Exploring Shared Governance for an Academic Nursing Setting

Background: A beneficial work environment influences staff and employee satisfaction and contributes to enhanced organizational execution. Method: This article communicates a literature review of the existing knowledge to describe the potential influence of job satisfaction, empowerment, and work engagement on a faculty and staff academic shared governance model and impact on the improvement of a healthy work environment. Results: References from PubMed (from 1975 to 2014) and ERIC (from 2006 to 2016), along with manuscripts included in the reference lists of the selected articles, served as the basis of the review. Definitions and descriptions of shared governance in academic settings suggested the potential influence on the development of a faculty and staff shared governance model within a school of nursing on job satisfaction, empowerment, and work engagement, resulting in the maintenance of a healthy work environment. Conclusion: This shift is essential for the resilience of nursing academia and the building of novel, more inclusive approaches to innovation that tap into the talent and skill of all organizational members. [ J Nurs Educ. 2017;56(4):197–203.]