Skip to main content
  • Request An Appointment
  • MyChart
  • Pay a Bill or Get an Estimate
  • For Referring Providers
  • Explore UI Health Care
    • Adult Care
    • Pediatric Care
    • Cancer Center
    • Carver College of Medicine

Main Menu

  • Find a Provider
  • Services
  • Locations
  • Your Visit

More Menu

  • About Us
  • Jobs
  • Contact Us
  • News and Stories
    • Share Your Story
  • Health Topics
  • Educational Resources & Support Groups
  • COVID-19
  • Clinical Trials
  • Medical Records
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Info For... Directory
  • Find a Provider
  • Services
  • Locations
  • Your Visit
  • Request An Appointment
  • MyChart
  • Pay a Bill or Get an Estimate
  • For Referring Providers
  • Explore UI Health Care
    • Adult Care
    • Pediatric Care
    • Cancer Center
    • Carver College of Medicine
  • About Us
  • Jobs
  • Contact Us
  • News and Stories
    • Share Your Story
  • Health Topics
  • Educational Resources & Support Groups
  • COVID-19
  • Clinical Trials
  • Medical Records
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Info For... Directory
  • Nursing at Iowa
    • Leading the Profession
      • Nursing Continuing Education
        • Nursing Continuing Education Schedule
      • Nursing Professional Development
        • Experienced Nurse Fellowship Program
        • Nursing Clinical Education Center
        • Nursing Student Summer Employment
        • Professional Recognition Program
        • Staff Nurse Inpatient, ED, and Surgical Services Orientation
        • The Nurse Residency Program
      • Nursing Informatics
        • Nursing Technology Use
      • Nursing Evidence-Based Practice, Research, and Quality
        • Nursing Research
        • Evidence-Based Practice
          • Events
            • Advanced Evidence-Based Practice Institute
            • National Evidence-Based Practice Conference
          • Resources for Purchase
            • EBP to Go®: Accelerating Evidence-Based Practice
            • Evidence-Based Practice Building Blocks: Comprehensive Strategies, Tools, and Tips©
            • Evidence-Based Practice Staff Nurse Internship
            • Introductory Online EBP Course
            • New Book and Companion Workbook: Evidence-Based Practice in Action
            • WellMe in 3©
          • Complimentary Resources
            • Iowa Implementation for Sustainability Framework©
            • Dissemination of Nursing Knowledge: Tips and Resources
            • Implementation Strategies for Evidence-Based Practice©
            • Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Survey©
            • The Evidence-Based Nursing Practice Self-Efficacy Scale©
            • The Iowa Model Revised: Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Excellence in Health Care
    • The Iowa Difference
      • Our Magnet Recognition
      • Nursing Awards
        • Beacon Award for Excellence
        • DAISY Award Nominations
        • Nursing Awards and Recognition
      • Nursing Mission and Vision
      • Professional Nursing Practice Model
    • Contact Nursing

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Nursing at Iowa
  3. The Iowa Difference
  4. Professional Nursing Practice Model
Email Professional Nursing Practice Model
Share Professional Nursing Practice Model on Facebook
Share Professional Nursing Practice Model on Twitter
Share Professional Nursing Practice Model on LinkedIn
Print Professional Nursing Practice Model

Professional Nursing Practice Model

 

Professional Nursing Practice Model diagram

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

Professional Nursing Practice Model dome diagram

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.
Professional Nursing Practice Model pillars diagram

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.

Professional Nursing Practice Model WE CARE diagram

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.

Sidebar content

  • Nursing at Iowa
    • Leading the Profession
      • Nursing Continuing Education
        • Nursing Continuing Education Schedule
      • Nursing Professional Development
        • Experienced Nurse Fellowship Program
        • Nursing Clinical Education Center
        • Nursing Student Summer Employment
        • Professional Recognition Program
        • Staff Nurse Inpatient, ED, and Surgical Services Orientation
        • The Nurse Residency Program
      • Nursing Informatics
        • Nursing Technology Use
      • Nursing Evidence-Based Practice, Research, and Quality
        • Nursing Research
        • Evidence-Based Practice
          • Events
            • Advanced Evidence-Based Practice Institute
            • National Evidence-Based Practice Conference
          • Resources for Purchase
            • EBP to Go®: Accelerating Evidence-Based Practice
            • Evidence-Based Practice Building Blocks: Comprehensive Strategies, Tools, and Tips©
            • Evidence-Based Practice Staff Nurse Internship
            • Introductory Online EBP Course
            • New Book and Companion Workbook: Evidence-Based Practice in Action
            • WellMe in 3©
          • Complimentary Resources
            • Iowa Implementation for Sustainability Framework©
            • Dissemination of Nursing Knowledge: Tips and Resources
            • Implementation Strategies for Evidence-Based Practice©
            • Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Survey©
            • The Evidence-Based Nursing Practice Self-Efficacy Scale©
            • The Iowa Model Revised: Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Excellence in Health Care
    • The Iowa Difference
      • Our Magnet Recognition
      • Nursing Awards
        • Beacon Award for Excellence
        • DAISY Award Nominations
        • Nursing Awards and Recognition
      • Nursing Mission and Vision
      • Professional Nursing Practice Model
    • Contact Nursing

Locations and Offices

Nursing Services and Patient Care

T100 General Hospital (GH)
1-800-777-8442
Resource Office
In University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242
Clinical Trials currently in progress
Browse all clinical trials in progress

200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52242
United States

1-800-777-8442
  • Request an appointment
  • Directions and parking
  • See all locations
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram

Patient and Visitors

  • Your visit
  • MyChart
  • Contact us
  • Find a provider
  • Browse medical services
  • Share your story

Medical Professionals

  • Resources for referring providers
  • Refer a patient online
  • Request a consult
  • Clinical trials
  • Educational resources

Employees & Community

  • About us
  • Resources and support groups
  • News and patient stories
  • Health topics
  • Join our team
  • Employee updates
  • Nondiscrimination Notice
  • HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practice
  • Web Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • University of Iowa Indigenous Land Acknowledgement
  • Translation services
  • Financial services
  • Patient Experience Office
  • Guest and Concierge Services
  • Spiritual services
  • Volunteer Services
  • Sitemap
  • cancer.uiowa.edu
  • uihealthcare.org
  • medicine.uiowa.edu
  • Medicine Iowa Magazine
Copyright © 2023

The University of Iowa. All Rights Reserved.

University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital is part of University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.