ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TEAM - A STRUCTURAL INNOVATION

In response to societal, organization, and leadership changes, an inno vative nursing structure was implemented and evaluated. An administrat ive support team was developed to provide specialized internal consult ation and support to a flattened and decentralized nursing division. T he four administrative support team roles provided an organization per spective that ensured constancy of purpose throughout the division. Th is structural innovation proved to be congruent with nursing shared go vernance and total quality management initiatives occurring in the org anization. Evaluation studies indicated that the model has effectively supported 5 years of continuing organizational change.