Sutton, Abigail
The effectiveness of nursing councils
Faculty Mentor: Katreena Merrill, College of Nursing
Communication is an essential aspect to quality nursing care and patient safety. One way
that enhances communication among nursing staff members are nursing councils. This creates an
environment where nurses are involved in the decision making process of the unit and hospital
and thereby propelling the establishment of share governance. The purpose of this study was to
measure the effectiveness, functionality, and group empowerment of nursing councils. Our goal
was to work with LDS hospital but due to unfortunate circumstances, we had to adapt our study
Utah Valley Hospital. However, we keep the same methodology of our study. We knew that
UVHs nursing councils have been established since 2004 so instead of applying our study to a
novice nursing council, we were applying our study to a more mature council, which would yield
more, developed nursing council processes. Still, UVH was eager to learn how to improve their
councils even more because of their awareness of its benefits to their hospital.
Methodology
The study took place at the UVH hospital. The research subjects were employees of
UVH, American Fork Hospital and Orem Community Hospital who were members of the south
region nursing council. There were about 30 participants. The study was a descriptive survey
study design. The researchers attended the UVHs nursing council and educated the nursing
council on the purpose of the research. The data collected on the hard copy instruments were
entered into SPSS for Windows Version 18. The student and faculty mentor analyzed the data
and formed a PowerPoint of the data. The questionnaire included two validated instruments, the
Practice Council Functionality Measurement Tool (21-items) and the Nursing Practice Council
Effectiveness Tool (9-items). The researchers’ next step is to report the findings to the nursing
council and leadership. The hospital and councils will utilize this information to improve council
effectiveness and functionality.
Results
Our hypothesis about the maturity of the councils was correct and appropriately seen
through the analysis. We found that they showed advanced effectiveness and functionality but
are continuing to work on group empowerment, which shows a mature council. However, there
are always room for improvement and growth.
In the category of effectiveness, the analysis showed that there could be room for
improvement in the communication in three different specific areas. 26% of the participants in
the survey said that the distribution of information discussed in the nursing council did not get to
the nursing staff. In addition, 22% of the participants said that the nursing council projects were
not focused on physician relationships. In addition, there is not an establish policy in council
members responsibility in checking their emails, which is a major way that the council
communicates with each other.
In functionality, the analysis showed that overall the majority of council members rated
their functionality between 7-9 on a 9-point scale. However, there was more variability in the
scores when the participants were asked about how the council was performing at increasing
professional respect for nurses and communication with others, including physicians and also
when they were asked if the council recognizes sources of power and utilize those sources. There
were also a 25% of members that said that the council avoids taking risks.
In the portion measuring group empowerment the ratings were significantly more
variable than the other mentioned areas of measurement. Most of the lower total ratings dealt
with issues addressing resources to the council, the inconsistency between client outcomes and
nursing interventions, budgeting positions, voting privileges, and the perception of a lack of
respect for nursing care in the view of other organizational groups.
Discussion
Our hypothesis was correct in that this council showed maturity, which is most likely due
to its increased experience from an early establishment. However, there were several areas that
this council can focus on to improve their communication and implementation of ideas. First, the
council can increase communication down the chain to nursing staff members more effectively
by holding unit councils, flyers around unit, emails and teaching the nursing staff. Without this
information, there is no hope for change and improvement. This could be why the council’s
group empowerment skills are more variable. Second, through enhancing communication the
council can be more involved in seeking out resources and utilizing the sources because
communication leads to information, whether that information is educating on existing resources
or actively negotiating for new ones. Lastly, the relationship and communication between nurses
and medical staff needs to be improved. The nursing council members feel like nursing care is
not valued and that there is a poor relationship between nurses and physicians. The culture of
these relationships needs improvement and the council should discuss specific ways in which
they can create a better relationship with other organizations. In order to achieve a higher level
of implementation, the council could improve with increasing resources, establish more secure
voting privileges so floor nurses have more input, and empowering nurses to inspire and
motivate them to excel in their performance and address the issue of how nurses feel less valued
by other groups.
Conclusion
Communication is a critical component to ensuring patient safety and effective
teamwork. The purpose of this study was to assess how the UVH nursing council exhibits
effectiveness, functionality, and group empowerment. The analysis showed that overall the
council is a mature and well establish committee but has specific areas of improvement. These
areas include communication with other organizational groups and with nursing leadership to
nursing staff, receiving resources and utilizing them, implementation of ideas, and empowering
nurse of their value to the medical team.