2206 Title: Leading the Reform Pack: Nurses on Healthcare Governing Boards Date / Time: Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 04:15 PM - 05:45 PM Type: CONCURRENT Level: ADVANCED Sponsor(s): - Speaker(s): Fran Roberts Professional nurses are now being aggressively recruited to serve in leadership roles on hospital and healthcare system boards of directors and trustees. A critical part of these leadership positions call for translating the economics and outcomes of nursing care to laypeople, policy makers, and physicians on boards. As the health care reform discussion continues, it is imperative that nurses in these leadership roles advocate for the crucial place that nursing holds in delivering cost-effective, high-quality care. This presentation will provide evidence of the absolute necessity of professional nurses serving on health care leadership boards. In the past, some hospital and health care systems include a “token nurse,” many times the spouse of a physician or an esteemed volunteer, as a trustee. Conversely, boards have historically included a large number of physicians, sometimes serving as majority members.  This session will: 1)  Provide a brief review of the trend toward professional nurses serving on high-level health care boards; 2)  Explain both the process and structure of boards of directors; 3)  Share experiences with the level of understanding of trustees related to case management, evidenced-based practice, patient safety, Just Culture, Leapfrog, CMS quality data; and how all of these elements are linked to nursing care, finances, and patient outcomes, and; 4)  Describe how nursing leaders must impact health care reform decisions. Dr. Roberts has been able to provide leadership for case management, EBP, patient safety, quality outcomes and their ultimate linkage to nursing care to three high-level boards. One such board is now recruiting for a second nurse leader to fill a vacancy previously held by a physician. Laypersons on all boards view the voice of the nurse representative as an expert, an advocate for patient care and safety, and one of the most valued trustees. As a nurse leader, Dr. Roberts is advancing the profession at the “health care reform table.” Objectives: Explain the process and structure of healthcare boards of directors and the trend towards professional nurses serving on high-level healthcare boards. Identify experiences with the level of understanding boards of directors have related to case management, evidenced-based practice, patient safety, CMS quality data; and how these elements relate to nursing care, finances, and patient outcomes. Describe how nursing leaders must impact healthcare reform decisions.