What is the review?
The review of the Senior Charge Nurse/Ward Sister role is an objective in a key policy document and the project was commissioned by Paul Martin the Chief Nursing Officer.
The review will
Describe a modern Senior Charge Nurse/Ward Sister role that will enable frontline clinical leaders to maximise their contribution to delivering safe and effective care.
Scope of the review
The review includes Senior Charge Nurses/Midwives who lead a team of nurses/midwives that provide care to patients within NHS settings. The review will not include Senior Nurses or Midwives who predominantly provide care to paitents within their own home, however key links will be made with the Community Nursing Review.
What does the review aim to achieve?
The objectives of the review are to:
- Provide a framework that will identify the potential for change and determine future requirements of the role to ensure a visible, authoritative, credible and accessible presence for patients and families.
- Provide mechanisms that will give assurance to patients and public that Senior Charge Nurses/Ward Sisters are accountable leaders and managers of safe and effective care.
- Describe the clinical co-ordination, leadership and management functions of the Senior Charge Nurse/Ward sister to the wider multidisciplinary team highlighting the role of the Senior Charge Nurse/Ward Sister as a key decision maker impacting on the delivery of safe and effective care for patients and users of the service.
- Provide guidance for NHS Boards to consider when developing the roles of Senior Charge Nurses/Ward sisters in the context of local organisational change.
- Test the implementation of recommendations in a number of pilot sites through facilitated action with Senior Charge Nurses/Ward Sisters.