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.
