Congress Abstracts 2004

31

SHARED GOVERNANCE: IMPROVING CLINICAL AND OPERATIONAL OUTCOMES. Patricia Johnston, RN, MHA, OCN^®, Roxy Blackburn, RN, MA, Carol Causton, RN, OCN^®, Lourine Davis, RN, Buenagracia Dela Cruz, RN, BSN, and Jaine Jewell, RN, OCN^®, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.

Nursing in today’s ever-changing, complex healthcare environment encounters multiple challenges including role expansion, cost-containment efforts, and the healthcare system’s redesign to prepare for forecasted issues facing the profession. While these challenges can be overwhelming, nurses no longer accept the assignment of tasks as their practice goal outcomes. Today’s nurses seek opportunities to provide comprehensive professional care through a system that supports autonomy and staff input regarding decision making.

Traditional models of administrative structures are presently in a state of flux as organizational structures flatten and team structures increase. Creating environments of teamwork and creativity are essential for achieving desired improvements in clinical and operational outcomes.

This presentation will discuss the shared governance council structure, activities, and accomplishments on an inpatient bone marrow transplant (BMT) unit.

Building on the nursing division’s shared governance practice council structure, the inpatient BMT unit replicated the majority of practice councils at the unit level. These included a Clinical Practice Council, Research Council, Education Council, Quality Improvement Council, and Coordinating Council. Each council is responsible for establishing annual goals. Active participation is expected by the nursing staff in achievement of a component of their professional development model evaluation.

Improved outcomes that were achieved this past year included development of BMT nursing standards of care and a BMT patient education binder, preparation for the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT), monitoring nursing documentation audits, redesigning the measurement of patient satisfaction with nursing care, developing and instituting this year’s unit-based competencies, and a staff recognition program.

The outcomes of shared decision making have promoted effective quality patient care, accountability, staff and leadership satisfaction, and professional role development demonstrating the mission, vision, and core values of our organization, which are viewed as a positive force on the unit.