Creating a personalized professional practice framework for nursing.

Any organization on the journey to nursing excellence might initiate its search for a professional practice framework by exploring the many nursing-specific theories, frameworks, and conceptual models that are readily available in the literature. Although adopting an "off the shelf" professional practice framework for nursing may sound easier for a nursing organization than creating its own framework, achieving a good fit into an existing culture is more difficult when adopting rather than creating a practice framework. ven though creating a customized framework requires a considerable amount of upfront time, dedication, and a willingness to make some mistakes along the way, in the end a customized framework ensures cultural alignment. SThis framework describes the foundational structures and guiding principles, the key processes that influence how work is conducted, and the outcomes desired as the result of the work. Identifying evaluative methods for determining progress on identified strategic intents was crucial in bridging the gap between theory and outcomes. This model continues to provide flexibility and adaptability to meet needs in a constantly changing health care environment and difficult economic times.