Healthy Practice Environments: Role of the Professional Society

On a global level, professional societies have embraced the relationship of healthful practice environments to health outcomes.  Based on the conviction, supported by evidence, that quality health care workplaces provide quality patient care, The International Council of Nurses (ICN) launched a global call to address and improve the serious deficiencies currently existing in the health work environment in all regions. The delivery of safe, high quality and efficient health services depends on the competence of health workers and a work environment that supports performance excellence.  Publication of an information and action toolkit entitled, “Quality workplaces = quality patient care provides data on positive practice environments to all health stakeholders who are interested in improving the delivery of quality services.
The American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) and its members are national leaders in creating positive and healthful practice environments supporting research related to:

• Practice environments that attract and retain nurses.
• Professional growth and continuous learning, including mentoring of staff nurses and nursing leaders.    
• Positive practice environments that are based on the Nursing Organization Alliance (NOA) Principles and Elements of a Healthful Practice/Work Environment.  
• Education and research initiatives that encompass judiciously securing and using technology and resources, developing provider and patient safety guidelines, and promoting diversity in the workforce.  
• Designing, implementing and evaluating healthful practice environments.
• Promoting the design and implementation of shared governance/shared decision-making models. 

Nurses need, and deserve, a positive practice environment consistent with scope of practice, professional licensure, and local culture. Evidence supports the fact that job satisfaction is enhanced when corporate culture supports clinical practice, diversity, leadership, and continuous learning. Professional organizations on a global scale are leading the way and setting the standards.