General:

Directs and manages nursing programs and clinical services in hospitals, nursing homes and other health service facilities and maintains standards of nursing care.

Tasks Include:

• determines the nursing policies of the hospital or health service facility and develops organisational structure and standards of performance
• directs nursing staff
• interprets policies, procedures and objectives of the nursing service to medical and administrative staff and community groups
• promotes working relationships with community agencies
• prepares or assists in the preparation of the nursing budget and contributes to the overall organisational budget
• establishes personnel qualification requirements, directs the preparation of procedure manuals and implements records and reporting systems
• initiates studies to evaluate the effectiveness of nursing services in the organisation in relation to objectives, costs, and nursing care
• may direct on-site nursing education programs and may assist with nursing curricula