her job position and duties.
• Orient the staff to the Unit Scope of Service and Standards of Practice.
• Oversee and evaluate the orientation/training of staff in the unit.
• Develop and participate in the planning, conducting and scheduling of timely in‑services that provide instructions on “how to do the job” and ensure well‑educated nursing staff.
• Monitor job performance of the nursing staff and regularly evaluate them according to their job description.
• Assess competencies of the nursing staff on an ongoing basis.
• Ensure to give feedback and discuss the performance evaluation with the nursing staff.
• Foster staff satisfaction, support work performance and staff development.
• Recommend, coordinate and facilitate training according to established programs like competency‑based orientation program; preceptorship program; charge nurse program; cross training program; and student nurse training program.
• Assign and arrange schedule for staff to attend continuing medical education (CME) courses with accredited hours in Saudi Council for Health Specialties.
• May recommend staff recognition, bonuses, transfers, promotions, renewal of contract and terminations.
• Implement disciplinary procedures when necessary and ensure it is administered fairly.
• Maintain effective and therapeutic communication to ensure good working relationships with all members of the healthcare team.

• Prepare a monthly staffing duty rota and revise as needed taking into consideration the nursing staff vacation.
• Develop an annual vacation plan for all staff in the unit based on adequate unit coverage and availability of staff.
• Submit the monthly rota prior to the start of the month to the DON for final approval.
• Approved duty rota should be accessible to all nursing staff.
• Arrange nursing staff on‑call schedule and request staff for overtime/extra duty as the need arises.
• Monitor absenteeism and report to immediate Nursing Manager.
• Ensure that sufficient qualified staff to operate the unit in all shifts is being covered and maintained.
• Ensure that Nursing staff are readily available to provide nursing services and/or bedside nursing care to all patients within the unit 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Arrange the nursing staff schedules and their patients.
• Ensure nursing services of the unit are provided by the nursing staff in accordance with their qualifications, specialty and/or scope of service.

• Participate in the development and implementation of the strategic plan of the Nursing Department in accordance with the hospital strategic plan.
• Participate in the development, maintenance and periodic updating of the Departmental/Unit Policies and Procedures Manual and objectives and philosophies.
• Prepare the unit Scope of Service and Standards of Practice and update every 3 years.
• Ensure awareness of staff for proper guidance.
• Inform all nursing staff in the unit about any new procedure and policy implementations introduced by the hospital, department and unit.
• Oversee the implementation of procedures, policies, protocols, etc. at unit level.
• Ensure that approved stock level of medications, medical equipment & supplies, linen, etc., in the unit is maintained at all times to adequately meet the…