Departments
Nursing Management
Welcome to the Nursing Department information page.
We endeavour to provide efficient and effective quality nursing care to patients and their families, in line with the ethos and mission of the hospital and community services.
...............................................................................................................................................................................The department works in collaboration with other professionals and managers to achieve the service goals in the area of Mental Health. This requires a strategic approach, embracing continuous quality improvement and the management of change, necessary to achieve our organisational objectives.
The nursing department is responsible for:
- The daily operational management of the units, departments and community services from a nursing perspective
- Developing and implementing nursing policies, protocols and guidelines in accordance with best practice
- Organising recruitment, selection and appointment of nursing, care assistants, household, hospital porters and related personnel
- Ensuring that each practitioner has the opportunity to enhance their skills and further their professional development.
The nurse management team consists of:
Acting Director of Nursing:
Nurse Practice Development Co-ordinator: |
Mr Declan Lavery |
NURSING PRACTICE DEVELOPMENT
General Description
The Nursing Practice Development Unit is staffed by a Nursing Practice Development Co-ordinator (NPDC), Clinical Placement Co-ordinators (CPC), Student Allocation Liaison Officer (SALO), Health Promotion Officer and Administrator.
The main responsibilities include:
- To enhance and develop nursing practice with the aim of providing a quality service for people who experience mental health challenges.
- Nursing Practice development through staff development, education, research and support.
- Clinical Placement Co-ordinators working with clinical nurse managers and preceptors to ensure that clinical areas provide optimum learning environments for student nurses.
Services provided
The main services provided by staff in the Nursing Practice Development Unit focus on:
- Nursing Practice. To support practice innovation, evidence based practice and quality improvement. Nursing Practice Development recognises the increasing specialisation and complexity for mental health practice, and work with staff in a patient focused approach to enhance capacity for creativity and innovation.
- Working with student nurses who are undertaking a four-year BSc programme. The programme provides preparation for working as a psychiatric/mental health nurse and is jointly provided by St. Vincent's Hospital, Fairview and Dublin City University (DCU). Also the programme provides preparation for working as a general nurse and is jointly provided by St. Vincent's Hospital, Fairview, Mater Misericordiae Hospital and University College Dublin (UCD). Students spend time in different settings:
(i) 50% in clinical placement where they work along side preceptors acquiring clinical nursing skills and applying nursing knowledge to client/patient care.
(ii) 50% in the university where they study a variety of subjects that relate to nursing.
On successful completion of the programme, students are awarded a Degree in Nursing, BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health)/ Degree in Nursing, BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult) and are entitled to register with An Bord Altranais as a Registered Nurse. Clinical Placement Co-ordinators (CPC’s) work under the umbrella of the Nursing Practice Development Department.
The key functions of the CPC Role include:
- Liasing with the Director of Nursing, Assistant Director of Nursing, NPDC, Clinical Nurse Managers, Clinical Nurse Specialists and Community Mental Health Nurses to develop and maintain an effective learning environment for clinical staff and student nurses.
- Facilitating BSc student nurses from DCU and UCD to identify learning opportunities in clinical placements, link theoretical knowledge to healthcare practice and use reflective techniques to develop professionally and personally.
- Providing support and guidance to preceptors in their teaching role with students.
- Forging links with university personnel to insure continuity between theoretical and clinical components of the BSc in Nursing Programme.
- Involvement in practice development issues, which are complimentary to student support and clinical learning e.g. clinical quality and audit.
The key functions of Health Promotion Officer
The aim of the Health Promotion Officer (HPO) in St. Vincent’s Hospital is to encourage the integration of health promotion into all parts of the service. By establishing this position the hospital management responded to the national health strategy - Shaping a Healthier Future (1994) which states.
“A central aspect of the strategy is to reorient the health services towards a health promotion approach based on encouraging people to take responsibility for their own health and on providing the environmental support necessary to achieve this”.
The HPO is a member of the Irish Mental Health Interest Group.
The Hospital is a member of the Health Promoting Hospitals Network which are
underpinned by specific WHO documents:
The Budapest Declaration on Health Promoting
Hospitals (1991) Vienna Recommendations on Health Promotion Hospitals (1997)
Standards for Health Promotion in Hospital – Self Assessment Tool (2004)
Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion (1986)
Jakarta Declaration (1997).
No Smoking Policy
The hospital operates a Smoke Free Policy with designated smoking areas for
staff, patients and visitors. A smoking cessation service is available to staff,
inpatients and clients in the community.
Activities supported by the Health Promotion Officer include:
Sli na Slainte, promoting staff well-being, healthy eating, patient advocacy
and weight watchers.
Access to service
There is direct access to service.
Contact Details
Nursing Practice Development Unit, Old School of Nursing, St. Vincent's Hospital,
Fairview, Dublin 3. Clinical Placement Co-ordinators Student Allocation Liaison Officer Health Promotion Officer Administration |
Tel: 884 2440 Tel: 884 2440 / Ext 2448 Tel: 884 2440 / Ext 2415 Tel: 884 2440 / Ext 2495 Tel: 884 2440 / Ext 2492 Tel: 884 2440 / Ext 2442 |
Unit Location
Old School of Nursing, St Vincent’s Hospital.
Details of Team Members
Team members include
: - Administration, Nursing Practice Development Co-ordinator, Clinical Placement
Co-ordinator, Student Allocation Liaison Officer and Health Promotion Officer.
External Agencies
Links with
DCU, UCD, Mater M. Hospital, Area 6, 7 and 8 Mental Health Services, St. Joseph’s
Hospital, Clonsilla, HSE Health Promotion Website, Irish Heart Foundation,
Office of Tobacco Control, WHO HPH and various healthcare facilities in the
greater Dublin area.