What are the roles of a Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)?

The Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) plays a vital leadership role within healthcare organizations, primarily focusing on the overall management of nursing services. This position involves oversight of inpatient care, ensuring that high-quality nursing standards are upheld. In addition to direct patient care management, the CNO is responsible for recruitment and staffing, effectively working to ensure that the nursing department is staffed with qualified professionals to provide optimal patient care.

Given these responsibilities, the role does not typically extend into the detailed management of patient intake and discharge or conducting individual patient assessments, which are generally tasks performed by other nursing staff or departments. Instead, the CNO's work revolves around strategic leadership, policy development, and operational management within the nursing discipline, making option A the most accurate representation of their roles.