Shared governance and teamwork--myth or reality

Taking time to develop key strategies and implement our model enabled team members to deliver excellent patient care through shared governance and team empowerment. The benefits of using this model are medical and nursing staff members working together and having ownership in what they do. A sense of accomplishment will be evident, and team members likely will achieve the team's goals and those of the organization. Nurses frequently practice traditional shared governance. To achieve our goals, however, we must take the opportunity that working with medical team members offers. Ensuring that we remain interested and committed to our team model is the next major challenge the team members face. We must continue to be vibrant and open to change. Educational programs, seminars, journal clubs, social activities, and challenging team members for ideas help maintain interest and focus. As managers, we must allow the team to grow and develop by promoting a climate in which learning and mastery is valued, making it clear that there is no failure, only mistakes that provide feedback. We can facilitate this by trusting, believing in, and supporting team members to provide excellent patient care while achieving their goals and those of the organization.