Nursing Shared Governance

The goal of our Shared Governance structure and processes at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is to include staff-based clinical decision making and shared leadership to ensure high-quality and safe patient care.

The work of Shared Governance is completed by:

  • Councils: formal gathering of selected experts
  • Committees: council appointed group to whom an issue is assigned
  • Work Groups: sub-division of a committee organized for a specific purpose
  • Champions: a team of unit-based individuals working toward a clinical improvement goal

Our Shared Governance Model is depicted by four connected circles displaying councils at both the unit and department level. These councils are: Steering Committee, Supporting Practice and Management Council, Quality Practice and Patient Safety, and Advancing Practice and Education.

Quality and safety, nursing research and evidence-based practice are incorporated in the work of every council. The department strategies are represented in the inner blue ring. Magnet components are displayed on the outer ring. At the department level, these councils are led by chairs, who are nurses, elected to two-year terms by their peers. 

Focus and scope of Shared Governance councils

Steering Committee: Nurse sensitive indicators, SG structure and operations, communication, coordination of council work

Supporting Practice and Management Council: Staffing, retention, recognition, financial stewardship, workflow management, patient and family satisfaction, nurse satisfaction, and philanthropy

Quality Practice and Patient Safety: Presentation and discussion of clinical practice and related information, evidence-based quality improvements and safety initiatives in an effort to strengthen and improve the quality and safety of patient care

Advancing Practice and Education: Competencies, skills, education, CEU‘s, patient-family education, professional development and certification

To contact a Shared Governance Department Chair, please email SG_OpenForum@email.chop.edu.

Shared Governance Model

two nurses smiling

Nursing Professional Development

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia holds nursing practice to the highest standards, supporting the achievement of high-quality patient care and professional nursing advancement.