Empowering Staff Nurses through Unit-Level Shared Governance: The Nurse Executive's Role for Success

The nurse executive has a significant role, through active participation and leadership, in implementing and sustaining unit-level shared governance (ULSG). Additionally, the nurse executive's participation promotes the enculturation of the shared decision-making process for the front-line staff. At Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS), the implementation of ULSG increased nurse satisfaction and retention by empowering staff nurses to be involved in decision making, which impacted their practice environment and the organization's health care mission.