With all of the challenges facing nursing today, implementing a professional practice model or augmenting existing ones is the first step toward ensuring nurses have the necessary support — not only for their own well-being but for the safety of patients.
A more formalized and advanced Clinical Practice Ability Framework can improve patient outcomes, increase patient and nurse satisfaction, reduce inpatient length of stay, and lower the cost of healthcare.
What’s key is that the framework can supplement other professional practice, evidence-based practice, and quality-care models currently in use by healthcare organizations. The model’s three pillars — coordinate, cultivate, and accelerate —work together to support safe, sustainable, and high-quality nursing care.
The benefits of the Clinical Practice Ability Framework include:
- A healthier work environment: Foster respectful and effective communication, collaboration, decision-making, staffing levels, recognition, and leadership.
- Competence-informed staffing: Transition away from staffing for average daily census and ensure the right mix of nurses and other personnel are available to care for patients.
- Continued investment in the workforce: Create a culture focused on well-being that supports professional development, education, and career growth for lateral and vertical movement.
- Care standardization to decrease care variability: Impact the bottom line through lower healthcare costs, improved patient outcomes, and improved patient satisfaction.
- ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® and ANCC Pathway to Excellence® program: Ensure nurses have the appropriate clinical practice tools and resources needed to make evidence-informed practice decisions.
