Caring Science and Professional Role as the Foundational Framework for Shared Leadership Council

Abstract

Nursing burnout and well-being are at the forefront of many nurse leaders’ concerns in health care today. To address this issue, a 6-time Magnet® organization evaluated its professional governance (PG) structure with the goal of increasing nurse empowerment, engagement, and satisfaction. The organization aligned the redesigned structure with the ANCC Magnet components and integrated the Theory of Caring Science and Model of the Professional Role into the structure and leadership development sessions as the foundational theoretical framework. This resulted in improved clinical nurses’ engagement, understanding, and application of a theory-guided practice while sustaining engagement scores throughout a pandemic.