Professional Practice
Shared Governance Model Empowers Nurses, Improves Outcomes
Shared governance is a critical structure for enhancing nurse satisfaction and improving patient outcomes. Recognizing the opportunity to increase both of these measures, nurses at the University of Chicago Medical Center in October implemented a new model of shared governance. The new model replaces one that had been in place at the Medical Center for five years.
The process of developing the model in itself was an example of shared governance at work. The model was developed by the Local Practice Council chairs, management, educators, the chief nursing officer and the director of the Center for Nursing Professional Practice and Research, along with the assistance of a Magnet Consultant. A visual representation of the model was created by Aurika Savickaite, RN, BSN, CCRN, a staff nurse in the MICU.
Margaret Gleason, RN, BSN, OCN, chair of the Nursing Practice Council, said the model is an important way of empowering nurses, giving nurses a voice in the organization, promoting evidence-based practice and enabling nurses to network with peers from all areas of the Medical Center.
The new shared governance model, like the old one, formally organizes nurses throughout the Medical Center to make decisions about clinical practice standards, quality improvement, staff and professional development, and research. But the new model is clearer and increases accountability among nurses, according to Gleason. It also clarifies shared responsibilities even further, enabling units to meet individually to discuss patient care issues rather than at the local level.
Currently, Gleason and other nurses are raising awareness of the new model throughout all care areas. So far, Gleason said she has received very positive feedback from nurses representing adult and pediatric inpatient and outpatient areas. "Nurses are able to see the importance of this from a professional development and patient care standpoint, and we are encouraged that this will translate into improvements in both of those areas."
