Shared Governance as a Foundation for Developing New Nurse Leaders

Lenore Reilly, PhD, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
Samantha Toth, BSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC

Sustaining nursing excellence requires the intentional development of future nurse leaders. At Atlantic Health System Newton Medical Center (AHNMC), shared governance serves as a structure for the development of leadership skills among new nurses, while promoting engagement, retention and professional growth (Green et al., 2024). AHNMC is a 148-bed acute care community hospital located in rural northwestern New Jersey. The organization has maintained Pathway to Excellence® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center since 2017, achieved its first Magnet® designation in May 2025 and earned Practice Transition Accreditation Program (PTAP) accreditation in March 2025. Sustaining these distinctions requires strong organizational and departmental structures that promote staff shared decision-making, staff engagement and a healthy work environment.