Shared governance in the hospital setting is critical when making decisions that affect both clinical team members and patients. The model is a best practice for promoting partnership and collaboration between nurses and other healthcare professionals for decision making within the professional environment. Shared governance also provides bedside caregivers a voice and opportunity to help lead care and ensure patient-centric care is delivered. Creating a culture of shared governance requires organizational dedication to transformation, including engaging leadership and asking “why not” – creating a forum for dialogue and change.

With the challenges healthcare leaders face today, there is a genuine need to incorporate a shared governance model into everyday practice to avoid costly mistakes both in terms of time and dollars.

Discover five key actions for nurse leaders to put into practice.