Professional Nursing Congress

The professional nursing staff of OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, recognize that each individual nurse is responsible for his/her nursing practice, and thereby have established the Professional Nursing Congress (PNC) to provide and enhance accountable, quality nursing care for the community we serve.  Through the professional framework developed within the OSF Healthcare System, we will continually uphold our commitment to nursing excellence in adherence with the national standards of nursing practice under the guidance of the Chief Nursing Officer and Governance Cabinet.

All registered nurses employed by the OSF Saint Francis regardless of title or department are members of the PNC.

Purpose Statement

The purpose of the PNC is to be the mechanism for the discipline of nursing to establish, uphold and communicate its values and standards within OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. The purposes of the PNC are primarily achieved through the following structure.

Governance Cabinet - Guides and directs the development of the structures and mechanisms that establish professional nursing practice and professional advancement.

Clinical Practice Committee - Examines nursing practice issues, questions or discrepancies across Patient Care Services division by applying an evidence based practice model in resolution.

Communication Committee - Creates and implements a comprehensive reporting and communication process and structure between the Governance Cabinet, the Professional nursing staff, and the organization at large.

Professional Development Committee - Guides and promotes education, mentorship, peer review and professional recognition opportunities for members of the PNC.

Nursing Quality/Safety Committee - Identifies, analyzes and improve nurse sensitive quality indicators.

Recognition Committee - Develops criteria for awards to recognize excellence in nursing, establishes a process for determining award recipients and publicizes these awards.  Prepares the annual Clinical Ladder celebration, as well as the Professional Nursing Congress Assembly.

Research Committee - Promote Clinical Practice Research in the PNC.

Advanced Practice Nurse Committee - Provides a forum for Advanced Practice Nurses to identify and develop solutions for issues/challenges pertinent to the Advanced Practice Nurse role across practice settings.  Provide a leadership presence to nursing as a whole.

Unit Councils - Each nursing unit has a separate unit council that works towards a professional evidence based clinical nursing practice environment.  The unit councils are responsible to interface with the committees and sub-committees of the PNC as appropriate and necessary.