OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the effects of participation in staff nurse-led practice councils on nurse job satisfaction and professional development. BACKGROUND: Although evidence-based practice (EBP) has become a key component of improving the quality of care, few studies have examined how implementation of staff nurse led councils model affect the involved nurses. METHODS: A 3-stage evaluation involving ethnography, semi-structured phenomenological private interviews and a 10-item survey were conducted with nurses, managers and executives participating in or involved with EBP councils tasked with improving patient outcomes at 6 community hospitals in a single non-profit hospital system. RESULTS: Five themes were identified as outcomes: empowerment, meaningfulness, leadership growth, exposure to quality improvement, and vision. CONCLUSIONS: Staff-led councils have the potential to improve quality of care, job satisfaction, vision and leadership provided that managers and executives are sufficiently prepared to work with and support the councils.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the effects of participation in staff nurse-led practice councils on nurse job satisfaction and professional development. BACKGROUND: Although evidence-based practice (EBP) has become a key component of improving the quality of care, few studies have examined how implementation of staff nurse led councils model affect the involved nurses. METHODS: A 3-stage evaluation involving ethnography, semi-structured phenomenological private interviews and a 10-item survey were conducted with nurses, managers and executives participating in or involved with EBP councils tasked with improving patient outcomes at 6 community hospitals in a single non-profit hospital system. RESULTS: Five themes were identified as outcomes: empowerment, meaningfulness, leadership growth, exposure to quality improvement, and vision. CONCLUSIONS: Staff-led councils have the potential to improve quality of care, job satisfaction, vision and leadership provided that managers and executives are sufficiently prepared to work with and support the councils.