الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 276 |  |  |
| | | from | 276 | | |
Abstract
Shared governance is a model in which staff collaborate through a decentralized decision making structure, sharing ownership and accountability and partnering to make decisions about clinical practice, professional development, patient safety and quality improvement. Shared governance is a model of professional nursing practice that engages nurses in decisions that affect their practice. It is a structural framework that based on the principles of equity, accountability, partnership, and ownership in which nurses can express and direct their activities with more professional autonomy. Autonomy is an essential attribute to achieve professional status and can be developed individually or in groups. Autonomy has been described as having the authority to make independent decisions and to take actions in accordance with one’s discretion and professional knowledge. To function autonomously, however, nurses must develop the expertise that allows them to exercise sound clinical judgment and exert control over their practice as well, certain satisfiers must be met, for example, resources must be provided and autonomy supported to achieve an adequate level of competency. Moreover, nurses whom had high autonomous decision making become experienced and more effective for nursing profession Aim: of the current study was to investigate the effect of shared governance educational program on knowledge, perceptions and autonomy of professional nurses. Design: A quasi-experimental research was utilized. Setting: The study was carried out in five of Minia University Hospitals including (the Main University Hospital; Gynecology, Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital; Cardio-Thoracic Hospital; Renal and Urology Hospital in addition to the Dental Hospital). Subjects: Participants of the study were a probability sample of professional nurses (no=78) drained from the total baccalaureate-prepared nurses who were working in the previously mentioned Hospitals at the study conduction period and who have at least three years of clinical experience. Tools of data collection: Two tools were used; Nurses Knowledge and Perceptions of Shared Governance Questionnaire, and Professional Nursing Autonomy Scale. Results of the current study revealed that: There was a high statistically significant improvement in the level of nurses’ knowledge and perceptions of shared governance as well as in their level of professional autonomy from its three perspectives at all test measures that followed implementing the educational program than what was before program implementation. Results showed also that, a statistically significant fair positive correlation was found between both the level of nurses’ knowledge and perceptions of shared governance and their level of perceived autonomy over patient care decisions only at the time measure before implementing the educational program. However, there was no statistical significant correlation found between either the level of knowledge or perceptions of shared governance and both the level of perceived autonomy over unit operations and the level of total autonomy at the different periods of measurements. Conclusion: The educational intervention carried out within the context of this study was successful at improving the knowledge, perceptions and autonomy of professional nurses. Recommendations: Integrate the philosophy of shared governance into the values and mission of the organization. Allowing nursing staff to be involved in the organizational decisions and committees.