Shared governance model enables front-line nurses to innovate

Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut has prioritized nurse innovation, leading one clinical nurse to develop a monitoring, scheduling and tracking system for patients with remote cardiac monitoring devices. The nurse, Michele Santoro, BSN, RN, also spearheaded a new process to prepare patients’ skin for surgical procedures. Santoro noted the hospital’s culture empowered her to identify safety issues and track trends. She also highlighted the support of direct management and senior leadership, nursing’s autonomy and shared governance as other factors enabling nurses to innovate. AONL member Ena Williams, senior vice president and CNO at Yale New Haven Hospital, noted Santoro effectively removed barriers to complete the projects she led. (HealthLeaders Media article, 3/24/23)