Professional practice models in nursing depict the alignment and integration of nursing practice with the organization’s identified mission, vision, and values (ANCC, 2023). For many years, nurses at Capital Health have used a professional practice model (PPM) schematic to communicate, in a very visual way, the aspects of nursing practice and the nursing practice environment seen as essential. The existing PPM schematic was created between 2019 and 2020.
The current Magnet Application Manual (ANCC, 2023) indicates that the key attributes of a nursing PPM are: professional values, professional relationships, management approach, patient care delivery system, and advance of nursing excellence (Silverstein & Kowalski, 2017).
Process for PPM Schematic Development
In March 2024, the Capital Health Magnet Masters conducted a review of the existing Capital Health PPM. This group of clinical nurses and nursing leaders identified aspirational components of each of these key attributes and compared them to the current PPM schematic. This work served as the foundation for a similar process by the Nursing Strategic Planning Task Force in May and June 2024. The results of that work circled back through the Magnet Masters and were used to develop a new PPM schematic. What emerged was a reaffirmation of the existing PPM and an enhancement of these attributes in consideration of the changes and innovations that have taken place over the past five years. The Nurse Executive Council approved the new PPM in August 2024.
Key Attributes of the Capital Health Nursing PPM Described
Theoretical Background
While not consistently identified as a key attribute within the literature, a theoretical background is considered an important aspect of the Capital Health Nursing PPM. Consistent with the prior PPM, nurses at Capital Health reaffirmed identification with nursing theorist, Florence Nightingale, familiarly known as “the Lady with the Lamp.” Credited with many concepts foundational to modern nursing, Nightingale championed:
- Nursing’s role in managing the environment to promote healing
- The centrality of evidence, documentation, and statistical analysis to improve patient outcomes
- The importance of empathy and building trusting relationships with patients (Dossey, 2000).
Capital Health Nursing embraces and affirms these concepts as important to practice. This connection is represented within the PPM schematic by the outline of the lamp.
Professional Values
In addition, to the Capital Health organizational values of integrity, excellence and compassion, this revision added the values of safety, diversity, inclusion, and innovation. The PPM schematic represents these concepts within an exterior circle indicating that these are the values that provide the context for practice and that Capital Health nurses strive to uphold.
Professional Relationships
Capital Health nurses value teamwork within nursing and collaboration with other disciplines. All professional relationships rely on clear communication and expressions of mutual respect, appreciation, support, teamwork, and meaningful recognition. Within the PPM schematic, these concepts are at the base to indicate their foundational importance to creating a healthy workplace and excellence in health care outcomes.
Management Approach
Collectively, Capital Health nurses use a professional governance structure to generate shared accountability between nursing leaders and nursing staff. In this structure, all nurses are empowered to participate in decision-making regarding practice and workplace issues. Depicted in the schematic as supporting the lamp, shared accountability provides an organizing structure and philosophy within which nurses practice.
Patient Care Delivery System
Capital Health Nursing values a patient-centered approach to care delivery. Patient-centered care provides dignity and respect, involving each patient, and those that the patient identifies as family, in all decisions about their health and care. Additionally, the Capital Health mission states, “To improve the health and well-being of the populations we serve in urban and suburban communities.” These concepts are above the lamp in the schematic and reflect the importance of community and patient-centered care within Capital Health Nursing.
Advance of Nursing Excellence
Nursing at Capital Health strives to advance nursing excellence through evidence-based practice, rewards and meaningful recognition for all nurses and nursing staff. Within the schematic, the flame from the lamp symbolizes nursing excellence and evidence-based practice (underneath the lamp) supports it.
References
American Nurses Credentialing Center. (2023). Magnet Application Manual. American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Dossey, B. M. (2000). Florence Nightingale: Mystic, visionary, healer. Springhouse Corporation.
Silverstein, W., Kowalski, M.O. (2017). Adapting a professional practice model. American Nurse Today, 12 (9), 78-83.