The UVAHS Professional Nursing Staff Organization

Nursing Shared Governance through the PNSO

Pamela F. Cipriano, PhD, RN, FAAN, as Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Clinical Officer at UVAHS, leads nursing utilizing an innovative structure that fosters the integration of clinical staff leaders in partnership with nursing management. She is responsible for the nursing practice in all areas of the Health System. Her leadership supports a thriving and long-lived model of shared governance, the Professional Nursing Staff Organization (PNSO).

This professional practice structure was first adopted in 1988. It has matured and evolved since that time. Bylaws were developed utilizing a parliamentary process. There is a unique budget for the PNSO. The priority of leadership by practicing nurses, and the primacy of clinical practice to the discipline, is reflected in the support of the roles of President and President-elect as shared positions. These nurse leaders have 50% of their time supported centrally while retaining 50% of their time in their clinical roles. The participation of direct-care nurses in institutional planning and decision-making is achieved through this representative democracy.

Nursing shared governance is deeply valued by all nurses at the UVAHS. The PNSO provides a formal and exemplary system for conducting the practice of nursing in an academic medical center.

divider swish

Learn more about the PNSO's shared governance model through the following links:

bullet diamond 2Bylaws and Operational Guidelines 

bullet diamond 2Nursing Cabinet 

bullet diamond 22009 PNSO Committees:
         
Chairpersons & Mission Statements
       Diagram of Reporting Structure

bullet diamond 2Nursing Congress 

bullet diamond 2Nominations and Elections 

bullet diamond 2Communications