Professional Nursing Practice Model
Our Professional Practice Model is a visual representation of the values, organizational structures, and processes that provide a unifying framework for the practice of nursing at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. It ensures consistency in the delivery of nursing care, and defines for all registered nurses their authority, autonomy and accountability as they care for patients and families in our community, our state and world.
- Authority: The recognition and use of our rights and responsibility to use our nursing knowledge, skills, and judgments, to provide high-quality outcomes for our patients.
- Autonomy: The making of independent nursing decisions about the best nursing practices to implement in order to provide safe, high-quality outcomes for our patients.
- Accountability: The acceptance of responsibility for our actions, judgments, and the resulting outcomes.
The Elements
Dome
Safe, High-Quality Patient- and Family-Centered Care
- Safety: Based on our knowledge of patient needs and the health care environment, we plan and implement interventions to help patients get through the hospital stay without preventable complications and delay.
- Quality: We use our knowledge and skills to help the patient reach optimal outcomes.
- Patient and Family Centered Care: Our nurses provide safe, high-quality care — a model of care that is grounded in mutually beneficial partnerships among health care professionals, patients, and families.
Community
Efforts to deliver safe, high-quality patient and family-centered care to promote a healthier local, regional, and global community.
Within this model, we aspire to provide care with:
- Dignity and Respect—We listen to and honor the perspectives and choices of our patients and families. We integrate patient and family knowledge, values, beliefs and culture into the assessment, planning, delivery, and evaluation of the care we provide.
- Compassion—Caring for patients, families, visitors, co-workers, and colleagues with minds, hands, and hearts is the art of nursing.
- Information Sharing—In a timely manner, we communicate with and share information in plain language so patients and families can make the best health care decisions that match their care goals. We contribute to the development and implementation of electronic tools and systems that provide patients with direct access to their medical records, their health care team, and to education and information that promotes health.
- Participation—We encourage and support the active involvement and participation of patients and families in decision-making at whatever level they feel most comfortable.
Pillars
Leadership
Our nurse leaders are highly visible and accessible. They are key to the success of this practice model. Through transformational leadership, staff nurses are empowered to be leaders ofpatient care at the bedside. The chief nursing executive (CNE) is a member of the Vice President for Medical Affairs Cabinet, the CEO SeniorManagement Team, and the University Hospital Advisory Committee (executive advisory board). The CNE advocates for nurses throughout the health care system. Leadership is dedicated to succession planning and mentoring to ensure the continuity of nursing administration, goal achievement, and fostering future nursing leaders.
Shared Governance
Our nurses share decision-making responsibilities at the unit, division, department, and organizational levels through a shared governance structure dating back to 1974. All levels of nursing staff participate in councils and committees through this structure. Nurses are members of all University Hospital Advisory committees; they participate in unit-based committees; they help design unit-based care-delivery models; and they participate in unit-based multidisciplinary care councils, sharing decision-making responsibilities.
Research
Research is an integral component of our nursing practice. It drives innovation, clinical decision-making, and advances in health care. Our nurses generate knowledge through the conduct, collaboration, and participation in research practices that improve outcomes for our patients.
Evidence Based Practice (EBP)
Our nurses improve the quality of care byapplying new knowledge and innovations as they provide evidence-based care. We are committed to an environment that fosters scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and innovation. We support policies, procedures, and standards of care that are evidence-based. As internationally recognized leaders in EBP, we continue to be on the leading edge of innovation. We support a staff nurse internship to expand EBP across the organization and provide ongoing training opportunities for nurses throughout the state, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
Education
Our nurses work in an environment of continual learning. We educate and empower patients and families to understand illness and treatment to support them as they make health care decisions. Patient education is provided using health literacy and plain language principles.
We promote and support all levels of professional education, including a nurse residency program to facilitate transition into practice and competency-based orientation, as well as ongoing professional development. Our Nurse Residency Program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (2013-2018). We support the pursuit of advanced degrees, professional certification, and continuing education. We participate in active role modeling, sharing our expertise, and learning collaboratively with colleagues across disciplines.
Our collegial relationships with the University of Iowa College of Nursing and other health science colleges enhance the educational component of our practice environment.
Clinical Expertise
Our nurses are grounded in the science and art of nursing. They have exemplary clinical knowledge and the skills to provide excellent care based on the unique needs and attributes of each patient. We work in a culture of safety and quality and utilize care-delivery models that allow nurses to be accountable fortheir practice and clinical decision-making at the point of care. We work skillfully in an environment with a high level of electronic information systems that support patient, family, and interdisciplinary communication. Our engagement in the development of information systems and device integration is a key to our success.
Foundation
Welcoming
We strive for an environment where everyone has a voice that is heard; that promotes the dignity of our patients, trainees, and employees; and allows all to thrive in their health, work, research, and education.
Excellence
We aim to achieve and deliver our personal and collective best in the pursuit of quality and accessible health care, education, and research.
Collaboration
We encourage collaboration with health care systems, providers, and communities across Iowa and the region, as well as within our UI community. We believe teamwork-guided by compassion-is the best way to work.
Accountability
We behave ethically, act with fairness and integrity, take responsibility for our own actions, and respond when errors in behavior or judgment occur.
Respect
We are committed to ensuring that UI Health Care is an inclusive environment where individuals from the full spectrum of diversity-which includes identity, backgrounds, cultures, ability, and perspective-feel safe, seen, and valued.
Equity
We dedicate ourselves to equity and fairness in research, health care, education, and health.
Locations and Offices
