Dear Editor:
During this nursing shortage, I have wondered what has taken so long to resurrect the concept of shared governance. Focusing on the elements of shared governance and separating shared governance from the more cumbersome concept of Magnet certification gives every organization that provides professional nursing services the opportunity to move away from stultifying bureaucracies. "If they build it (shared governance), they (RNs) will come." Now we need to get our nursing educators on board to teach about the kinds of work environments nurses should expect.
Leslie Durr, PhD, APRN, BC
Education Coordinator
Western State Hospital, Staunton, VA
Private Practice, Charlottesville, VA
leslied@cstone.net