Job Description: Nursing Superintendent

Department: Nursing Services

Position reports to: Director General
Job Summary: The position holder is accountable and responsible for planning,
directing and evaluating activities of the nursing department, including
implementation of the department's philosophy and goals, standards for nursing
practice and the management and development of nursing personnel. Provides
leadership and direction in all nursing matter. Shall lead the team with system
building, and branding, to bring nursing to visibility, and be a key person in
restructuring and reframing nursing care and practice. Recommends establishment or
revision of policies and develops organizational structure and standards of
performance. Generally, manages senior professional staff. Relies on experience and
judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Works towards standardization of nursing
care with Evidence Based implementation of Nursing and develop strategic plans for
nursing, being a member in the Senior Leadership Team and the Strategic Planning
Team.
Duties and Accountabilities:
i. Attitude and behaviour:
 Possesses the attitude to make patient care the primary concern and respond to the call
of duty.
 Shows altruism in every act of patient care.
 Seeks to treat patients ethically maintaining patient’s right to dignity, privacy,
autonomy and confidentiality.
 Coordinates and maintains interpersonal relationship and team spirit in a manner that
best serves patient’s interest.
 Understands and follows the Hospital rules and regulations and demonstrates positive
attitude when it comes to additional duties required in the Hospital.
 Translates hospital rules and regulations in all matters that best serves patient’s
interest.
 Serves as a role model to the Nursing team in all her activities.
 Upholds the Nursing Code of Ethics and professional conduct for nursing practice
issued by the Indian Nursing Council.
 Refrains from absenteeism.
 Well-developed problem solving, analytical skills and critical thinking ability.
 Ability to prioritize and cope with high and varied workload.
 Proven ability to respond calmly and effectively utilizing sound clinical judgment to manage
an unpredictable environment.
 Well-developed written and verbal communication skills.
 Commitment to customer service philosophy.
 Demonstrates a commitment to quality.
 Flexible, adaptable and embraces change.
 Professional demeanour and high level of personal integrity.
 Act as role model for facility staff on promotion and respect for the rights, dignity,
and individuality of each resident in all interactions.

ii. Administration
 Planning, directing and evaluating activities of the nursing department, including
implementation of the Hospital’s mission, vision and philosophy to excel in standard
of nursing care.
 Formulate and disseminate the nursing mission, philosophy and objectives.
 Provide written short and long-term plans designed to implement and facilitate
achievement of department objectives.
 Develop, review, approve and enforce written departmental policies and procedures.
 Participate in policy decisions that affect patient care services.
 Prepare a written plan of response by nurses in case of internal or external disaster and
prepare for implementation in case of necessity.
 Supervise and monitor daily nursing activities in accordance to compliance with
current standards, guidelines, and regulations, as well as responsible to support,
mentor and empower nursing staff.
 Establishes criteria to assure that services provided meet established standards of
quality.
 Disseminate the aim, objectives and policies regarding patient care to all cadres of
nursing services.
 Provide leadership, direction and support for quality initiatives within the Hospital.
 Plan future requirements of nurses and carry out recruitment of nurses from time to
time.
 Assist in recruiting nursing staff, recommend personnel and material requirement
necessary to provide care and to maintain compliance with facility mission and with
regulations.
 Interview, hire, and retain qualified competent nursing staff to provide nursing and
nursing related services.
 Ensure 24-hour availability as nursing administration resource by providing on-call
and telephone access or designating an alternate, qualified nursing staff member to do
so.
 Oversee the maintenance and standards for solutions, supplies, medicines and
equipment, and keeps track of narcotics in liaison with the respective departments.
 Assist in the preparation and administration of the nursing department budget.
 Provide direction to nursing staff to execute tasks necessary to implement operational
objectives.
 Provide regular performance reviews, take appropriate job actions, review job actions
taken by subordinates to assure that staff meets qualification and performance
standards and perform all essential functions of their respective jobs.
 Communicate and interpret policies and procedures to nursing staff.
 Establish criteria to assure that services provided meet established standards of quality.
 Compliance with and communication to staff of facility, policies and procedures for
workplace safety, application of universal precautions, use of personal protective
equipment, and handling of hazardous materials.
 Establish and implement or provide staff to establish and implement an infection
control program designed to provide a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment
and to prevent the development and transmission of disease and infection.
 Communicate directly with families, medical staff, nursing staff, interdisciplinary
team members, and Department Heads to coordinate care and services, implement
plans of care, maintain quality of care, quality of life, and a homelike environment for
all patient.
 Review 24-hour report daily to ensure timely, effective responses to significant
changes in condition, transfers, discharges, use of physical or chemical restraints,
unexplained injuries, potential abuse or neglect, medication errors, loss of resident
property, or any evidence of resident or family dissatisfaction, keeping Administrator
informed of findings and results.
 Investigate all complaints regarding nursing care and personnel, and take suitable
corrective action.
 Periodically interact with clinical heads to discuss problems in patient care.
 Responsible for counselling and guidance of sub-ordinate staff.
 Determine and communicate resources needed for the nursing department to carry out
its functions and submit written reports as required.
 Institute a system for evaluation and control of supply levels including a written
reporting system.
 Establish and maintain an effective system of records and reports. Contribute towards
various information management systems in the hospital.
 Maintain good working relationship and frequent liaison with other department
managers through proper channel.
 Communicate regularly with the hospitals administration and give input on all matters
related to nursing.
 Provide inputs for Annual Confidential Report and maintain a Gradation List of the
Nurses of all categories in her Institution.
 Formulate, implement and evaluate a nursing performance management program and
encourage a collaborative model of patient care by providing opportunity for nursing
personnel to plan with the medical staff and other disciplines for the total needs of
patients.
 Ensure high level patient satisfaction and work satisfaction of nurses.
 Initiate disciplinary action for noncompliance and non-adherence to policies,
procedure and protocols.
 Hold regular meetings with nursing department managers individually and
collectively.
 Develop a mechanism for nursing staff to give input into nursing administration
decisions.
  Be a part of steering committee to succeed for Empanelment and Accreditations as
required.

iii. Education
 Plan and disseminate programmes for continuing education, induction, orientation, re-
orientation and in-service education programmes for nurses.
 Ensure that a comprehensive orientation program is conducted for all new nursing
personnel.
 Plan, coordinate and participate in nursing in-service training.
 Participate and promote interest in the activities of professional nursing as evidenced
by attendance at professional seminars and community activities.
 Brand the profession through publication and by representing in various conferences,
professional forum and ceremonies.

iv. Clinical Practice

 Make daily rounds on the patient care areas using tracking tools to identify and
resolve issues faced by the patients
 Encourage a collaborative model of patient care by providing opportunity for nursing
personnel to plan with the medical staff and other disciplines for the total needs of
patients.
 Oversee the development and timely revision of nursing procedures to enhance quality
of care.
 Attend to patient complaints unresolved at lower levels.
 Keep abreast of new technological developments in nursing and health care.
 Ensure the clinical competency of each nurse prior to assignment of independent
patient care activities.
 Make effort to make current nursing books and journals available to staff nurses and
encourage research-based practice.

v. Quality
 Develop a quality management plan for nursing and contribute for development and
implementation of policy, protocol and standards for safe and quality patient care.
 Chair the Nursing Quality Management Committee and monitor noncompliance in
practice on timely basis using the data collected from Nurse Executives.
 Utilize standards for measurement of quality.
 Develop a mechanism to train and reduce the number of error occurrence while
handling, transcribing and administering medicine. Identify prescription errors and
report to concerned authorities.

vi. Research
 Improve patient care through interdepartmental audits.
 Explore possibility of interdisciplinary clinical researches, cross cultural researches
and implement evidenced based practice.