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Nursing Practice Council

The Nurse Practice Council empowers clinical nurses to implement and maintain standards of nursing practice and patient care consistent with evidence-based practice and requirements of regulatory agencies.

The Philosophy of Nursing at Redlands Community Hospital

The Redlands Community Hospital philosophy of nursing is driven by and supportive of the mission, vision and values of RCH.

In addition, nurses at Redlands Community Hospital:

At Redlands Community Hospital, our nurses will demonstrate professional excellence using evidence-based practice to deliver the highest quality care addressing physical, emotional and spiritual needs through the therapeutic relationship. Nurses at Redlands Community Hospital uphold the following values:

  • Compassion
  • Integrity
  • Collaboration
  • Professional accountability
  • Advocacy for team/patient/family
  • Dignity and Respect for every human being
  • Commitment to life-long learning

Nursing Philosophy

Nursing is both a science and a caring art. The core of professional practice is to assist individuals, families and communities in varying degrees of health and wellness. Nurses focus on the interpersonal process of care giver and care recipient to achieve optimum health and well being as defined by the patient and/or family. The role of nursing is to support the care recipient across the continuum from birth to death; through preventative healthcare, education, and healing processes.

Scope of Practice

Professional nursing’s scope of practice is dynamic and continually evolving. Nursing care is provided and directed by registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses. Professional nursing is performed in collaboration with other health care professionals. As a leader and coordinator of care, the professional nurse has the responsibility, authority and accountability for assessing, planning, implementing, coordinating and evaluating the care for patients and their loved ones.

Nursing actions include but are not limited to:

  • Assessing human responses to actual or potential health conditions.
  • Identifying the nursing care needs of an individual, family, or group.
  • Developing a plan of care prescribing nursing interventions to attain identified outcomes.
  • Implementing a plan of care based on scientific principles consistent with the medical plan of care and appropriate to the age of the individual, family, or group.
  • Implementing planned teaching strategies.
  • Collaborating with the patient, significant others and members of the healthcare team to promote the provision of healthcare.
  • Executing diagnostic and therapeutic regimens prescribed by medically privileged practitioners.
  • Evaluating patient response to nursing interventions and progress toward attainment of outcomes.
  • Administering, supervising, delegating and evaluating nursing activities.
  • Utilizing specialized nursing knowledge and skill in the development, implementation and management of systems to support the practice of nursing.

RCH Nursing Practice Council Mission:

The Nursing Practice Council empowers clinical nurses to implement and maintain standards of nursing practice and patient care consistent with evidence-based practice and requirements of regulatory agencies.

The NPC is comprised of nurse representatives from all areas where nursing care is practiced, including inpatient units, ambulatory settings, home health/hospice and ancillary service areas such as the wound center, interventional radiology, and family clinics. There are members from across the campus in a variety of roles. Most members are self-nominated because of interest or nominated by their peers, and some are selected by nursing leadership.

The purpose of the Nursing Practice Council is to:

  • Delineate the scope of nursing practice at RCH.
  • Review and revise policies, procedures and standards of care.
  • Incorporate evidence-based research findings into clinical practice.
  • Consult on interdepartmental issues that impact patient care.
  • Participate in the adoption of new clinical products and equipment.
  • Provide input for the revision and approval of nursing documentation standards.
  • Support peer review and quality improvement.
  • Provide a forum to exchange ideas, news and find solutions to workplace challenges.
  • Recognize achievements in nursing practice.

Membership includes the following:

  • Directors.
  • Nurse Managers.
  • Nurse Educators.
  • Quality Representative(s).

Staff nurse representatives from each of the clinical & non-clinical service areas:

  • Behavioral Health Services
  • Cardiac Rehab
  • Cath Lab
  • Couplet Care
  • Emergency Department
  • Family & Specialty Clinics
  • GI Lab
  • Information Services
  • Intensive Care Unit
  • Labor & Delivery
  • Medical Unit
  • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
  • Observation Unit
  • Orthopedic Unit
  • Perioperative Services
  • Radiology
  • Surgical Unit (5100)
  • Telemetry/Medical (2100)
  • Telemetry (3200/3400)
  • Transitional Care Unit Wound Clinic

Member Responsibility:

Members will be responsible for attending meetings and reporting activities and disseminating minutes/ information to their respective unit. If a member misses a meeting, it is the responsibility of the Council member to obtain information from the missed meeting and disseminate this to the department they represent.

NPC Reporting Sub-committees:

Nursing Leadership Council is responsible for:

  • Nursing leadership and management support for nursing.

Evidence-Based Practice Committee is responsible to:

  • Oversee evidence-based nursing practice.
  • Perform and review needs assessments in the area of evidence-based nursing practice.
  • Develop and implement evidence-based nursing practice protocols.

Innovations and Improvements Committee is responsible to:

  • Identify and improve nursing clinical practice and work processes through creative and innovative ideas and technology.

Healthy Work Environment Committee is responsible to create and maintain a work environment that makes an employee feel valued by:

  • Maintaining an environment that is safe to work in, (by maintaining adequate supplies to do a job, maintaining safe ratios, working equipment, etc.)
  • Creating an environment that the employee feels their opinion or idea is valued.
  • Listening to employees that have issues that need to be addressed in a timely manner.
  • Create an environment that supports positive attitudes amongst co-workers and does not tolerate negative attitudes. Holds employees accountable for their actions - positive or negative.
  • Hires wisely - hire the right worker for the right job.
  • Encourage employees to further their education to keep minds fresh and energized.
  • Recognize employees for good effort.

Patient Education Committee:

When patients are given the information they need in words they understand at appropriate times throughout their hospital stay, they will have better health outcomes. Goals:

  • More consistency with information given to patients
  • Educate patients prior, during and after hospital event/diagnosis
  • Limit amount of information given at one time to prevent overload
  • Develop educational packets
  • Develop nursing documentation tool for process of patient education
  • Increase patient satisfaction

Budget & Staffing Committee is responsible to:

  • Ensure appropriate staffing (assessing acuity system, staffing ratios and staffing patterns); and
  • Ensure appropriate supplies (recommend appropriate supply level and product evaluation and standardization to reduce costs) to enhance patient outcomes and staff satisfaction.

Caring Associates:

  • Responsible for the integration, dissemination and implementation of the Theory of Human Caring into the RCH culture.