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Shared governance: time to consider the cons as well as the pros
1Department of Social Work, University of Salford, Manchester, UK.
Journal of Nursing Management
|February 26, 2000
Summary
Shared governance (SG) in nursing management, while promising benefits like improved retention, requires cautious evaluation. Existing research often overlooks potential drawbacks, suggesting claimed advantages may be overstated.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Management
- Organizational Psychology
- Healthcare Administration
Background:
- Shared governance (SG) is an increasingly influential nursing management model originating in the USA.
- Advocates claim SG improves recruitment, retention, morale, and clinical skills, leading to its adoption in the NHS.
- A review of US literature suggests claimed benefits of SG warrant cautious interpretation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically appraise the shared governance (SG) approach to nursing work management and organization.
- To evaluate the evidence supporting the claimed benefits of SG in nursing.
Main Methods:
- Critical appraisal of existing literature on shared governance in nursing.
- Systematic review of US-based research from various bibliographical sources.
- Analysis of methodological quality and critical edge in published SG research.
Main Results:
- Much of the published research on SG is methodologically flawed and lacks critical analysis.
- Potential pitfalls and negative consequences of SG are often not explored in existing literature.
- The purported benefits of SG may be exaggerated or not fully realized in practice.
Conclusions:
- Nurses and nurse managers should carefully consider both the potential advantages and disadvantages of SG.
- A balanced understanding of SG's pros and cons is essential for its effective implementation and realization of any true promise.
- Further methodologically sound and critical research is needed to accurately assess the impact of SG.