{ NOPH Unit Council Program Partnering for Excellence

 Unit based practice councils that promote shared decision making for unit activities & ensures evidenced-based practice(s)  Provides communication between floor staff & leadership  Teaches & promotes shared decision making on the unit  Lead pilot projects for care improvements  Encourages and supports professional growth & a healthy work environment What is a Unit Council?

Staff are encouraged to participate in organization-wide decision making Staff are encouraged to participate in organization-wide decision making Staff ownership & responsibility for decision making is encouraged Staff ownership & responsibility for decision making is encouraged Interdependence & cooperation between management & staff are promoted Interdependence & cooperation between management & staff are promoted Autonomy & professional development are promoted Autonomy & professional development are promoted Trust, respect, & open/honest communication is facilitated Trust, respect, & open/honest communication is facilitated Importance of a “Shared Governance”

 Higher retention rates  Lower levels of job strain & “burnout”  Fewer psychosomatic complaints  Positive patient outcomes  Improved peer relationships  Consistent practices  Improved understanding of other departments  Leadership development of nursing staff  Improved staff & administration understanding  Improved teamwork Benefits of a Shared Governance

 Identify, investigate, & determine solutions for clinical practice & patient care delivery issues at the unit level& within the sphere of influence  Provides the structure for shared decision- making between unit management & staff Unit Council-Purpose

 The goal of Unit Council is for nurses and TPW’s to communicate and collaborate identifying strategies to improve nursing practice in the unit, hospital, and even across the state health system. Goal

 Membership-RNs, LPNs, TPWs  Chaired by: the selected Unit Council Chairman (voted by peers) Structure

 Quality  Patient Satisfaction  Education  Clinical Practice Responsibility Scope

 Identify an Issue or a Problem  Gather Data  Design a Solution  Obtain Feedback  Finalize a Proposal  Implement  Evaluate  Report How it works

 Review practice standards/policies as assigned by Nursing Executive  Determine educational & measurement needs for practice changes  Review unit level outcomes including patient safety & quality data  Make recommendations for unit/service PI projects  Answer the question: "What areas are impacted by this idea or change?"  Ensure that communication to individual units occurs Responsibilities Responsibilities

 Unit problem-solving forum-reviews pertinent data & develops action plans to resolve issues  Unit staff empowerment for decision-making-define & implement decision-making process  Develop & implement a process for staff to present issues, problems, or information for unit council consideration/resolution  Establish a mechanism of communication between staff, unit council & hospital wide stakeholders Responsibilities

 Foster & support unit recruitment & retention activities  Develops a unit council code of conduct  Assist council structure to identify workgroups & task forces  Establish ground rules for meetings  Establish leadership Responsibilities

 Determine meeting times  Develop unit council meeting agenda  Record attendance  Record meeting minutes  Report to nursing leadership quarterly  Present proposed changes to Nurse Executive Responsibilities

 Determine patient care specific standards (final approval is DON)  Communicate recommendations for changes, education and PI  Make recommendations for unit-based PI & education activities (DON to facilitate assignments)  Disseminate information to unit Authority

 Shared decision making is a journey, not an event. It is not achieved overnight, and there is no conclusion – no point when it is fully in place. It only provides a foundation for further growth. Tim Porter O’Grady