Improving Professional Governance in Nursing

Abstract

Unit councils serve as the foundation of professional governance in health care organizations, helping to drive staff engagement and supporting high-quality outcomes. This quality improvement project, conducted amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, sought to enhance the professional governance of a medical intensive care unit council through targeted interventions implemented over a 4-month period. Following the intervention period, unit council attendance increased by 115.4%, underscoring the efficacy of the interventions. Postintervention feedback highlighted the clarity and effectiveness of the interventions in orienting and engaging new staff members. This project demonstrates the need to support professional governance, particularly amidst crises like COVID-19, as it helps sustain a high standard of clinical practice, enhance nursing engagement, and foster accountability within health care settings.