UNIT 2 NURSWG SERVICES
ORGANISATION AND
ADMINISTRATION
Structure
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2.0 Objectives
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Development of Nursing as a Profession
2.3 Role of Nursing Service
2.3:1 General Role
2.3.2 Specific Role
2.3.3 Role of Nurse Executive
2.4 Functions, Tasks and Activities
2.4.1 Functio~sof Nursing Care Services
2.4.2 Nursing Activities
2.4.3 Nursing Tasks
2.6 Job Description of Nursing Superintendent and Deputy Nursing Superintendent
2.6.1 Nursing Superintendents
2.6.2 Assistant Nursing Superintendents
2.6.3 Job Descr~plionof Ward Incharge (Sister)
2.6.4 Job Description of Staff Nurse
2.7 Staffing Paltern
2.8 LetUsSumUp
2.9 Answers to Check Your Progress
2.0 OBJECTIVES
Mter studying this unit, you will be able to:
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define the role of Nursing in the health care delivery system; I
identify the need for organisation, the skxiXng pattern and the duties connected
I with each appointment;
identify the coinponenls of Administration i,e. Plannjng, Organising,
Implementing and Evaluation, applicable to the nursing services; and
effectively utilise the resources, facilities and services.
2.1 INTRODUCTION
In this unit you will learn about the brief history of nursing services, its role and
functions, and the attrributes of a nurse, staffing and the duties involved.
importance and the place of nursing service in a health care organisation. For your Nursing Servlces Organlmtlon and
Administration
.guidance the job description of various appointments have been incorporated in this
unit.
2.2
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DEVELOPMENT OF NURSING AS A PROFESSION
The traditions in nursing stem from several sources. The earliest historical references to
organised nursing services are based upon the work of the religious orders-heroic
bands of sisters who dedicated their lives to personal and devoted service. Another
source of nursing tradition has been the military influence.
Tribute must be paid to Florence Nightingale, pioneer in modem nursing and modern
hospital administration. Some of her works, such as Notes on Nursing written in 1859,
are as pertinent till day as at the time they were written.'~hewas responsible for laying
down the standards and started a school of nursing in 1860 in London. The advent of
two world wars gave impetus to training of more nurses, and various schools were
opened in all parts of the world. Indian history has many references to nursing, Lord
Buddha in 500 B.C. created rnollasteries and hospitals and with that he established an
order of nuns presulnably for nursing in the hospitals. During the period 600 B.C. to
200 A.D., nursing had an important part in treatment of the sick, although the
references are to males as nurses. A number of ancient Hindu medical treatises contain
account of hospitals and of "attendants" (nurses). They give details of attributes of a
good nurse. Notable among these are Charaka Samhita, Asbtanga Hridaya and the
writing of Sushrata. Emperor Asoka built many hospitals and einployed nurses. As per
their writings, the nurses of those days should be proficient in cooking, in caring for bed
patients and in other nursing procedures. Perhaps nursing schools existed even in those
days.
Organised training for nurses in India can be said to have started in 1854 with the
opening of a school for midwives a1 Madras. Soon schools for nurses training were
opened in Calcutta (1859) and in Madras (1871). To cater for the demands of the Atmy
during World War, Lady Reading Health School was opened in Delhi in 1918 to train
nurses. Training of male nurses was also started during the early period of this centuty.
In succeeding years, nursing schools were opened all over the country in collaboration
with govenunent and private hospitals. These schools generally followed the system
which was in use in western countries at that time.
The next logical step in the development of nursing was the formation of trained Nurses
Association in 1908 and passing of Nurses Registration Act in Madras in 1926. Soon
various provinces except Assarn formed Provincial Nursing Councils by 1939. Following
Bhore Committee's recommendations in 1946, the Indian Nursing Council was fonned
in 1949 with the object of standardizing the training of nurses in India, and co-
ordinating the efforts of various state councils so W t there is an uniform policy for the
whole country.
The need for a post basic training LO improve the standards of nursing and also to
prepare nurses for higher responsibilities requiring administrative skill was felt and a
school was opened for that purpose in Delhi in 1943. This was later upgraded to a
college. Similar colleges were opened in Madras and Vellore. In these institutions nurses
are trained as tutors and as administrators. At present there are many colleges giving
[Link] training, a
Cfi~llcalservices-11 independent practice, team or interdependent practice, or practice within a health care
agcncy or with a physician. Specialisation had evolved within the expanded roles of
nursing. Fundainental areas of functioning include practice, teaching, leadership and
research.
However although each role carries specific responsibilities various aspects of each role
interrelate with one another and are found in all nursing positions. Accomplishment of
each of these roles is designed to meet the inunediate and future health care and llursing
needs of the patients who are the recipients of nursing care.
For your bet& comprehension the roles are briefly enumerated below:
2.3.1 General Role
e Round the clock nursing services
m ' Monitoring and coordinating nursing care
e Assisting other professionals in implementing their plans of care.
2.3.2 Specific Role
Assess the patient care needs
Plan and provide nursing care interventions
Prevent complications and promote improvement in the patients comfort and well
being
Alert other care professionals to the patients condition
Documentation.
2.3.3 Bole of Nurse Executive
Participating with the organisation leaders in designing and providing patient care
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and services by allocating s ~ c i e n number
t of qualified nursing stafF to care for
the patients
Ensuring continuous and tiinely availability of nursing services to patients
Developing, presenting and managing the nursing services portion of budget
Implementing the findings of current research into policies and procedures
governing the provision of nursing care
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Measuring, assessing, and improving patient [Link] achieved through
developing and implementing nursing standards of patient care and nursing
, standards of practice
Organise continuing education programmes
m Assigning responsibility to individual or groups of nursing staff to take action to
improve the nursing services performance.
The nurse executive has the authority and responsibility for establishing standards of
nursing practice, and nursing policies and procedures and to coordinate and control the
llursing servicelcare activities, through continuing education programmes and research.
Check Yovr Progress 1
1) Fill in the blanks:
