Nursing Services

Nursing Administration supplies direction, supervision, coordination, monitoring, and support of nursing services provided to the patient population receiving tertiary ophthalmic services at KKESH.

Scope

Nursing Administration directly manages Surgical Services, Pre-hospitalization, Inpatient Adult and Pediatric Nursing Services, Ambulatory Surgical Center Nursing Services, and Outpatient Nursing Services. The departments of Social Services, Respiratory Therapy, and Patient Education also report to Nursing Administration. Nursing practices are conducted in accordance with the standards of the American Society of Ophthalmic Nurses Standards of Clinical Practices, the International Council of Nurses Code of Ethics for Nurses and the Saudi Nursing Board.

Services/Functions

The services/functions of Nursing Services ensure the following:

Consistency of nursing practices, standards, policies, and procedures across the organization;
Competency of nursing services staff through staff development administrative processes and the competency assessment process;
The continuous and timely availability of nursing services to patients;
Adherence of KKESH nursing standards of patient care and hospital standards of nursing practices to current nationally recognized professional standards;
Effective utilization of hospital resources allocated to Nursing Services;
Performance of applicable processes within patient care functions;
Assessment of each patient’s nursing care needs;
Planning for and provision of nursing care interventions;
Prevention of complications and promotion of improvement in the patient’s comfort and wellness;
Collaboration with other hospital leaders in designing and providing patient care and services;
Notification of other care professionals to the patient’s condition, as appropriate;
Active participation in hospital leadership functions and activities.

Nursing Services Staff Development Unit

Summary

The Nursing Services Staff Development Unit (NSSDU) promotes a high standard of nursing practice and patient care through the delivery of staff development activities and facilitation of practice review and nursing research.

Scope

The NSSDU presents educational activities to support tertiary-level ophthalmic nursing services. Age-specific content is integrated into NSSDU activities associated with education programs, competency assessment, practice review, and nursing research.

Services/Functions

The services/functions of the NSSDU are as follows:

Delivers programs in ophthalmic nursing, general nursing, nursing management skills, new equipment orientation, and special needs/age-specific topics;
Provides consultation to nursing staff on education processes and clinical practice issues, assists in preparation of advanced cardiac life support, and reviews or initiates nursing policies and procedures;
Coordinates nursing practice program activities and the nursing competency assessment program;
Initiates, participates, and supports nursing research programs;
Liases with the Education Department in providing nursing support for training programs.

Adult Inpatient Nursing Services

Adult Ophthalmology Nursing Services provides nursing care for patients 15 years and older and serves patients who require inpatient tertiary care and treatment for anterior segment, external disease, oculoplastics, orbit, glaucoma, vitreoretinal, and neuro-ophthalmology conditions. Patient care needs vary widely, between those requiring minimal assistance with activities of daily living and those who are entirely dependent on assistance, in view of their ophthalmic or medical conditions, age, and neurological status.

Each patient is admitted on the order of the ophthalmologist after clearance by the Medicine Department is obtained. The patient is under the care of both the ophthalmologist and the assigned Medicine Department physician throughout hospitalization, with consultation from an anesthesia physician for those patients undergoing surgery. A patient companion provided by the patient’s family is authorized for specified patients in accordance with hospital policy. This companion provides support to the patient and assists the patient with activities of daily living as necessary.

Adult Ophthalmology Nursing Services provides nursing care on four floors, which are designated as follows:

Third Floor Nursing Unit
Anterior Segment/Vitreoretinal/Oculoplastics (Male)
36 beds in three-bed rooms
15 beds in private/isolation rooms
2 beds in VIP suites

Fourth Floor Nursing Unit
Anterior Segment/Vitreoretinal/Oculoplastics (Female)
36 beds in three-bed rooms
15 beds in private/isolation rooms
2 beds in VIP suites

Sixth Floor Nursing Unit
VIP Suite
3 beds in VIP suite

Pediatric Inpatient Nursing Service

Pediatric Ophthalmology Nursing Services provides nursing care to pediatric (14 years or younger) patients with congenital and acquired ophthalmic disorders who require inpatient tertiary care and treatment.

To provide planned nursing care to meet the physical and psychological needs appropriate to the age group of our pediatric patients, a health team (consisting of a pediatrician, an ophthalmologist, and a registered nurse) is involved in the implementation of appropriate care needs according to age, physical capabilities, culture, and other factors. Every effort is made to ensure that the hospitalized patient’s environment is comfortable, safe, and clean, and is provided with appropriate activities according to age (i.e., games, toys, interaction with other children). Supportive measures are ongoing and provided by the various team members and documented and recorded in the patient’s medical records file.

Each patient is admitted on the order of the ophthalmologist after clearance by the Medicine Department is obtained. The patient is under the care of both the ophthalmologist and the assigned pediatrician throughout hospitalization, with consultation from an anesthesiologist for those patients undergoing surgery. Each pediatric patient is expected to have a patient companion provided by the patient’s family, throughout the patient’s hospitalization. This companion provides support to the patient, interacts with the staff on behalf of the patient, and assists the patient with activities of daily living.

Postanesthesia Recovery Room (PARR)/Nursing Services

PARR Nursing Services provides immediate pre- and postoperative care for adult and pediatric patients undergoing ophthalmic surgical intervention. The patient population ranges from the newborn to the very aged, and from the fit and healthy to patients with complex medical comorbidities related to obesity, diabetic, cardiac, and renal conditions. Preoperative care includes assessment, preparation, and administration of local anesthesia. Postoperative care includes assessment and recovery from general anesthesia plus assessment and monitoring for local anesthesia cases as required. All patients treated in the operating rooms are transferred back to the patient care areas by the PARR staff when recovery from anesthesia is complete.

Outpatient Nursing Services

The Outpatient Clinic Nursing Services provides care to ophthalmology patients attending the Ambulatory Surgical Center, minor treatment room, laser clinic, sedation room, and nurse-led glaucoma assessment clinic.

Ambulatory Surgical Center
The Ambulatory Surgical Center provides care to pediatric and adult patients who undergo same-day surgery in the major operating theater under the care of physicians from Anterior Segment, Oculoplastic and Orbit, and Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Divisions. Nursing staff provide preoperative patient teaching prior to the surgical date. On the day of surgery, preoperative assessment and preparation are performed in the unit prior to patient transfer to the operating theater. Following surgery, postoperative monitoring and discharge planning are conducted.

Minor Treatment Room
Nurses perform a preoperative assessment of patients undergoing minor procedures in the minor treatment room of the ER, assist the surgeons with the surgical procedure, and provide postoperative monitoring and discharge planning.

Laser Clinic
Nurses perform a preoperative assessment of patients undergoing laser procedures in the main clinic, assist the surgeons with the procedure, and arrange appropriate postoperative follow-up appointments.

Sedation Room
Nurses perform a preoperative assessment of patients undergoing sedated examinations in collaboration with the pediatric consultant, administer the sedation agents, assist the physicians with the examination, monitor the patients after the procedure, and arrange appropriate postoperative follow-up appointments.

Nurse-Led Glaucoma Assessment Clinic
Nurses working in the nurse-led glaucoma assessment clinic perform intraocular pressure evaluations and medication refills for KKESH glaucoma patients during the interval between regularly scheduled appointments with the glaucoma consultant. Intraocular pressure criteria are defined by which mandatory referral for same-day examination by a consultant ophthalmologist is required.