Our Highly Engaged Nurses Influence Practice Every Day

At MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, our nurses are leaders. In our collaborative work environment, associates are free to exchange ideas, pilot new innovations, and strive towards new levels of clinical and research excellence. Nurses are also crucially important voices in all levels of our institutional decision-making. By empowering our nursing staff to make the most of their abilities, we ensure that MedStar Georgetown University Hospital is both a great place to work and to receive care.

Our Professional Practice Model

The MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Professional Practice Model:

Defines the key components of practice within the Division of Nursing.
Is based on Dorthea Orem's Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory.
Aligns MedStar Georgetown nursing practice with our values, mission and vision.
Supports registered nurse control over the delivery of care and environment of care.
Guides nurses in their decisions about how to practice, communicate, collaborate and professionally develop.

How We Impact Nursing Practice

In the Division of Nursing, collaborative governance empowers nurses to influence decisions and solve problems that affect their nursing practice, their professional development and self-fulfillment, and their work environment. Collaborative governance is the process by which nurses have the authority to make decisions about clinical practice, quality improvement, and evidence-based practice and research.

The professional nursing staff at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital organize, integrate, and manage the delivery of nursing care through councils. Councils address issues related to practice, performance improvement/research, and education and professional development. We encourage each nurse to participate in a unit council, hospital council, corporate council, or to serve as a champion for unit-based educational opportunities.

Division-wide Governance Councils

Nursing Practice Council

Utilizes evidence-based nursing practice to develop and/or revise the standards of nursing practice, nursing care, and supporting materials.

Ensures consistent evidence-to-practice implementation across the organization to provide excellent nursing care to patients.

Nursing Evidence-Based Practice and Research Council

Ensures that the MedStar Heath evidence-based practice framework is utilized throughout the organization.

Contributes to patient care standards, guidelines, and policies by encouraging adherence to an evidence-based practice process.

Reviews quality indicators and other data to identify areas for further improvement.

Provides a forum for vetting of abstracts, posters, and publications related to evidence-based practice and nursing research.

Nursing Professional Development Council

Collaborates with the Nursing Education Department to provide professional development opportunities.

Promotes national certification and professional organization membership.

Promotes the nursing profession through community outreach programs and conferences.

Nursing Informatics Council

Serves as an educational resource and provides support for current and planned information systems.

Promotes improvements in the delivery of patient care through the use of technology.

Collaborates with others to provide consistent documentation standards.

Nursing Healthcare Advocacy and Legislation Council

Increases nurse’ knowledge of current health policy and legislation.

Promotes advocacy at the federal, state, and local level.

Gives nurses a voice in the future of nursing and healthcare.

Nursing Management Council

Provides leadership and guidance within the organization.

Standardizes processes as they relate to operations and provides a communication forum for new information.

Collaborates with hospital departments and joint initiatives.

Promotes quality and safety initiatives while fostering healthy work environments.

Nursing Collaboration Council

Coordinates council activities at the department level.

Develops and manages a communication system within the councils.

Coordinates the development of department strategies and goals.

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Our Impact on Practice