The nursing shortage has created opportunities for re-examining health care delivery systems in order to provide quality patient care. Albert Einstein Healthcare Network has responded to these challenges by revising its Shared Governance model and incorporating evidence-based practice (EBP) principles into its governance processes. These organizational changes directly impact the practice environment of staff nurses.
Prior to organizational restructuring, staff nurse representatives participating in Shared Governance Councils were frustrated by redundant committee work, irrelevant agenda items, and repetitious discussion topics. The separate structure of the Nursing Research Council (NRC) reinforced the staff perception that research was a distinct entity unrelated to routine clinical, management, and educational decision-making processes. Many staff nurses are now excited about the revised Shared Governance model, including its integration of EBP principles and opportunities for nursing practice.
There are some staff nurses who view the revised Shared Governance model and EBP as management fads. Others are overwhelmed by increased decision-making responsibilities in view of their full patient care workloads. These are legitimate concerns since many organizational changes have been adopted and multiple workflow processes have been modified. Additionally, bedside clinicians are now accountable to perform responsibilities historically perceived as “management” and “advanced practice nurses” roles including incorporating and encouraging EBP.
The revised Shared Governance model will help foster EBP at every level of organizational decision-making by assimilating EBP principles into committee agendas and work activities. Nurses are given the opportunity to decide what clinical, education, and administrative practices and processes need improvement. Additionally, Councils include nurses from similar specialty areas thereby increasing the meaningfulness of EBP discussions and activities. Most staff nurses view the Shared Governance model as a vehicle to encourage an equal voice in organizational decision-making and an opportunity to promote EBP.
Back to Facilitating Evidence-Based Practice in a Shared Governance Nursing Organization
Back to International Evidence-Based Practice Preconference
Sigma Theta Tau International
9 July 2003