Blessing Health System’s shared governance structure provides meaningful opportunities for staff to share their voices, shape practice, and influence positive change across the organization. These councils empower team members to participate directly in decision-making that enhances patient experience, quality outcomes, and employee engagement. Blessing Health System provides paid time for clinical staff to attend council meetings, reflecting our Executive team’s commitment to a collaborative and supportive work environment.

Each council has a distinct purpose and the authority to drive meaningful improvements in clinical practice and the work environment. While remote participation is available, in person attendance is encouraged to maximize engagement and connection. We are always seeking passionate and dedicated staff members to join our councils and help shape the future of care at Blessing. Below is a list of councils, their focus areas, and information on how to participate.

• Interprofessional Clinical Practice Council is multidisciplinary and works to continuously improve the care and service provided to our patients and their families. This council focuses on hospital-wide improvements based on strategic goals and how to best coordinate patient care and nursing standards between departments and councils. This team is focusing on initiating mobility program initiatives for our patients.
• Professional Practice Council nurtures the growth of the nurse's professional practice environment defined by the Five Components of Magnet, including the implementation of the nursing standards of practice, nursing specialty certification, attainment of BSN and higher degrees, and the healthy work environment. This council also focuses on the recruitment and retention of nurses. This council focuses on professional development, certifications, and planning the RN Practice Survey.
  • Membership: RN from every nursing department or service line and an educator (Health System-wide council).
• Nursing Care Committee works to strengthen the voice of the RN through input into staffing considerations and variations.  This council works to update and edit the house-wide staffing plan and collaborate with the CNO on staffing recommendations. This council focus is on acuity, nurse-to-patient ratios, staff policies, and creating nursing reports. Most recently this council provided recommendations on the Charge Nurse Academy and topics to consistently have included in education.
  • Membership: This council requires 55% membership of RN’s from direct care areas (hospital only).
• Evidence-Based Practice and Research Council builds and maintains the organizational infrastructure for evidence-based practice and research. The council’s goal is to improve patient care through innovation and support nurse residency evidence-based practice projects.
• Central Partnership Council is comprised of each unit’s chair or co-chair and is a way to collaborate with interprofessional team members and reduce siloing throughout the organization.  
  • Membership: Chair or co-chair from each unit’s partnership council.
• APP Council aims to integrate and optimize Advanced Practice Providers (APP) across the Health System with the intention of supporting the achievement of a “quadruple aim” of higher quality care and patient experience, lower cost, improved population health, and provider’s well-being. The purpose of this council is to provide a formal organizational structure to further professional practice and presence for advanced practice providers throughout the region by: 
  • Assessing, designing, delivering, and evaluating patient care experience and outcomes (FPPE/OPPE, Peer Review). 
  • Leading change to provide optimal health by providing a framework for practice (Scope of practice-WCA, Bylaws, Legislative).
  • Providing consultation to all healthcare professionals throughout Blessing Health System, based upon area of practice expertise (Collaboration, Consultation). 
  • Provide, support and develop an infrastructure for the collection and analysis of interprofessional health care data to promote nursing research and evidence-based practice (Research).
  • Demonstrating initiative by professional development and mentoring of staff, students, new APPs and colleagues (Mentoring, Student Experience).
  •  Promoting personal professional growth in knowledge and skills through lifelong learning (Education). 
  • The APP council members have focused their collaborative efforts by forming subcommittees dedicated to enhancing scope of practice, student experience, recruitment, retention, and communication. 
  • Membership: Advanced Practice Providers.
• Night Shift Council is a specialty council comprised of evening and night shift employees to address and solve issues faced by those working off shifts to address issues or concerns impeding nursing practice or patient care the staff are facing. A council that is specific to the needs of our night shift team.
• Ambulatory Council is a specialty, multidisciplinary council for clinic and ambulatory departments. This council will work to find resolutions for ambulatory-specific issues or concerns. This council is specific to the ambulatory setting and the clinical team.
• Unit Secretary Council is comprised of hospital unit secretaries. This council collaborates to ensure consistent practice across the hospital setting. This council is engaged in having consistent processes throughout the hospital setting for the secretary role.
  • Membership: Unit secretary (hospital).

If you are interested in learning more or participating in a shared governance council, please access the BRAIN – For Clinicians Page for more information.