ELEMENTS OF A NURSING PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE MODEL

The authors define a professional practice model (PPM) as a system (st ructure, process, and values) that supports registered nurse control o ver the delivery of nursing care and the environment in which care is delivered. A PPM has five subsystems: values, professional relationshi ps, a patient care delivery model, a management approach, and compensa tion and rewards, Analysis of five PPMs described in the literature sh owed that the professional values addressed most often are nurse auton omy, nurse accountability, professional development, and emphasis on h igh-quality care. Teamwork, collaboration, and consultation consistent ly appeared as approaches to enhance professional relationships. Prima ry nursing and case management are the care delivery systems most ofte n used in the models. Decentralizing decision making, expanding the sc ope and type of unit nurse manager responsibilities, and instituting s tructural changes to support professional practice were common activit ies in the management subsystem, Compensation and reward systems gener ally recognized professional achievement and contribution toward organ izational goals. Recommendations for implementing and evaluating PPMs are offered. Copyright (C) 1996 by W.B. Saunders Company