Nursing functions as a member of the Multidisciplinary Team. The patient, family, and significant other are integral partners with nursing staff and other multidisciplinary team members in the planning and evaluation of the patient-centered care process. The department is composed of the Nursing Administration, Nursing Supervisors, Administrators, Head Nurses, Registered Nurses, Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (Practical Nurses/Patient Care Agents), Medical Secretaries and transporters. (Refer to the LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital Nursing Department Organizational Chart).
The Nursing Administration is responsible for the planning, executing, and evaluation of the nursing mission, vision, values, and strategic plan of the department.
The foundation of the organizational structure of the Nursing administration Department is the Chief Nursing Officer, nursing supervisors, Case Manager, Critical care Clinical coordinator, clinical educator, Executive Assistant, head nurses, practical nurses and the transporters.
The CNO Under administrative direction, serves as the highest-level senior manager over various nursing-related patient care divisions; manages, directs, plans and coordinates the functions and activities of assigned areas; oversees and administers assigned patient care programs and services; assists the Hospital Executive team, and other administrators in the development, formulation and implementation of hospital strategic plans and serves as part of the hospital’s senior management team; provides direct input regarding the organizational structure of the hospital; provides expert professional assistance to hospital executives regarding nursing-related matters; and performs other related duties as assigned.
The Nursing Supervisor: Represent Nursing Administration in intervention activities for situations which require immediate action. Assist in the organization, development, management and administration of nursing service activities during evening shifts, weekends, and holidays.
Oversee patient care and staffing of all departments during assigned shifts.
Ensure that the policies of the hospital are followed in accordance with departmental standards.
Perform audits and competency tests to nursing staff.
The Case Manager is responsible for organizing a patient’s case from admission to discharge.
Hospital Case Manager is professional in the hospital setting who ensures that patients are admitted and transitioned to the appropriate level of care, have an effective plan of care and are receiving prescribed treatment, and have an advocate for services and plans needed during their stay. Case Manager coordinates/communicates with patients and families, physician(s), funding sources, and community resources that provide services patients may need, such as rehabilitation facilities or providers of medical equipment.
Through this coordination, hospital case manager’s goals are to ensure both optimal patients and hospital outcomes including quality of care, efficient resource utilization and reimbursement for services. Hospital Case Management is a collaborative practice, consisting primarily of Nurse and Social Worker professional working in collaboration with physicians and other members of the healthcare team. He/She acts as a liaison officer between admitting office and nursing units, works closely with physicians and social workers regarding patient discharges and length of stay.
The Critical Care Clinical Coordinator is responsible for managing and supervising critical care staff of one or more units; provides leadership to the nursing staff and the interdisciplinary team, participates in the marketing, planning, program development, community outreach functions, assists in budgeting, evaluates staff, physicians and ensure customer satisfaction, assures quality of care and responsible for ensuring compliance to accreditation requirements.
The Clinical Educator is responsible for all nursing professional development activities which will maintain clinical competence, enhance professional practice and support the achievement of career goals of all nurses in his/her area of specialty. S/he assesses the learning needs of the nurses and develops educational programs to meet the recognized needs. Supports nurses in acquiring the knowledge and skills enabling them to provide excellent quality of care. He or she performs evaluation of patient care utilizing a multidisciplinary approach and evidence based nursing practice. Assists nurses on units for complying with procedures and patient/family education. S/he collaborates with the nursing management team to ensure staff competencies are maintained. S/he acts as a direct dare provider, an educator, a facilitator, a change agent, a consultant, a researcher and a Leader. He or she supports the mission and vision of the Lebanese American University Medical Center and the Nursing Department.
The Executive Assistant provide high-level administrative support to the Chief Nursing Officer by conducting research, preparing statistical reports, handling information requests, and performing clerical functions such as preparing correspondence, receiving visitors, arranging conference calls, and scheduling meetings.
The Head Nurse is responsible of managing the team and ensuring the comfort of patients before, during and after medical procedures and surgery.
The registered Nurse is responsible for monitoring patient's condition and assessing their needs to provide the best possible care and advice, observing and interpreting patient's symptoms and communicating them to physicians and collaborating with physicians and nurses to devise individualized care plans for patients.
The Practical Nurses have a duty to plan and manage patient care according to each patient's needs. They obtain patient vital signs, including pulse, blood pressure, temperature, and respiration. They also provide routine care for patients such as daily baths, shaving etc.
The transporter is responsible for the safe, timely and accurate transport of patients, specimens, medical equipment and patients related items to their destinations.
The
Nursing Quality Division is responsible for achieving high quality standards and accreditations by promoting a culture of safety. Its responsibility is to oversee nursing related incidents and patients’ complaints in coordination with the Quality Department. Nursing Quality Division sets the workflow within the Nursing Department in order to achieve the correlated goals in alignment with the Nursing Department Strategic Plan:
- Goal #1: Strengthen nursing professional development and leadership skills (HSP Pillar #1)
- Goal #2: Hiring and retaining highly qualified nurses to support increased quality in patient outcomes (HSP Pillar #2)
- Goal #3: Establish a culture of quality, excellence, inquiry, patient care, EBP and research (HSP Pillar #3)
- Goal #4: Expansion and restructuring to better meet patients & healthcare providers’ needs (HSP Pillar #4)
- Goal #5: Enhance nursing visibility nationally and internationally (HSP Pillar #5)
The
operational division as an integral part of the Nursing Department assists with developing specific goals, standards, and objectives, which directly support the mission, vision and strategic plan of the Nursing Department. Operations ‘division is responsible for the management of the daily operations for the nursing staff for assigned nursing units. The division operates in close coordination with the Medical Center Human Resources. Operational Division is composed of 1 OR director, 1 OR Supervisor, 1 case manager, 1 critical care clinical coordinator and 17 Head Nurses. Its scope of practice is described as follows:
- Recruitment and retaining a high performing nursing staff in support of the Nursing Department journey to excellence.
- Development of the Nursing Staffing Plan based on national and international standards.
- Assessment for staff assignments including a daily review of staffing levels and patient care needs, according to the patient census and acuity.
- Management of schedules, ensuring accurate recording of overtime, sick leave and any other staff requests.
- Coordination of the day-to-day operations of the Nursing Department.
- Participation in the development and management of the Nursing Department’s budget with assessment of the appropriate use and allocation of resources
- Monitoring and reporting of Staffing-related Indicators
- Building and supporting the Nursing Department’s Reward and Recognition Program.
The education division for Nurses represent the staff involved in training and development center of the Nursing Department at LAUMCRH.
Education division support the mission and vision of the Nursing Administration and the Medical Center. The education division mission is to “Learn and Grow”. Education division is supported by a number of resources to assist the LAUMC-RH nurse in his/her training and development.
Based on the learning needs assessment for all nursing staff at LAUMC-RH, education division sets the educational calendar on annual basis. A number of resources are available to guide the LAUMC-RH nurses in their training and development: Clinical Educators and Staff development coordinator. Its scope of practice is described as follows:
- Orientation Program for Nurse Leaders
- Orientation Program for Registered Nurses
- Orientation Program for Auxiliary Nursing Staff
- Nurse Preceptorship Program
- Nurse Mentorship Program
- Cross training Program
- Coordination of Nurse Visitors and Students Training at LAUMC-RH
- Learning Needs Assessment of Nurses at All Levels
- Training and Development
- Competency Assessment
- Planning, Implementing, and Evaluating Courses and Workshops
- Training on New Equipment, Policies, and Procedures
- Conducting Clinical Rounds: Integration of Education into Practice
- Staff Counseling
The registered nurses (RN) are responsible for the accurate and comprehensive implementation of the nursing process. The Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP) assist the nurses with personal and hygienic needs of the patients. The medical secretaries are responsible for coordinating and providing for clerical and support services
