Shared Leadership and Decision-Making

Empowering Nurses to Improve Patient Outcomes Through Shared Governance

The Northwestern Medicine Nursing Shared Leadership Model is a system where nurses and their leaders work together to make decisions. It uses the Relationship-Based Care® approach and supports the goals of Northwestern Medicine, which are to:

  • Deliver world-class care and experience
  • Advance discovery and medical knowledge
  • Provide a superior work environment
  • Deepen relationships with our community
  • Fund our mission and reinvest in the enterprise

It gives nurses at all levels a voice in decisions about patient care, quality improvement, education and research. Nurses have control over their practice standards and can share ideas openly. Communication flows in all directions — between bedside nurses, leaders, other healthcare teams and the Chief Nurse Executive.

If interested, nurses are invited to sit on several councils at McHenry Hospital and Woodstock Hospital, including:

  • Nurse Executive Advisory Council
  • Interprofessional Leadership Council
  • Nurse Manager Council
  • Shared Governance Coordinating Council
  • Magnet Steering Council
  • Unit-Based Practice Council
  • Council for New Knowledge, Improvements and Innovation
  • Nurse Staffing and Scheduling Council
  • Nursing Recognition and Advocacy Council
  • Nursing Quality and Safety Council
  • Nursing Excellence Councils at both locations
  • Nursing Peer Review Council
  • Night Shift Council
  • Patient Care Tech Council