Study: Professional governance improves outcomes, but better studies needed

Professional governance improves outcomes, but low-level designs and outdated measures could limit evidence, concludes a systematic review of 33 studies published in the May Journal of Nursing Administration. The researchers call for future research with rigorous designs to better quantify the cost and impact of robust professional governance, including longitudinal and randomized controlled studies. They found higher levels of professional governance are associated with improved job satisfaction and patient outcomes in diverse settings. Professional governance also improved organizational processes, including council effectiveness and decision-making structures. They said future studies should incorporate objective, quantifiable nurse-sensitive indicators to analyze the components and impact of robust governance. Future studies also should evaluate professional governance’s return on investment.