FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2008

BUFFALO, NY – Shared governance that involves direct care nurses in the decision making process has been the de facto management model in the Department of Nursing at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) throughout its long history. In 2007, this model was formalized by the adoption of Nursing by-laws and the election of the Nursing Staff Executive Council.

Marilynn C. DiCara, RN, BSN, CCM, Senior Nurse Case Manager and acting President of the Nursing Executive Council at RPCI, will describe the development and implementation of this Council at the 33^rd Annual Congress of the Oncology Nursing Society, May 15-18, in Philadelphia.

The Nursing Staff Executive Council is a forum to implement the process of planning, organizing, directing and evaluating evidence-based oncology nursing practice through shared decision making by the officers of the Council and the elected members of the Council who represent all areas of the Institute in which nurses are employed.

A general nursing election will be held each May to choose the President of the Nursing Staff, who also chairs the Council, the Vice President, the Secretary and Council members. All staff members are encouraged to present nursing practice issues to their area representative or an officer of the Council.

More than 40 percent of registered nurses participated in voting for the Council members in the first year, and data have been gathered on ways to improve the process, including communication with nurses and completion of goals developed by the Council.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers. Roswell Park has affiliate sites and collaborative programs both nationally and internationally. For more information, visit RPCI’s website at www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org.

-30-