Shared Governance

Shared Governance nursing is a professional practice model based on the principles of partnership, equality, accountability and ownership in the nursing practice.

It has the ability to place the voice and control of nursing care in the hands of the professional practicing nurse. During the Shared Governance process, nurses' input is gathered and used to define and enhance the nursing process, practice, policies and professionalism.

Nurses are able to assume ownership and accountability of patient outcomes and nursing procedure.

Shared Governance nursing at MercyOne continues to redefine itself and grow in practice. The centralized councils continue to address nursing practice on a hospital-wide basis.

Each nursing unit also has a Shared Governance Council that is focused on creating practice and procedural changes that directly affect patient outcomes and streamline nursing practice on the unit. Shared Governance nursing takes decision making and removes the pyramid of management, allowing for more participatory management.

MercyOne's Shared Governance Leadership Council oversees the following:

• Performance Excellence Quality Council
• Education & Research Council
• Informatics Council
• CARE (Career Advancement Recognition of Excellence) Council
• Professional Practice Council