Professional Practice Environment  

Click here to view the DRH Professional Nurse Practice Model

The components of the professional practice model at DRH are depicted in the above figure and described below. These components provide a purposeful and strategic direction for professional nursing practice and a roadmap for all care delivery at DRH. Through its eleven interconnecting components, focused on the patient, the model depicts a care delivery system that promotes interdisciplinary, patient-centered care within a collaborative practice environment. As one of its interactive components, the shared decision-making element enables autonomy and control over practice that is the hallmark of professional nursing as noted in the ANA Standards of Professional Practice and Performance.  The components of the DRH professional practice model are as follows:

·         Patient:   The patient is at the center of everything we do at DRH.  The patient is the recipient of all care and is the focus of the contract of trust that every professional nurse has with the consumer public. We consider our patients and all they bring to their care to be our privilege to serve. 

·         Swanson’s Caring Model:  The Caring Model provides a theoretical framework for nursing practice at DRH.  Nurses incorporate the five dimensions of caring into their daily interactions with patients and families.  The theory defines caring as “a nurturing way of relating to a valued other” intrinsic to all human interactions because of interconnectedness. Knowing is accomplished through ongoing, annual competency updates to ensure quality care. Nurses demonstrate Being With by being emotionally and physically present and enduring with patients throughout the care process.  Nurses practice Doing For by comforting and anticipating patient needs while protecting and preserving human dignity.  Enabling involves encouraging patients and families to participate in planning their care, informing/explaining care delivery and protocols, as well as providing support and care alternatives and giving feedback.  Nurses provide care with empathy and compassion while Maintaining Belief in healing. (Swanson, K. “Nursing as Informed Caring for the Well-Being Of Others” Journal of Nursing Scholarship 23,(4) 1993.pp. 352-357)

·         Michigan Public Health Code: The public health code defines the practice and education of nurses in the state of Michigan.

·         Code of Ethics: Our nurses practice according to the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses, practicing with compassion, respect for inherent dignity worth and uniqueness of each individual.

·         Professional Standards of Practice:  The ANA standards of professional practice and performance and the ANA principles of staffing are the basis of system-wide policies for the provision of patient care. These professional standards exist as authoritative statements to ensure that the highest quality of care is maintained regardless of the number, experience and competency level of staff and specialty areas. These policies also drive practice on a daily basis.

·         Mission, Vision and Values:  The practice of nursing at DRH overwhelmingly supports the hospital’s mission, values and vision statement. A large part of the mission of DRH has been access to care regardless of the patient circumstance, belief or social strata.

·         Shared Governance:  Shared decision-making is an expected behavior of all nursing staff and as each nurse enacts this professional accountability, the professional practice environment is stronger and more alive.

·         Evidence-Based Practice:    Exemplary practice entails the consistent application of knowledge and evidence. The vision for DRH is that patient care services would become an evidence-based practice driven environment where nurses have access to and constantly utilize available science to promote achievement of superior clinical outcomes.

·         Care Delivery Models: The care delivery models at DRH are determined by the needs of the patient and the competence of the staff. These methods of providing care include total patient care and team models, and are tailored to meet the unique needs of the patients in the care environment.

·         Autonomy: Professional nurse autonomy is defined as belief in the centrality of the client when making responsible discretionary decisions, both independently and interdependently, which reflect advocacy for the client. Nurses are appropriately credentialed, permitted and expected to practice autonomously consistent with the nurse practice act and professional standards.

·         Professional Development – Professional development of nurses at all levels is facilitated and supported by the organization.  We believe that professional development is critical in advancing the career and image of nurses.

·         Collaboration – We believe that excellence in patient care can only be achieved in an environment of collaboration, and as nurses, we accept responsibility for coordinating the efforts of the patient care team.

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