The head nurse or nurse-in-charge is responsible for:
1) Maintaining adequate equipment and supplies in good condition in the ward.
2) Submitting requisitions to repair or replace equipment when needed.
3) Ensuring equipment and supplies are conveniently located and staff understand who is responsible for their use.
4) Educating staff on the economical and appropriate use of equipment to prevent waste and misuse.
2. Role of head nurse or nurse-in-charge:
a. Responsible for keeping an adequate amount of
equipment and supplies in the ward
b. Make sure that equipments and supplies are in good
conditions
c. put in a requisition for necessary equipment for repair
and maintenance when needed.
d. Make sure that equipments and supplies are
conveniently located
e. Make sure that all the personnel in the ward should
clearly know who may use ward articles and
equipments and who assumes responsibility for it .
3. f. The head nurse must be vigilant and prevent waste
or misuse by educating the staff in the
economical and appropriate use of all
equipments and materials.
g. She may sometimes arrange a ward class to enable
the staff to know the cost of the equipment and
materials.
h. She takes three steps to ensure an adequate stock
of available supplies in the ward or unit:
i. Set a standard for the quantity of each item to be
maintained in the ward all the time.
j. Have a satisfactory system for replacement of
broken or worn out equipment.
k. Make regular inventories of all the items.
4. Responsibilities of the ward sister
Keeping in mind the sufficient supply of materials
Materials should be in good conditions.
Giving responsibilities to handle supply and
equipments.
Checking for misuse and how to minimize it.
Educating the ward staffs and other health care
workers in the economical use of materials.