Clinical Support Officers welcomed with open arms
22 March 2010
Clinical Support Officers (CSO’s) have started working at Tamworth Hospital, assisting the Nursing Unit Manager with administrative duties and supporting senior clinicians with paperwork - so health professionals can spend more time caring for patients and mentoring staff.
The CSOs were a key recommendation of the Garling Report and HNE Health received 1215 applications for 58 full time equivalent new positions.
The Clinical Support Officers are now working at Belmont, Calvary Mater Newcastle and John Hunter, Maitland, Manning, Armidale and Tamworth hospitals.
HNE Health Director of Operations Acute Networks Michael Di Rienzo said that the recruitment of the Clinical Support Officers shows HNE Health is committed to implementing recommendations from the Garling Report.
“HNE Health has been quick to adopt this initiative and reduce the amount of time nursing managers spend on administrative matters. The Clinical Support Officers will provide valuable support to nursing and medical staff on the wards,” Mr Di Rienzo said.
“The Clinical Support Officers will perform a range of administrative duties relating to recruitment, reports, rosters, stock and supply orders. The recruitment of the Clinical Support Officers is a result of a commitment made by the NSW Government to free up nurses time to spend on patient care rather than administrative duties,” Mr Di Rienzo said.
Before starting on the wards, Clinical Support Officers have undertaken orientation to the position, as well at the hospital and the wards they’ll be working in.
Director of Nursing at Tamworth Hospital Chris Coombs said that the Clinical Support Officers will be a welcome addition to the hospital, working in areas such as the emergency department, theatres, intensive care, general wards the renal dialysis unit and palliative care.
“The Clinical Support Officers are here to support nurses, midwives, medical and allied health staff with tasks such as data entry for rosters, ensuring births are registered, preparing financial reports, recruitment, leave, payroll and ordering medical stocks,” Ms Coombs said.
“Previously many of these duties were undertaken by the Nursing Unit Manager. Nursing Unit Managers can spend up to 40 per cent of their time on clerical work, making it difficult to spend time managing patient care and supervising staff.
''It will free clinical time up for nursing, allied health, and the medical officers, and it puts these people back on the floor for patient care,” Ms Coombs said.
This initiative is a significant investment in the health system and is part of the NSW Government’s Caring Together: The Health Action Plan for NSW.
Media please note: CSO Fiona Dunn and Chris Coombs will be available for interviews at Tamworth Hospital’s ICU at 1.30pm, today - Monday 22 March.
Contact: Emma Gibbs
Phone: 0428 114 767