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Page modified June 16, 2008

Professional Practice Consultation Program (PPCP)

The purpose of the Professional Practice Consultation Program (PPCP) is to create a mechanism for individual reflection and collective dialogue for all nurses within a particular practice setting.

In the PPCP, nurses* consider their role in the creation and sustainability of systems that support safe and effective care to clients, families and communities.

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Introduction

The College recognizes the importance of the workplace environment in which nurses practice, and the relationship between individual and environmental factors in the creation and sustainability of systems that support quality nursing care for clients, families and communities.

The Professional Practice Consultation Program (PPCP) is one of the College’s consultation services that focuses on the individual and collective accountabilities of nurses and employers of nurses in creating environments that support safe and effective client care.

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Overview of PPCP

Building Upon Success

The Professional Practice Consultation Program (PPCP) represents the College’s ongoing commitment to supporting nurses in their practice settings. The PPCP is based on the success of a former program, the Practice Setting Consultation Program® (PSCP™), which was first launched in 1999. In keeping with the College’s commitment to ongoing quality improvement and evidence-based practice, a review of the PSCP was conducted in 2004. The feedback from the PSCP participants revealed that the program was highly valued by nurses and employers. The review indicated areas for improvement that would enhance the program and tap into current literature regarding nursing practice environments, patient safety and professional practice.

In partnership with the Nursing Health Services Research Unit (NHSRU) of McMaster University, CNO established the Professional Practice Consultation Program based on feedback from nurses from a wide range of practice areas and settings. The NHSRU team at McMaster University provided leadership and expertise in the design and testing of the Professionalism and Environmental Factors in the Workplace Questionnaire. In addition, the College established an advisory panel of nurses and content experts from a variety of settings, sectors and provinces to provide input into the various components of the new program.

Intent of the PPCP

The PPCP is a self-managed program that is available to any health care organization or setting that employs at least 30 nurses. The purpose of the PPCP is to offer a mechanism for individual reflection and collective dialogue for all nurses within a particular practice setting. In this program, nurses within all levels of the organization reflect on and consider their roles in the creation and sustainability of systems that support safe and effective care. The PPCP provides an opportunity for all nurses to have a voice and to engage in activities that will ultimately benefit their nursing practice and clients.

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The PPCP Attributes Model

The Attributes Model depicts the key individual and collective accountabilities that contribute to nursing professionalism and environments that are conducive to the provision of safe client care.

PPCP Attributes Model

*In this program, the term “nurses” refers to nurses (RN, RPN or RN(EC)) at the point of care, in education, research, and in administrative roles. All nurses, no matter their practice area, have a significant role to play in the provision of safe client care.

Individual attributes

All nurses, despite their primary area of practice or role in a practice setting, are accountable and responsible for demonstrating the knowledge, skill, judgment and attitudes required of professionals. The individual attributes are: Accountability, Advocacy, Autonomy, Collaborative Practice, Commitment, Competence, Knowledge, and Professionhood.

Collective attributes

Systems are not the sole accountability of nurses in administrative roles. It is imperative that individual nurses reflect on their role in the creation, support, effectiveness and sustainability of the systems at their practice settings. The collective attributes are: Control of Nursing Practice, Environmental Culture and Climate, Professional Support, Quality of Nursing Worklife, and Shared Governance.

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PPCP Components

The PPCP has two components: a Questionnaire and Organizational Support Modules.

Component 1: Questionnaire

Professionalism and Environmental Factors in the Workplace Questionnaire

The questionnaire provides nurses with a mechanism to engage in dialogue and actions that contribute to quality improvement initiatives that enhance safe client care and their work environment. By completing the questionnaire, nurses examine the key attributes of a professional practice environment that form the Attributes Model.

The questionnaire is not a diagnostic tool to provide definitive information on the strengths and weaknesses of a particular practice setting. The questionnaire does not benchmark or compare one organization with another nor one program/unit with another. It helps to identify strengths to build on and opportunities for improvement.

Component 2: Organizational Support Modules

The organizational support modules comprise the PPCP resource binder outlining a self-directed process designed to help organizations take on this initiative.

The program modules are designed to accommodate the varying needs of practice settings through the provision of various methods, tools and templates to help the organization accomplish the program activities. For example, the modules provide some strategies to address the gaps, determine indicators of success and strategies for communicating and celebrating those successes. For an outline of the program modules, click on the following link:

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What Does Participation In The Program Involve?

Organizations selected to participate in the program will:

Self-manage the program

Participating organizations will be expected to self-manage the PPCP using their internal resources and expertise, from implementation to evaluation of the project.

Apply to attend the CNO train-the-trainer

Organization representatives will attend a one-day train-the-trainer workshop where participants receive a comprehensive orientation to the program. Strategies and effective tools to assist participants with the implementation and management of this initiative will be shared at the workshop.

Conduct an organizational readiness assessment

Organizations will be required to complete an organizational readiness assessment prior to attending the train-the-trainer workshop. The readiness exercise will help the organization to identify their needs and available resources to successfully implement and lead the program within their organization.

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How To Access / Apply For This Program?

Train-the-trainer dates and application deadlines

One train-the-trainer workshop will be offered in 2008:

  • March 28, 2008 (deadline to apply is: January 18, 2008)
  • Dates for workshops in 2009 will be announced later this year. Please check this page regularly for updates and information on how to apply.

Site selection process

Site submissions will be reviewed based on the information provided on the Expression of Interest form as well as other criteria.

The site selection process will occur shortly after each application deadline. If your organization is selected to participate, you will be contacted with further details, including an exercise to conduct an organizational readiness assessment.

If your organization is not selected, it is because participation is limited for the train-the-trainer sessions.

The dates of the train-the-trainer sessions are subject to change/cancellation. If you already applied for an upcoming session, the College will contact you directly should the session be postponed or cancelled.

 

 

 

 

 

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Frequently Asked Questions


  1. Are there any costs involved?
    Organizations will be responsible for charges related to the program materials and survey data processing, in addition to the travel costs to attend the workshop at the College.

  2. Will CNO consultants come to our organization to facilitate this program?
    No. The program has been designed to be entirely self-managed by the participating site. Participating sites have the option to complete all or some of the program activities that they feel apply to their identified needs. The “organization readiness assessment” tool should be able to assist you to identify what those needs may be.

  3. My organization employs less than 30 nurses, can we still participate?
    Because of the nature of the data obtained through the questionnaire, we don’t accept organizations that have less than 30 nurses because of potential issues regarding the anonymity of respondents and data integrity.

  4. Can I get a copy of the PPCP resource binder?
    The program resource binder and tools (including the questionnaire) are only available to sites selected to participate in the program. The resource binder is provided to the participants free of charge at the train-the-trainer workshop.

  5. Who attends the train-the-trainer workshop?
    Each selected site may bring a maximum of 2 participants. One of the two participants is a senior nurse leader who has decision-making responsibility or designate while the other (i.e. champion, project coordinator) will take the active lead for the project.

  6. What is the total time commitment for participation?
    The time commitment for participation will differ for each site and will depend on the identified needs of the organization based on an “organizational readiness assessment” that each selected site will be asked to complete prior to attending the train-the-trainer workshop.

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