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Our Practice Environment

The Department of Nursing is cognizant of, and supports the mission, goals, and objectives of the hospital. The Medical Center Hospital Mission Statement has been carefully considered in the development of the Definition of Nursing, as practiced in our organization, which serves as the basis for nursing care.

MCH Nursing Services is designed to support innovation and improvement in the care delivered to the patient, by fostering an environment that embodies the traditional nursing values of care, compassion, quality and advocacy. Decisions regarding resource allocation are based on the needs of the patient/client being served, changes in technology and anticipated changes in health care. Resources are specifically allocated to allow for nursing staff to participate in nursing and hospital committee meetings in an effort to integrate and provide information that is useful for the short- and long-term plans of the hospital.

Professional Development funds are allocated in the annual budget to provide both external and internal education of the nursing staff. The staff is provided with time to attend Performance Improvement activities both on a departmental level and a hospital-wide level. Encouragement is given to the staff by means of time and resources to plan and implement projects that enhance the level of nursing care.

Nursing care is supervised by a professional nurse along with utilization of nursing staff composed of RN’s, LVN’s, technicians and nursing assistants. All members of the nursing staff receive competency-based orientation and continuing education applicable to their areas of assignment. Continuing education opportunities are made available to members of the staff as resources permit. Performance based evaluations assess the competence of the nursing staff members at defined intervals. The nursing staff members contribute, within the scope of their education, licensure/certification, and assessed competency, to the delivery of efficient and effective care.

Nursing Services provide a structure and process for communication, shared governance and decision-making. Each nursing unit has at least one representative who sits on the Nursing Professional Practice Council. The Purpose of the Professional Practice Council is:

• Strengthen autonomy of the professional nurse at the point of service.

• Increase direct care nursing control over professional practice.

• Create a work environment where direct care nurse leaders, managers and advanced practice nurses partner to promote unit-based decision making and communication regarding patient care planning.

• Improve communication among and between nursing practice areas.

• Improve nursing work environment through improvement in nursing accountability, autonomy and authority.