Professional governance is the foundation for nursing practice and decision-making at Cooper. Professional nursing practice is guided and supported by our Cooper mission and vision, as well as our nursing philosophy and theory. These components come together through our Professional Practice Model (PPM) to illustrate why there are nurses, and then there are Cooper nurses.
Swanson's Theory of Caring
Cooper nursing has adopted Swanson’s Theory of Caring as the theoretical framework to guide our nursing practice. The five caring processes that support our work are:
- Maintaining belief
- Knowing
- Being with
- Doing for
- Enabling
Our Nursing Philosophy
Our Nursing Philosophy represents our beliefs as Cooper nurses and our professional commitments. The philosophy aligns with Cooper's mission (To serve, to heal, to educate) and core values (compassion, inclusion, and excellence). This is who we are and what we do.
Cooper nurses:
- Show up every day to deliver exceptional care.
- Serve our patients, communities, and colleagues with competence, confidence, and passion.
- Prioritize well-being to maintain a healthy work environment.
- Are an elite and resilient workforce.
Cooper Nursing C.A.R.E.S. Professional Practice Model
Cooper's Professional Practice Model is a visual representation of the culture that guides our nursing practice. It is built on the foundations of Swanson’s Theory of Caring and our nursing philosophy. Developed through collaboration between clinical nurses and leaders, the PPM reflects who we are and who we aspire to be. The bridge illustrates how nurses connect care. Nursing is the foundation of providing compassionate care to patients, families, and communities across the continuum.
PPM Components
We have adopted I-statements to affirm our personal and organizational commitment as Cooper nurses. The C.A.R.E.S. acronym and related statements illustrate how we bring the PPM to life in our daily practice across all roles and care delivery settings. These statements consider the traditional PPM components of:
- Compassion - I am trusted to serve with care and kindness.
- Advocacy - I make a life-enriching difference every day.
- Reliability - I take ownership and accountability for my practice.
- Engagement - I am committed to advance myself and my profession.
- Skill - I provide extraordinary, evidence-based, collaborative care.
Nursing Professional Governance Council Structure
Professional governance at Cooper represents the voice of nursing. It is structure that supports nursing autonomy and evidence-based shared decision making at all clinical and administrative levels. Our council structure allows nursing practice concerns to be addressed collaboratively between direct care and leadership stakeholders.
For additional information, please contact us at CooperNursing@Cooperhealth.edu.