Shared Governance

The shared governance model at Eisenhower Medical Center is an organizational structure in which clinical nurses have a voice in determining nursing practice, standards and quality of care. This model, implemented in 2009, reflects the high professional stature of nurses at the hospital. The advantages of shared governance are twofold:

• It empowers nurses to use their clinical knowledge and expertise to develop, direct and sustain our own professional practice.
• It allows nurses to network with colleagues and to collaborate among units and departments.

A major mechanism for shared governance for nursing at Eisenhower is the Council structure. The Councils are decision-making bodies in which nurses (and for some Councils, other professional disciplines), participate in determining goals and priorities and in making decisions affecting nursing practice and patient care or other aspects of professional practice.

The professional nursing staff organizes, integrates, and manages the delivery of nursing care services via its Councils. Nursing units individually address issues and matters related to practice, performance improvement/research, and education and professional development. This is accomplished by the Unit Based Councils, governed by the unit staffs, which attend to matters specific to the unit's patient population.

Unit Based Councils

Mission
The Unit-Based Councils identify opportunities for improvement in nursing practice in their respective units/departments that enhance excellence in patient care. The Unit-Based Council structure is the essential process for staff nurse decision-making in operational and professional practice issues at the unit level.

Goals

1. To maintain and assure quality of care and patient safety standards through evidence based practice guidelines, research, and policy and procedures.
2. To identify opportunities for improvement in nursing practice that enhances excellence in patient care.

Central Councils

Central councils comprise Eisenhower’s shared governance structure:

Nursing Professional Practice & Quality Council

Mission
The Nursing Professional Practice & Quality Council establishes the theory and evidence-base for nursing practice, sets nursing practice standards, evaluates nursing practice including the identification and analysis of nurse sensitive indicators evolves the culture of professional practice and articulates the professional and functional roles of the Registered Nurse.

Goals

1. To maintain the patient as the driving force of all nursing activities.
2. To develop, evaluate, and revise evidence-based nursing standards of care, policies, procedures, and educational materials for the Division of Nursing
3. To achieve quality patient outcomes through the analysis, evaluation and improvement of systems and processes.
4. To continually improve the standards of nursing practice based on current evidence and recommended practice guidelines.

Nursing Professional Development Council

Mission
The Professional Development Council promotes the growth and development of all Nursing staff members by offering educational programs that address professional nursing practice. The council fosters and maintains an environment that advances the profession of Nursing and advances a practice culture grounded in role competency and the concepts of professional practice.

Goals

1. To define, implement, and maintain educational standards that promote professional growth and ongoing clinical competency
2. To encourage and support the pursuit of advanced degrees and professional certification for nursing staff
3. To define and promote the role of the professional nurse at Eisenhower

Evidence Based Practice & Nursing Research Council

Mission
The Evidence-Based Practice and Nursing Research Council (ERC) promotes nursing research related activities that are essential in the development of evidence-based practice, quality of outcomes, and cost-effective patient care.

Goals

1. To promote evidence-based nursing practice and primary nursing research to improve patient care outcomes.
2. To educate staff nurses in research methods and processes for the evaluation and implementation of clinically appropriate evidence-based practice.
3. To facilitate the approval and implementation of primary nursing research projects.
4. To stimulate and facilitate the oral and written publication of evidence-based nursing practice and primary nursing research projects.

Magnet Ambassador Council

Mission
The Magnet Ambassador Council is composed of nurses recognized as “Leaders of Excellence” within the Division of Nursing and throughout the organization. They have shown a commitment to enhance our Magnet culture and environment, enabling us to achieve benchmarked standards in our professional nursing practice. They work collaboratively with fellow colleagues – nursing and non-nursing – to support our organization’s strategic goals and to sustain our designation as a Magnet hospital.

Goals

1. To educate, motivate, and promote staff understanding of Magnet
2. To develop strategies to maintain Magnet momentum before, during and after the site visit.
3. To collaborate with the Directors and Shared Governance Councils to facilitate Magnet work

Advanced Practice Nursing Council

Mission
The Advanced Practice Nursing Council provides a forum to facilitate and promote the involvement of Advanced Practice Nurses in performance-improvement activities, professional development and clinical growth, research and education. This council promotes the advanced practice role through organizational involvement, mentorship, collaboration, independent clinical decision-making and enhancement of inter-professional communication.

Goals

1. To optimize the role of the Advanced Practice Nurse at Eisenhower Medical Center
2. To strengthen the role of the Advanced Practice Nurse Council within the Shared Governance structure.
3. To support evidence-based practice, research, and education to strengthen the provision of quality care.

Nursing Leadership Council

Mission
The Nursing Leadership Council strategically fosters an environment that supports excellence in nursing practice, quality, research and education, and positive patient outcomes. This is accomplished through staff support and accountabilities to fiscal, material, and human resources as well as organizational systems.

Goals

1. To support excellence in nursing practice, quality, research and education, and positive patient outcomes.
2. To guide the strategic development of professional nursing practice
3. To support the need for council resources
4. To align council work internally and with collaborating disciplines.

Nursing Coordinating Council

Mission
The Nursing Coordinating Council functions as the central point for the coordination of council activities for the purpose of achieving outcomes in the areas of nursing service, evidence-based practice and research, education, relationship management, nursing excellence, technology, and nursing quality.

Goals

1. To foster continuous improvement of patient care outcomes through strategic plan implementation within the Division of Nursing
2. To foster the nursing professional practice model through the development and guidance of shared governance
3. To foster the shared decision-making process within the Division of Nursing

Nursing Executive Council

Mission
The Nursing Executive Council is committed to improving and advancing nursing practice through the structures that comprise the shared governance model. This council provides strategic and operational direction for the Division of Nursing and enhances the practice of professional nursing.

Goals

1. To provide oversight and leadership for the Division of Nursing
2. To provide leadership and infrastructure support to facilitate change

Nursing Congress

Mission
The Nursing Congress serves as the governing body for nursing and provides leadership and direction to the Nursing Shared Governance Councils.

Goals

1. To improve and advance nursing practice through the structures comprising the Nursing Shared Governance Model.
2. To promote the delivery of quality patient-centered care.
3. To provide a “voice” for nursing staff
4. To elevate the role of the professional nurse
5. To recognize and celebrate contributions of nurses within the health care system and community.