Health System Nursing

A nursing professional practice model is the overarching framework for nurses, nursing care and interprofessional patient care at a health care organization. Ohio State’s model aligns and integrates nursing practice with the medical center’s mission, vision, values and ambition, enabling Ohio State’s nurse executives to ensure care is both patient- and family-centered throughout all levels of the organization. We align with the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Synergy Model for Patient Care, which depicts how nurses practice, collaborate, communicate and develop professionally to provide the highest quality care for the patients, families and communities served by the Ohio State Health System.

The Synergy professional practice model describes nursing practice based on eight patient characteristics and also describes eight nurse competencies. The core concept of the model is that the needs or characteristics of patients and families include and drive the characteristics or competencies of nurses. Synergy results when the needs and characteristics of a patient, clinical unit or system are matched with a nurse’s competencies.

This particular model gives voice to what patients collectively need and what nurses collectively do. When nurse and patient relationships are in sync—when they are synergistic—optimal patient outcomes are more apt to occur.

Patients have similar needs and experience these needs across wide ranges of continuums, from health to illness. The dimensions of a nurse’s practice are driven by the needs of a patient and family. This requires nurses to be proficient in the multiple dimensions of the nursing continuums. When nurse competencies stem from patient needs and the characteristics of the nurse and patient synergize, optimal patient outcomes can result.

Nursing shared governance at The Ohio State University Health System demonstrates our commitment to empower nurses at all levels within the organization to make decisions while using their clinical knowledge and expertise to direct, develop and sustain evidence-based practice at the bedside. It recognizes the collective impact that nurses, units and departments contribute to patient care, patient safety and patient satisfaction. Shared governance promotes a workplace of choices and supports continued mentoring and professional development among nurses at all levels. It provides a mechanism that enables nurses to mobilize activity around new ideas, new information and new experiences that help the nursing community and larger organization create value and sustain an advantage in the ever-changing health care environment.

The shared governance structure adopted by The Ohio State Health System’s community of nursing is built upon the foundation of a Coordinating Council, Health System Councils and Unit Leadership Councils.

Shared governance is a decision-making model in which nurses from all levels within an organization are empowered to use their clinical knowledge and expertise to direct, develop and sustain practice at the bedside.

The evolved model demonstrates commitment to empowering nurses in professional practice by focusing on these key elements:

• Address the variety of nursing-specific role responsibilities
• Maximize interdisciplinary collaboration at all levels of nursing
• Promote the health system as a workplace of choice
• Provide a mechanism to facilitate nursing and health system initiatives
• Reduce redundancies in processes or resources
• Support continued mentoring and leadership development among nurses at all levels

The four Health System Councils (Patient Care Council; Professional Development Council; Research, EBP and Innovation Council; and Unit Collaboration Council) aim to give nurses the opportunity to be empowered to make real, impactful changes to clinical nursing practice. Each council collaborates with one another as well as with the Unit Leadership and Coordinating Councils to create a synergistic and effective governing body.

Nursing Strategic Plan Overview

In 2024, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center launched its strategic plan, Impact 2035. The enterprise nursing strategic plan is closely aligned with the broader organizational goals outlined in Impact 2035, ensuring a unified vision for the future.

To ensure broad input, we engaged nurses from all locations and shifts in an extensive process. A comprehensive current-state analysis was conducted using internal data and benchmarks to identify priorities and guide the development of the plan.

Feedback was gathered through interviews, shadowing, surveys, interactive input sessions, and nursing council meetings. This collaborative approach ensured that nurses’ perspectives and insights were integral to the planning process.

The input we received helped identify key priorities, focus areas, and define high-impact projects and actions to support both our patients and nursing teams. A steering committee, composed of nurse managers and leaders from across the enterprise, reviewed the feedback and further refined the plan’s language and priorities to create a clear and actionable framework.

Our Goals:

• Create an integrated, enterprise-wide professional practice structure
• Elevate the role of nursing across the organization
• Become the workplace of choice for nurses

Our Ambition:

Wexner Medical Center nurses aspire to:

• Deliver world-class, exceptional nursing care for every person, every time
• Create a professional practice environment where nurses can build their careers and achieve their full potential
• Achieve and maintain national leadership and recognition in nursing care
• Embrace innovation to drive interprofessional care transformation