DUTIES

RESPONSIBILITIES
AND OF
VARIOUS
CATEGORIES OF
NURSING
PERSONNEL
Deblina Roy
M.Sc. Nursing 2nd year
K.G.M.U. Institute of Nurisng
INTRODUCTIO
N• Transition
• Childhood
• Adulthood
• Working and earning
• “new job brings many new responsibilities”
• Job description:
• A job description is the statement of the basic purpose of
the job, the significant tasks to be carried out , the extent of
authority vested in the post ,and the upward downward
and horizontal relationships necessary for the performance
of the job.
Classification of the
nursing personnel
• Nursing personnel are among the largest no of health care
professionals working in the various fields of health care
they work from the lowest level of care to the highest level.
• They work in the varied settings namely
• Hospital /Clinical areas
• Community area
• Educational settings
• Holistic setting.
The nurses working in
the clinical settings
• The topmost nursing officers are Nursing directors
• Synonymous ( Nursing Superintendent/ principal Matron/
Matron in chief).
• Giving general supervision, delegation, coordinating
interdepartmental functions , collaboration with the
hospital administration and the staff nurses
NURSING DIRECTOR
• Roles and responsibilities :
• Formation of the aims and the objectives policies of the
new nursing services
• Staffing based on the nursing requirement according to the
accepted standards of the medical standards
• Planning and directing the nursing care
• Coordinating the interdepartmental activities
• Maintaining the supplies and the equipment
• Budgeting
• Keeping records and reports.
CHIEF NURSING
OFFICER
• Chief officer for all the staff nurses in hospital. She
does planning, coordination, supervision, controlling,
reporting to higher medical officer & delegating the
work schedules to other nurses.
• Follows & adapts PCS, which helps to recruit, assign &
allocate the required staff at the right place & time.
• Explains the job description, supervision and
delegating responsibilities to each staff nurse.
• Report to CEO, conducts round in the hospital regularly to check
out functioning, cleanliness of the hospital.
• Takes attendance, plan & implement the duty roster for the staff
nurses.
• Recruits the staff needed, coordinates work with the entire
department.
• Conducts in-service education, encourages continuing
education.
• Conducts nursing audit, does anecdotal reporting to
evaluate nursing care.
• Make all staff observe & follow code of ethics & regulation of
the hospitals.
• Has authority to terminate any nurse if she misbehaves or
violates hospital regulations.
• Encourages and participates in all round development of
nurses, especially in nursing research activities.
 HEAD
NURSE
• To plan the duty roster specific to the ward, implement PCS &
allocate ward in charge to specific wards.

• To control and coordinate the activities of the specific wards.

• To plan all the activities done by ward in charge in advance,

delegate responsibilities & supervise the activities in the wards.

• To supervise the nursing care being rendered for all patients &
to
take frequent status updates.
• To conduct nursing rounds with ward in charges to
assess the problem, plan care, clarify issues, fulfill the
requirements and guide the ward in charge.

• To maintain the enrolment register of all the staff and

ward in charge, and ensure that all the staff reported
duty in time.

• To allocate the alternative staff in case of

absenteeism.

• To conduct meeting with the subordinate staff, and

provide guidance, and teaching to improve her nursing
WARD INCHARGE
• Report to the head nurse for any issue.
• Plan control & supervise the activity of the
subordinates & also ensure that the staff are
allocated at required areas & provide good
care to the patients.
• Ensure ward cleanliness, safety and security
for all the patients in the ward.
• Oversee the patients’ conditions regularly
and to care for the concerns of doctors who
take care of the patients.
• Conduct ward rounds with staff nurse & plan her daily
activities accordingly.
• Coordinate the shift schedule, day/night off in the
coordination with the head nurse.
• Meet the health care needs of all patients in the
ward.
SENIOR STAFF NURSE
• Senior nurses work under the ward in-
charge. They have to report to the duty in
time and sign in the register.
• They provide individual care to patients
who are seriously ill & are assisted by the
junior nurses.
• They report the patient care to ward in-
charge regularly.
• They write & record the patient details
on the nurse’s record.
• They maintain the patient care sheet,
which has patient identification
data, doctor sheet, diagnostic sheet,
etc.
• They oversee the work of sweepers and attendants, and
coordinate and help the student nurse to learn and practice the
nursing care.
• They keep the units neat & tidy, check linen, drugs and other
supplies required in the ward.
• They identify & order the needed supplies with approval
from
ward in charge.
• They allocate duties to the junior and student nurses.
Graduate nurse/ staff
Nurse
• The Nurse directly provides patient care
• Learns the policies of the hospital and ward ,and works
according to the standards of care
• Provides health education and direct skilled work
• She works under the supervision of the senior nurse
and
holds authority over the Nursing Assistants and the
Aids.
Nurses working
in the community
areas
• The nurses working in the community level are also a large part
of the health care delivery system.
• They work at various levels and provide care to various levels.

• They can be broadly classified as

• Female health worker
• Community health nurse
Community health
nurse
• There are various community health nurse levels in
various states of India
• Generally they can be classified as :
• DPHNO : District public health nursing Officer
• BPHN: Block Public health Nurse
• PHN : Public health nurse/ Lady Health Visitor
• ANM: Axillary Nurse midwife / Female Health Workers
ANM: Axillary Nurse
midwife / Female Health
Workers
• Roles and responsibilities :
• Registers and cares for the pre-natal and post natal
mothers at home.
• Registers and follows up all the eligible couples
• Provides nutritional advice and immunization to
mother
and children.
• Carries out family planning services and including the
distribution of the contraceptives
• Provides treatment to minor ailments
• Notifies communicable diseases
• Maintains the records and registers all the services
provided and vital events like birth and death.
• Participates in the various disease control programmes.
• Conducts surveys of all sub-center areas and maintains records
about every family.
• Coordinates activities with the block level
• Functions in the field of administration and supervision,
education training personnel, health services and research.
Community health
nurse
• Qualified community health nurse is one who has
undergone general training , and basic education in the
community health nursing
• She must have a B.Sc. Nursing with a registration to work
as a community health nurse
 Health
education

Direct care Individual

provider practitioner

Advocate Decision
maker

Roles of
community
health
nurse

Evaluator Programme
director

Supervisor Planner

Researcher
NURSING PERSONNEL
IN NURSING
EDUCATION
Director of nursing
education
• Educational Qualifications:
• General: As prescribed for staff nurse
• Professional: M.Sc. or equivalent degree from any INC
recognized institute
• Registration: registered with state nursing council.
• Experience: at least 10 years of experience among which 5
years should be in administration and education.
Roles and
responsibilities
• She functions as the head of nursing services under the
directorate of health and family welfare and Director of
Medical Education. He/ She should be responsible for all
activities concerned activities concerned and
improvements in the nursing services.
• She is mainly responsible for:
• leave
• Transfer of nursing personnel, transfer of student nurses
with consultation with the nursing superintendent .
• Promotions and postings
• Review of confidential reports
• Correspondence with the government and non government
organizations
• Educational programmes
• Proposals to Government
• Inspections
• Representation the interest of the nurses to various health
committees.
• Participation in health care planning
• Sending the nurses on deputation for Post basic and M.Sc. Nursing
courses.
• Sanction pre audit bills
• Granting permission for workshops
• NOCs
• Administrative work pertaining to nursing personnel.
Principal, College of
Nursing
• General : As prescribed for staff nurse
• Professional: M.Sc. Nursing or equivalent degree, PHD in
nursing or other equivalent doctoral degree.
• Registration: Registered to any state nursing council.
• Experience :not less than 5 years teaching experience in
a
college of nursing.
Role and functions
of Principal
• Administrative head
• Implementation and revision of various curricular activities
and research activities in the College of Nursing.

Administr
ation
Organizati
Guidance
onal

Roles and
responsibilitie
s of principal Staff
Instructio developm
n ent and
welfare

Supervisio Coordinati
n on
• Administration:
• Planning
• Developing the philosophy and the objectives of the educational
institution
• Identifying present needs related to educational programmes
• Investigating , evaluating and securing resources
• Formulating the plan of action
• Selecting and organizing learning experience.
• Organizational:
• Determining the number of
positions
• jobs to be done based on the
needs of the educational
programme
• job description, indicating the
line of authority, delineating
the responsibilities and the
channels of communication.
• Delegating authority
commensuration
with responsibility .
• plan of work load.
• organizational
• Staff development and welfare
activities
• Recommending promotions.
• Directing activities of staff
working under him or her .
• Guiding and encouraging
• Consistently making administrative
decisions base don established
policies and conventions
• orientation
• opportunities for the staff
development programmes and
encouraging their contribution.
• Promoting staff participation in
research.
• Coordination:
• cooperation .
• Coordinating the
• regular meetings , time schedules and effective
communication.
• Interpreting the nursing education to other
related
disciplines and to the general public.
• Supervisory role:
• ensuring the continuous follow up and revision of
the educational programmes.
• maintaining the comprehensive system of records
• Maintaining recognition by various accrediting bodies
like INC, University, State nursing council.
• Preparing and securing the budget.
• Preparing the periodic reports and issues of the ongoing
programme.
• Presenting plans for continuous development
• Instruction:
• Planning to participate in the further staff developmental
programmes.
• Participating as teacher in the educational programme.
• Recognizing the needs for continuing education for self and staff
providing the stimulation of such opportunities for such
development .
• Guidance:
• Providing and maintain a programme for the recruitment ,
selection, and promotion of students.
• Providing fro systematic guidance programmes, for staff
members for staff members and students.
• Encouraging studies, research and writing for
publication.
Professor, College of Nursing
• Educational Qualification:
• General: as prescribed or staff nurse
• Professional: M.Sc. Nursing or
equivalent degree in nursing as
recognized by the INC. PhD in
Nursing with any specialty or other
equivalent doctoral degree in
nursing.
• Registration: Registered with the
state nursing council or INC.
• Experience: should have not less
than 5 year experience in college of
nursing
• Role and functions:
• He/she works under the departmental heads and assists him/her in
the guidance of the students.
• Instructions:
• Identifies the needs of the learners in terms of the programme by
utilizing the records of the previous experience , personal interviews
tests and observation.
• Assists the learners in the identification of their needs
• Participate in the formulation and implementation of the philosophies
and objectives of the posting.
• Selects and organizes the learning experiences.
• Participates in the evaluation of the curriculum.
• Plans along with the educational unit with nursing services an
allied groups.
• Ascertains , selects and organizes facilities, equipment and
materials necessary for learning
• Assists the learners in the problem solving
process.
• Measures and describes the quality of
performance objectively.
• Maintains and uses adequate and accurate
records.
• Prepares clear and concise reports.
• Shares information with the learners need
and achievements with others concerned.
• Measures effectiveness of instruction
by use of appropriate devices.
• Increases knowledge and skill in his/her
own curriculum
• Devices teaching methods appropriate to
objectives and content.
• Guidance and counseling:
• Gives guidance within own field of competence.
• Help the learner to grow in self understanding
• Research :
• Assists in initiating and participating in studies for the
improvement of the educational programmes
• Identifies the problems in which research is potentially
indicated.
• Makes data available regarding the learners , the
methods of
teaching and evaluation.
• Continues to develop competence in the problem solving
process.
• Utilizes findings of research.
Nursing tutors/
Clinical Instructors
• Educational qualification:
• General: as prescribed for staff nurse
• Professional: B.Sc. Nursing (postgraduate)or M.Sc. Nursing
or equivalent.
• Registration: registered with the state nursing council
• Experience: as experienced as staff nurse .
• Standard norms: As per INC guidelines
• Role and functions:
• He/ she is a teacher in the nursing school or college,
accountable to the principal or vice principal.
• He/she is responsible for the planning and the
implementation of the teaching programmes, and assisting
in the general administration.
• Academic function:
• Planning of the teaching curriculum
• Overall supervision of clinical teaching
programmes of those subjects which
come under the hospital and the
community health setting
• Maintains the class room equipment
supplies and the teaching aids
• Conducts tests and evaluates the
student performances
• Prepares teaching material and
implements them under guidance of
other teachers
• Helps students with their extra
• Administration and evaluation:
• Assisting in the administration of the school of
nursing
• Supervising the students health welfare and
security
• Assisting in the selection of students in the
overall administration.
• Assisting in the examinations and tests
• Supervising living conditions in the hostel.
• Assisting teaching and other categories of
personnel in the hospital or community.
• Assisting in the procurement of the
school
supplies and the equipment
• Assisting in the library work
• Assisting in maintaining the school records and
Nurse
Managers
• Responsibilities:
• Development of the philosophy of nursing, statement of the
purposes of the nursing services and description of the
nursing functions
• Setting goals and objectives of the nursing services
• Setting standards for residential care, involving the
residents whenever possible.
• Development and implementation of the nursing services ,
policies and procedures
• Budgeting in accordance with the policies and the
procedures of the facility.
• Developing the human resource plan for the services with
due consideration given to the appropriate mix of the
professional and the support staff to meet the needs of the
resident population.
• Selection , procurement, promotion ,transfer or
termination of nursing staff according to the
facility policies and procedures.
• Ensuring that all the nursing staff receives
written performance appraisals.
• Reviewing and approving description of
positions
• Conducting or guiding the programme to monitor,
evaluate and improve the quality of nursing
services.
• Ensuring the competency of the staff for specific
nursing skills
• Supporting and promoting the orientation of staff
development and the continuing education of
nursing staff.
• Staff development , orientation ad continuing
nursing education.
• Providing channels for formal liaison between
clinical and non clinical services.
• Ensuring the representation of the staff on
committees that affect the services.
• Delegating clinical and managerial responsibilities
to appropriately qualified staff.
• Coordinating nursing services with the other
facility services
• Participation in the decision making in the senior
management level.
• Providing support for education and research.
 interpersona
l

Role of
Decisional nurse Informational

manager

negotiating
Interpersonal
role :
• As a figurehead :Deals largely with economic and symbolic
activities. Conducts tours for visiting dignitaries and
attends grand opening ceremonies
• As a leader: involved in those leadership and motivational
activities that are essential for the management of the
people .
• As a liaison: includes the activities by which the
administrator develops and maintains a network of
contacts outside the organization, specific activities include
the membership of the professional organization ad mail
correspondence.
Informational
role
• This deals with searching and collecting the information
that is of value to the organization. The nurse manager uses
his/her role to identify the information from within and
outside the organization.
• Disseminating : this role entails the transmission of the
relevant information for those in the work place that have
the need to know.
Decisional
role
• Entrepreneur: this is the process by which the nurse
manager seeks to identify the opportunities to promote
improvement and needed change. Here the nurse
administrator is also involved in the in the
development and the implementation of the change
strategy .
• Disturbance handler: takes corrective action needed to
resolve the unexpected disturbances. In this role the nurse
manager must handle the utility services and disaster
conditions and strikes.
• resource allocator: this role entails the allocation of
the scarce resources; specific activities might include
developing and monitoring the budgets , oredicting the
future resource needs and forecasting future resource
problems.
Negotiating
role:
• This requires the nurse manager to negotiate the
resolutions to important disputes , both inside and outside
the organization.
Summary
Discussion
Conclusion
• Nursing personnel composed of various professional
nurses , practitioner nurses, they are the largest single body
of personnel in the hospital. Nursing care refers to care
provided to the people with special regards to nursing.
Where as nursing services refers to coordinating
responsibilities of the nurse , who in addition to giving the
nursing care also works with the members of the allied
disciplines like dietetics, medicine and social service.
Bibiography:

• Nursing services , a report on a WHO

symposioum.Copenhagen, 1978.
• TNAI. Nursing services administration and management,1st
ed,TNAI,New Delhi, 2000 Pp-135-67
• I Clement. Management of nursing services and
Education.1st ed. Elsvier publication; NweDelhi, 2011:Pp-
247-50
• Basavanthapa BT.Nursing administration.3rd ed. Jaypee
brothers;New Delhi;2014:Pp-350.
• Yoderwise, Ptrecia S. Leading and managing in nursing .3rd
ed. Mosbey st Louis,2003,p.233.