Professional Nursing Practice Model

• Safety: Based on knowledge of patient needs and the health care environment, we plan and implement interventions to help patients during their hospital stay without preventable complications and delay. 
• Quality: We use knowledge and skills to help patients reach optimal outcomes. 
• Patient- and Family-Centered Care: We provide safe, high-quality care that is grounded in mutually beneficial partnerships among health care professionals, patients, and families. 

Dignity and Respect: We listen to and honor patients' and families' perspectives and choices. We integrate patient and family knowledge, values, beliefs, and culture into assessing, planning, delivering, and evaluating 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, health care team, and 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. 

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 of patient care at the bedside. The chief nurse executive (CNE) is a member of the Vice President for Medical Affairs (VPMA) cabinet, the hospital CEO senior management team, and the UI Health Care Clinical Systems Committee (CSC, 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 of future nursing leaders.

Nurses share decision-making responsibilities at the unit, division, department, and organizational levels through a shared governance structure dating back to 1975. All levels of nursing staff participate in councils and committees through this structure. Nurses are members of hospital advisory committees; they participate in unit-based committees; they help design unit-based care-delivery models; and they participate in unit-based interprofessional care councils, sharing decision-making responsibilities. 

Research is an integral component of nursing practice. It drives innovation, clinical decision-making, and advances in health care. Nurses generate knowledge through conduct, collaboration, and participation in research practices that improve outcomes for patients. 

Nurses improve the quality of care by applying 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, region, nation, and world. 

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 professional education levels, including a nurse residency program, experienced nurse fellowship program, and ongoing professional development. The nurse residency program facilitates transition into practice and competency-based orientation. This program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The experienced nurse fellowship program helps experienced nurses transition to an acute care staff nurse. This program is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Practice Transition Accreditation Program. 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. 

Collegial relationships with the UI College of Nursing and other UI health science colleges enhance the educational component of the practice environment. 

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 for their 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 interprofessional communication. Engagement in the development of information systems and device integration is a key to success. 

We have 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.

We achieve and deliver our personal and collective best in the pursuit of quality and accessible health care, education, and research.

We collaborate 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.

We behave ethically, act with fairness and integrity, take responsibility for our own actions, and respond when errors in behavior or judgment occur.

We create an inclusive environment where every individual feels safe, valued, and respected, supporting the well-being and success of all members of our community.

We commit to fair access to research, health care, and education for our community and opportunities for personal and professional growth for our staff and learners.