the important role of ward sisters / charge nurses in hsc trusts alan corry finn executive director...

The Important Role of Ward Sisters / Charge Nurses in HSC Trusts

Alan Corry FinnExecutive Director of Nursing / Director of Primary

Care & Older People’s Services, Western Health & Social Care Trust

Leading Care: Supporting and Strengthening the Role of the Ward Sister/Charge Nurse - 6 th October 2010

Overview• Introduction & Comments on Role• Personal Reflection• Key Components of Role• Challenges• Opportunities• Some Questions to Consider• Conclusion


IntroductionTimes have changed: -• More need and demand for health and social care• Greater emphasis on specialisation• Increased skill mix• Increased use of technology• Greater engagement with multidisciplinary team members• Patients’ knowledge and expectations• Patients and families need to be consulted and informed more• Equality and human rights legislation


Personal Reflection• Personal experience• Team work and role of Ward Sister / Charge Nurse• They were in charge!• Pivotal role• Co-ordination of efforts of MDT• Concerned with: -

– Hospital cleanliness– Infection– Patient care and experience– Learning and staff development– Workforce– Staff morale


Key Components of Role Today• Standards of care and patient experience• Workforce• Budget management• Learning and development• Policy, procedure and guidance development• Supervision• Practice development• Audit• Research and development• Team development

Against a backdrop of …


Challenges• Financial and performance management targets• Increasing needs and demands for service• Increasingly informed public• Greater political and public representation • Satisfaction levels of public variable• More media attention • Respect for profession wavering• Greater flexibility in role required• More accountability


Opportunities• Strategy – local and regional• Policy• Investment plans / needs assessment / outcomes• Nursing practice development• Environment• Patient experience• Valuing staff• Public image and trust• Take power and control / don’t wait to be given it!


Questions• Do you have a reputation of attracting staff to your

ward / department?• Do your staff get a thorough induction?• Have they attended mandatory training?• Are staff aware of policies and procedures

pertinent to their area of work?• Are they allocated a mentor / supervisor? • Does each staff member have a personal

development plan?


• Are they appraised regularly?• Do they feel valued and appreciated?• Do you thank them for a job well done?• Do you view mistakes and complaints as an

opportunity to improve?• How do you communicate with your staff?• Do you hold ward / department meetings?• How does the team work?


• How do you allocate work and share the load?• What is your funded establishment?• What is your workforce development plan?• Is your ward clean and tidy?• Is equipment readily available, in its place, clean and fit

for purpose?• Are Support Services integral to your team?• What are your ward infection rates and how does this

compare with others and against targets?


• Do you take the time to talk to patients and their families?

• What are their views and concerns?• Can you name 3 recent pieces of research

pertinent to your specialty?• Have you implemented these?• What recent audits have you or your staff

undertaken and have these been acted upon?


• Do your staff accept responsibility for leadership and decision making in your absence?

• How do you plan for fluctuations in workload?• How do you plan for admissions and discharges?• Do your patients have an EDD?• Do they have a discharge plan?• When does this start?


• How is the MDT working?• How do you monitor the quality of care?• What are your biggest challenges?• What would your staff, colleagues, and patients

say about you?• Do you bring energy and excitement to the

workplace?• Finally, what difference are you making and what

is your unique contribution?


Conclusion• Nursing staff are in a privileged and pivotal role interfacing with

people at the most vulnerable times of their lives• We often only get one chance to get it right• We can have a lasting impact and influence on lives• Our emphasis must be on care that is: -

– Evidence based, safe, effective and efficient, person centred, of high quality and delivered in a spirit of partnership

• Ward Managers are in the most influential role in health and social care!

• You have influence and power!• You can make a difference!


Are you ready for the challenge?

the important role of ward sisters / charge nurses in hsc trusts alan corry finn executive director...

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