If you have ever needed to stay at a hospital you will probably remember your treating physician’s name or face but might find it challenging to recall the nurses who helped you make your way towards a healthy recovery. The nursing staff at any hospital are the true unsung heroes, tirelessly working around the clock; checking vitals, administering drugs, providing care and so much more all with a smile and a lot of compassion and empathy for their patients and without the recognition that a Doctor might receive.

We spoke to Dr. Carlo Piraino, the Chief Nursing Officer at Taiba Hospital to better understand what the nursing team does and why they are so vital to any hospital. Piraino started by explaining that “Patients come to the hospital for nursing care, if they didn’t need it they would be seen in the outpatient area.”

Piraino took a long and winding road to arrive at his current CNO position at Taiba Hospital. Unlike many nurses who found their calling in healthcare or were raised in a household where one of their parents is a nurse and were inspired, he started out by helping his dad out at hospitals where he worked as the chief engineer. He enlisted in the navy, so he could study nursing and slowly worked his way to becoming a Doctor of Nursing Practice. After a short stint in Saudi Arabia, Taiba Hospital invited him to join their team and lead the nursing staff forward.

At Taiba Hospital, Piraino explained that he has two main roles; ensuring that the nursing staff have the tools (skills, training, equipment and policies) they need to provide excellent care and to ensure that they have the proper respect and treatment that any professional has and deserves. With over 300 nurses currently employed at Taiba Hospital working in over 25 departments, managing the daily logistics, mitigating risks and planning for the future, Dr. Piraino has his hands full.

“Patients remember the type of care they receive. They return to a place that provides good, quick and courteous care and avoid places where they experienced rudeness, delays or care that did not meet their expectations. Nurses are responsible for 90% of all inpatient interactions, so they really control how a patient feels about their hospital stay,” Piraino explained.

Empathy is what sets a nurse apart. A nurse needs to be able to feel what a patient is experiencing or anticipating it, so they can help prepare the patient. However, empathy needs to be partnered with strong assessment skills. A nurse is trained to constantly assess and notice things that others do not. They register shortness of breath, swelling of feet or even a subtle change in skin tone. Their ability to see these things helps doctors reach more accurate diagnosis because they have more information.

Hiring the right person for the job is the first half of ensuring the best care. Dr. Piraino interviews all applicants personally to make sure that they are caring individuals who can communicate effectively in Arabic or English and that they are truly committed to nursing. Next, the head nurse of the department they are applying to work in evaluates their skill and experience and to make sure they are a good fit for the team. Luckily, this means that almost all new hires do well within the organization. Piraino explains that he has high expectations of his nursing staff because he knows what nursing, as an entire medical entity, is capable of.

The goal at Taiba Hospital is to provide excellence in nursing care and to exceed the expectations of patients, visitors, physicians and each other. By implementing cutting-edge initiatives that are backed by science and research. One of the additions was the hourly rounds with intention. Nurses are now required to pro-actively engage with patients and ask if they need assistance with anything instead of just walking around and checking in on patients. Additionally, leadership rounds by the head nurses and nursing supervisors are done to assess the care that patients are receiving.

Members of staff are evaluated quarterly and are incentivized by rewards based on performance. Additionally, a patient feedback system is in place that is tied to the evaluations. This helps show nurses where they can improve too. Education and training are the most efficient way of improving the level of care, unfortunately COVID-19 has restricted classroom training. Nurses now have access to online educational platforms from organizations like the CDC, WHO and several Nursing Organizations as well as a monthly educational program that is hosted by the Texas Nurse Association in the United States.

The past year has been challenging in every way. Not only has Taiba Hospital had to implement strict protocols to protect staff members and eliminate exposure they have also had to deal with shortages in staff because of travel restrictions. Taiba Hospital and the leadership teams have responded with different policies to make it easier and safer for the staff; from working with employees who got stuck abroad to being very liberal with sick leave to make sure they are healthy and well-rested before returning to work.

Nurses are the real force behind any hospital and at Taiba they are empowered with knowledge, training and a leadership team that helps them achieve their own goals as well as the hospital’s goals and values.

Taiba Hospital is located in Sabah Al Salem, off of route 30 on Road 3. Call them 24 hours at 180 80 88. For updates and information, visit the website taibahospital.com, and follow them on Instagram @taibahospital.