Shared governance as a conceptual structure model for empowered decision making by frontline clinical nurses was first introduced by Virginia Clealand in 1975 ( Porter-O’Grady, 2004). Shared governance has at its core the underlying assumption that the bedside clinical nurse is best equipped at determining the most therapeutic care for their patient. It is the ideal model for delivery of care because it allows for collaboration between interdisciplinary clinical staff and administrators. This unified collaboration results in comprehensive patient care with improved health outcomes. Successful implementation of shared governance model requires flexibility and creativity from administration, …show more content…
Managers must provide their clinical staff with the time and tools necessary to enact changes in delivery of care. Leaders must also assume the role of facilitator rather than that of director for the benefits of shared governance to be realized. As managers become competent in their roles of facilitation, productivity and patient satisfaction increase. Competent nurse leaders frequently utilize the “Four I’s” of transformational leadership, Idealized influence, Inspirational motivation, Intellectual stimulation, and Individual consideration, when developing staff, (Bamford-Wade, 2010). Empowerment of their clinical nurses is essential to insure the implementation of comprehensive quality …show more content…
This can only occur through collaboration between administrators, leadership and clinical staff. Administrators must be willing to share power and move toward a democratic model of control. Empowerment of their clinical staff and transformational leadership is required from all nurse leaders, (Bamford-Wade, 2012). Clinical staff and frontline nurses must take ownership of their practice and be instruments of change within the new structure. When administrators, managers, and frontline nurses, all work synergistically together through the shared governance model, the result is improvements in both patient outcomes and staff