Professional Practice Model

Relationship Based Care

At Exeter relationship based care is the philosophical and operational framework that guides all patient encounters. This model recognizes that healthcare is provided through relationships. The activities of care are organized around the needs and priorities of patients and their families.

All care practices visibly demonstrate the mission and values of the organization, including those of clinician and staff members from all disciplines, departments and services.

We believe that each individual has a right to ask questions and make informed choices for their health and future. The nurse's primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group or community. The nurse promotes, advocates for and strives to protect the health, safety and rights of the patient.

Clinical Practice Partnership Model

Our Shared Governance Model is based on the belief that healthcare professionals working closely with patients are in the best position to make decisions related to clinical care. It is a framework where staff and managers work collaboratively to deliver multidimensional care. This framework empowers all clinical staff to participate and has professional staff closest to the patient leading the decision-making. The key elements are: decision-making at the point of patient care, the ability to influence the environment that one practices in, and influencing quality of care.

Clinical Practice Councils

Membership for each council will be determined by the scope of the charter or charge. Membership includes staff from varying disciplines across the organization, supporting a system of shared accountability and decision making to ensure the highest quality of patient care and satisfaction. The cooperative environment will promote critical thinking, process improvements and patient safety through evidence-based practice. There are five councils that guide nursing practice at Exeter:

• Nursing Leadership
• Nursing Quality
• Clinical Research
• Patient Care Standards
• Professional Nursing Development

Technology

Exeter nurses benefit from the hospital's sophisticated Clinical Information Systems (CIS), which provides access to cutting-edge technology designed to enhance the quality of patient care. The Information Systems enable nurses to visualize a patient's plan of care based on orders, thus significantly reducing paper charting and providing an electronic medical record. Medications and interventions may be documented at the bedside on portable devices, or at a desktop based PC. Internet and intranet access to pertinent clinical resources, including journals and reference databases, are also available on patient units.