A generation ago, the power in health care rested almost exclusively with physicians and management. Today, nurses are called upon to play a more active role in alleviating suffering, promoting health, and resolving challenges.
This emphasis on empowerment does not occur on an ad hoc basis; at Nemours, it is built into the very fabric of nursing. And one way Nemours nurses are encouraged to share the reins, so to speak, is through the Nursing Shared Governance (NSG) Council.
Throughout Nemours, Shared Governance gives front-line nurses a meaningful, ongoing say in how they do their work. The result is a dynamic nursing culture built on trust and communication in which four core values are emphasized: Professionalism, Knowledge, Leadership and Caring/Compassion.
The Council meets monthly, with smaller unit meetings in major areas. These sessions provide opportunities to identify patient care needs and clinical practice issues that might require discussion or improvement. Nurses can question if a particular practice is based on evidence or conventional wisdom.
The Nursing Shared Governance process is more than talk. It’s about results and outcomes, goals and action plans, shared knowledge and responsibility, and greater satisfaction and achievement. It’s also the shortest, most effective route to one of Nemours’ overarching priorities: continuous improvement in the care and service provided to our patients and their families.