RMH implemented its Shared Governance Model in January 2006. Shared Governance is the framework that the Patient Care Division utilizes to facilitate nursing clinical practice. The Councilor Model includes staff nurse representation across RMH, who share in the opportunity to implement programs, policy, procedures that will improve their work environment, as well as nursing practice.

Resource Council
Responsible for the right materials, support, systems, and fiscal resources. In order to have a safe, effective work environment, this council focused in 2006 on standardization of patient care equipment to reduce education time and standardize patient care. Items such as patient thermometers, blood pressure cuffs, IV pumps, and IV start kits, as well as dressing change kits, are being reviewed. Standardization keeps training costs and supply costs down and makes a safe environment for the patient by limiting the methods of how nursing is performing the practice. 

Performance Improvement Council
Monitors patient outcomes as they relate to nursing practice.

Actions developed in 2006 by this Council include things such as the creation of the SBAR (Situation/Background/Assessment/Recommendations) communication tool to assist in promoting clear, concise communication in patient handoffs; a patient hand-off tool requiring verbal reports on all patients and face-to-face reports on patients sent to higher acuity levels; and increased rounding on patients to decrease falls.

Professional Practice Council
Establishes and develops professional practice and performance standards with regards to patient outcomes. 2006 activities included the development of our Clinical Ladders program to help recruit and retain good nurses while supporting their growth and development and rewarding their accomplishments; updating policies and procedures to incorporate evidence-based nursing practice; better and standardized documentation techniques; and addressing skin breakdown in patients by adopting the Braden Scale to give our staff outcome measures to utilize in measuring our patient care.

Education Council
Addresses orientation for new nursing clinicians, provides education processes for new initiatives, looks at avenues for continuing education, works to standardize competencies, and addresses student rotations for clinical nursing students.

Successes in our first year included education of staff on the new SBAR communication tool; preparing nurses to assume their role of educator more effectively; developed annual Skills Labs based on the top opportunities identified by staff as needing review; working closely with RH in developing HealthStream education modules for nursing staff.