For Health Professionals »Nursing »Shared Decision-Making

« Back to Shared Decision-Making

Unit-Based Practice Councils are the foundation for Shared Decision-Making in the Nursing Department. Their purpose is to provide a structure for decision making at the unit level and an opportunity for participation in division-wide activities. Unit-Based Practice Councils are critical for planning, improving and maintaining quality patient care throughout the Department of Nursing.

Coordinating Council

Members include Council Chairs, the Vice President of Nursing, and the Director of Nursing and Patient Services.

• Strategic plan and vision
• Collaborative interdisciplinary partnerships
• Coordination between councils
• Communication
• Education

Coordinating Council Committee

• Joanne M. Hambleton, Chair
• Noele Myers, Chair of Professional Development
• Margie Kearns, Chair of Leadership Council
• Carol Forman, Chair of Performance Improvement
• Crystal Greco, Chair of Practice Council
• Therese Innamorato, Chair of Evidence-Based Practice Council

Professional Development Council

Members include Unit-Based Representatives and Advanced Practice Nurses

• Mandatory Education
• Orientation
• Communication
• Ongoing Educational Programs
• Student Placement
• Unit-Based Education
• Nursing Grand Rounds

Leadership Council

Members include Clinical Managers, one Staff Nurse Representative and Financial Analyst.

• Human Resources and Recruitment
• Fiscal Resources
• Materials Resources
• Support Activities

Practice Council

Members include Unit-Based Representatives and Advanced Practice Nurses.

• Standards of Practice
• Job Descriptions
• Nursing Care Delivery System
• Nursing representatives to hospital-wide committees
• Criteria for unit-based Decision-Making committees
• Clinical Documentation System

Performance Improvement Council

Members include Unit-Based Representatives and Advanced Practice Nurses.

• Quality Improvement Program
• Quality Improvement Priorities
• Outcomes Research
• Unit-Based Quality Improvement Activities
• Peer Review Process
• Credentialing and Privileging
• JCAHO Survey Preparation

Evidence-Based Council

Members include Unit-Based Representatives and Advanced Practice Nurses.

• Research Utilization
• Research Priorities
• Research Activities
• Staff Education
• Publish Findings
• Integration of Research into Practice
• Research Support to Other Councils