MU Health Care employs a model of Nursing Shared Governance because we support shared decision making and accountability across all levels of the nursing organization. We believe that nurses who care directly for our patients need a process for governing their practice and creating improvements to promote safety, innovation and excellence.

The primary objective of Nursing Shared Governance is to engage nurses at all levels to define, monitor and evaluate the practice of nursing at MUHC. The structure serves as a vehicle for communication throughout the health care system and creates accountability for four goals of the organization of nursing:

1. Standardizing practices and policies across similar settings and among like patient populations and integrating these practices into the multidisciplinary environment of care
2. Defining, monitoring, achieving and rewarding the highest level of professional nursing performance
3. Assuring the continued professional development and growth of our nurses
4. Supporting the MUHC Mission , Vision and Values, including the Vision for Nursing Service

Each nursing unit elects representatives to a Unit Council. Unit Councils combine into thirteen Division Councils to assure integration of standards among similar patient populations throughout our various facilities. Division Councils each elect representatives to the Global Nursing Coordinating Council which also includes representatives from expert councils such as Education, Nursing Informatics, Management and Practice. Monthly meetings of every council assure active communication and decision making across the Nursing Organization. Agendas, minutes and projects are posted monthly to the Intranet Nursing Web Page to encourage participation from all nursing staff.