Shared Governance Effect on Nursing Outcomes

Introduction The economy has made it necessary for hospitals to consolidate into integrated systems. Government and private insurance stipulations for reimbursement have become rigorous and dependent on quality and readmission rates. Hospital-acquired infections or injuries are no longer reimbursable (Underwood & Hayne, 2017). The changing landscape has been challenging for the healthcare worker, affecting morale, and in turn, patient care. It is essential for hospitals to perform at the highest level for patient outcomes and safety, in addition to creating healthy work environments for employees. Shared/Transformational Governance is key to developing top functioning hospitals. Involving the staff in decision making creates an improved process, and enhances employee engagement and satisfaction, patient outcomes, and financial status. Improving the quality of health care is a worldwide initiative. Nurses are advocates for high-quality patient care. It is essential for nurse executives and bedside nurses to unite through shared governance to repair broken processes. Collaboration between leadership and staff is vital to determine the issues and find the solutions (Dearmon, Riley, Mestas, & Buckner, 2015)