Non-Nursing Non-Clinical Department Director Functions, Interview Example

Learning Experience Site (Stanford Hospital Materials Management)

Individual/Position Accompanied (R.F., Director),

Date/Hours of Visit (10/01/2012, 0800-1600)

While engaging in the observation of the daily activities and responsibilities of non-nursing non-clinical director, I was able to know a lot concerning non-nursing services. These services are so crucial for the nursing fraternity, for without them activities therein may come to a stand still (Page, 2004, p.134). Hospitals require non-clinical support services such as cafeteria, compliance, facilities management, gift shop, housekeeping, human resources, patient financial services, laundry department, and security amongst others. The functions of the Director non-clinical, non-nursing services are enormous and challenging. This position dealt with thorough supervision of personnel and record keeping as well as delivering non-medical services such as catering and security.

In my mission to observe the responsibilities of the Director, I learned that the work needs hard work and dedication. The director is the most senior person of all non-nursing departments in the hospital. There are supervisors below him who provide crucial information for the management of the hospital (Griffin, 2011, p.170). The Human Resources department is a critical department in this case because it has the responsibility of recruiting new employees and keeping their records. A Human Resource Manager (HR), who is next in rank to the Director, heads this department.

In my assignments, I observed the activities of the Director, which included compilation of all departmental reports with the assistance of supervisors and developing and implementing Departmental Standard Operating Procedures. The director kept and provided valuable financial records for the hospital. These, in addition, carried the record of patients served by the hospital and their bills. Financial records also entailed expenditure and income for the hospital.

The Director non-nursing, non-clinical service was a person of excellent reputation and one with a close, personal relation with all departmental heads. The Director was so successful in his work because he ensured corporation from the supervisors. The work of non-clinical leadership is so crucial to the running of nursing services in hospitals.

References

Griffin, D. (2011). Hospitals: What They Are and How They Work: What They Are and How They Work. [Edition4]. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Page, A. (2004). Keeping Patients Safe: Transforming the Work Environment of Nurses. Washington, D.C: National Academies Press.