Shared Leadership Council (SLC): Organization-wide
Shared Leadership Councils
Stanford’s Shared Leadership Council (SLC) model of shared governance supports collaborative decision making among nursing leadership, frontline clinicians, and interprofessional colleagues on an organization-wide level.
Despite the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, SLC continued to thrive, revealing a shared governance that is not only adaptable but also innovative.
In the Words of Dominique Stall, BSN, RN, PCCN, CCTN, Clinical Nurse IV, M5 Unit Educator
"As Practice and Education Council Chair-Elect, I am constantly impressed by the dedication and engagement of our interdisciplinary frontline staff. Shared Leadership Council empowers staff to use their voice, provide ideas, make change, and share the incredible work that they are doing. At SHC, we are so fortunate to have such a great team driven to provide excellent and evidence-based patient care."
In the Words of Samantha Furgason, BSN, RN, PCCN, SCRN, Caritas Nurse, Clinical Nurse IV, L5 Unit Educator, Coordinating Council Chair
"Shared leadership is an organizational wide opportunity to collaborate, collate, and create solutions to enhance excellence in the patient and staff experience. Over the past year, SLC has been able to increase transparency throughout the organization through interactive townhalls. SLC has provided the platform to celebrate front line workers and their accomplishments. SLC is a platform for empowerment, clinical promotion, and interprofessional networking to create and uphold best practice not only for care delivery, but professional excellence."
SLC is strategically aligned with the Nursing & Patient Care Services Strategic Plan, SHC's Operational Plan, and SHC's Mission, Vision, and Values.
Advanced Practice Providers (APP) SLC
APP SLC Wellness Committee
In an effort to encourage self-compassion and resilience, the APP SLC introduced the Wellness Committee. The Wellness Committee hosts several events throughout the year, from “Fall into Fitness” to wellness challenges. Despite the pandemic, the committee continued to meet virtually and carry on its mission of empowering its advanced practice providers. Take a quick look at events that took place throughout 2020-2021:
"The APP Wellness Committee's work in the past year has been phenomenal in making each participating APP feel more supported, inspired, and connected with their fellow APPs across the Stanford community."
Kathleen Castro,
APP Wellness Committee Chair
APP SLC Outreach Committee
The Outreach Committee takes initiative to encourage a healthier community and strengthen the bond between its providers. In 2020 and 2021, the committee volunteered in several outreach events all over the Bay Area.
February & March 2021
Supporting the Asian American community with letters of support
July and September 2021
More than 25 APPs and their families participated in the Beach Clean Up event in Halfmoon Bay and Daly City.
June 2021
1o APPs volunteered with MedShare to sort, identify, and package critical medical supplies to be shipped to communities in need around the world.
"Despite the ongoing pandemic last year, APPs from across specialties and campuses at SHC have volunteered to support communities through campaigns including distribution of medical supplies to underserved communities, environmental clean ups, health education, and social justice."
Rebecca Boyle,
APP Outreach Committee Chair
October 2021
For APP Outreach Week, APPs from Inpatient and Ambulatory came together to collaborate and create informational handouts on health topics highly requested by residents of local low-income senior living communities.
December 2021
APPs spread the holiday cheer by volunteering to distribute food and resources to their local community.
November 2021 - January 2022
The APP Outreach Committee distributed 5,670 masks to local organizations including food banks, schools, health centers, and non-profits. Over 40 APPs from across the Bay Area on Stanford campuses including Palo Alto, Emeryville. Pleasanton, and South Bay joined forced to refit the masks with new elastic, transforming them into functional PPE for the community donation.
APP Mentorship Program
All newly hired APPs with less than three years of advance practice experience will be automatically enrolled in the APP Mentorship Program, which is two years long. Those who meet this criteria will:
Since its inception, 336 unique individuals have participated in the APP Mentorship Program. In 2020, 118 APPs participated, and in 2021, 93 APPs participated. The program is currently on its 33rd cohort and continues to guide new APPs in their transition to practice.
Ambulatory SLC
Ambulatory SLC was officially launched in 2019. Currently, the Ambulatory Shared Leadership Councils consist of 11 Service Line Councils that represent over 500 specialty care and primary care clinics that are strategically aligned and drive numerous patient care improvements.
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Stanford Health Care’s (SHC) Ambulatory Shared Leadership Councils (ASLC) empowers interprofessional clinicians to define, implement, and maintain current practice standards, and partner with SHC leadership to implement the vision and strategic plan for patient care in their practice settings.
The Ambulatory Shared Leadership Council structure, first launched in December 2019, consists of a Coordinating Council, Service-Line Councils and an Ambulatory Executive Leadership Council (AELC).
ASLC has since grown to 11 Service-line councils with over 134 members.
ASLC Members are drawn from frontline healthcare professionals, Registered Nurses (RN), Patient Care Coordinators (PCC) and Medical Assistants (MA). Due to the global pandemic, meetings were held via Zoom in 2021, but this did not stop the innovative projects and evidence-based improvements that came from these councils!
11 Service Line Councils
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Cancer Care
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Cardiovascular
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Solid Organ Transplant
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Primary Care & Employer-Based Clinics
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Infusion Treatment Areas
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Neuroscience
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Orthopedics
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Emeryville Specialty & Primary Care
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Palo Alto Specialty Care
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Redwood City & Byers Specialty Care
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Clinical Advice Services
Two notable structural empowerment initiatives that arose out of the Ambulatory Shared Leadership Councils in 2021 are the Clinical ladder for Nurse Coordinators and the Aspiring Interprofessional Mentoring (AIM) program, an interprofessional mentorship program. Both of these ideas started as Action Request (ARFs) in their individual service-line councils, and then were escalated to the Ambulatory Coordinating Council. From here these projects were developed and launched ambulatory-wide in partnership with SHC leadership.
Registered Nurse Coordinator (RNC) Clinical Ladder
Ambulatory nursing practice and the coordination and care ambulatory nurses provide are essential to patients in need of support managing their healthcare needs. Registered Nurse Coordinators (RNC) serve as dynamic members of an interprofessional team and coordinate outpatient care for patients while promoting quality, safety, and improved outcomes. Due to this unique role, prior to 2021, RNCs did not have a Clinical Ladder for advancement. The Neurosciences Shared Leadership members advocated for the development of a clinical ladder for Nurse Coordinators. This team desired to create a career advancement program that would recognize and reward professional excellence and clinical leadership for Nurse Coordinators.
In recognizing the unique role of ambulatory care nurses and promoting the structural empowerment of ambulatory RNCs, the Ambulatory Nursing department and Center for Education & Professional Development (CEPD) at SHC
Inaugural Clinical Ladder Promotions: Debra Oswald, RNC III; Jonathan David, RNC III; Yilin (Hope) Kuo, RNC III; Ellen Arce, RNC II; Jenny Lee, RNC II; Jillian Settlemire, RNC II; Kathleen Lacar, RNC II; Lisa Pineda, RNC II
partnered in developing, launching, and facilitating the RNC Clinical Ladder program. The program utilizes the framework of Patricia Benner’s nursing theory and the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN) scope and standards of practice, with objectives to promote continuous career development and improve professional practice.
In September 2021, a total of 8 ambulatory RNCs were successfully promoted in the clinical ladder program’s inaugural cohort. One hundred percent of promoted RNCs maintained an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)- accredited nursing certification, held a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree or higher, and were members of nursing organizations. In addition, promoted RNCs demonstrated clinical expertise and were significantly involved in professional development and leadership opportunities, including SHC's Ambulatory Shared Leadership Coordinating Council. Read more about this enriching program here.
Aspiring Interprofessional Mentorship (AIM) Program
The Aspiring Interprofessional Mentorship (AIM) program began as an Action Request Form (ARF) from the Primary Care and Employer Based Clinics (EBC) Council. The proposal quickly sparked enthusiasm and garnered much support from throughout the organization. After detailed planning and teamwork, this program was successfully launched virtually on Wednesday, May 19th, 2021. To date, this life changing program has matched over 50 mentees with dynamic and inspiring mentors. Read more about this program here.
2021 Magnet Conference in Atlanta, Georgia
November 11 through 13, 2021 was a time of reflection and celebration for SHC's nurses who attended the ANCC's Magnet Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Over 50 SHC nurses paraded across the stage in honor of SHC's 4th Magnet designation. While walking across the stage, the nurses waved colorful and brightly lit 'Stanford Nursing' flags and wore "We are Stanford" T-shirts.
Overall, the conference was a wonderful time of networking with the over 6,500 nurses who attended from across the globe. During this event everyone came together to learn about new innovations in the field of nursing and celebrate nursing's great achievements during the pandemic. It was also a special time for Stanford Nursing colleagues to reconnect.
