Assessment: the first step in creating a more integrated system-wide approach to nursing practice

As complex healthcare systems are created, professional nurses in these systems must address the integration of nursing practice. To facilitate the transition to a more common system-wide approach to professional practice, leaders at one health system began by conducting an assessment of their current reality of nursing practice. The authors describe the assessment process, including the staff survey questionnaire and recommendations to strengthen nursing practice and make the transition to a more common system-wide approach to professional practice.