Professions that are recognized by society as having a specialized body of knowledge and a commitment to a service ideal, as well as professional autonomy and accountability for their specialized practice, are in many aspects given the privilege of self-regulating or governing their profession. The concept of shared governance in nursing has been used over the past 20 years as a mechanism for healthcare organizations to empower nurses to participate in decision-making within an organization, particularly in regard to making decisions that affect nursing practice.

Nursing leadership at Munroe is committed to the shared governance model, with mechanisms for nurses to have the authority to participate in decision-making affecting their practice. A major mechanism for shared governance for nursing at Munroe is the Council structure. The ten Councils described are decision-making bodies in which nurses (and for some Councils, other professional disciplines), participate in determining goals and priorities and in making decisions affecting nursing practice and patient care or other aspect of professional practice.

In addition to the Council structure, individual patient care units also have the authority to establish Unit-based Councils that provide nurses with a decision-making mechanism. Other units have Nursing Practice Councils that are decision-making bodies for issues affecting clinical nursing practice. Unit Lead Teams are also used as a mechanism for decentralized decision-making.

Shared governance will continue to be an important area of focus as we continue our journey of providing an effective governance model that enhances professional nursing practice at Munroe.