How to Improve Your Nursing Mission Statement: 5 Tips for Facilities
A mission statement for your healthcare organization’s nursing department helps build trust among patients and the public. It also gives nursing staff a foundation for the care they provide in practice.
Does your healthcare facility have an effective nursing mission statement? Whether you want to strengthen yours or create one from scratch, we share tips to make yours stand out. Read how to improve your mission statement so it better reflects the impactful work nurses are doing at your organization.
Why Do Healthcare Facilities Have a Mission Statement?
Most healthcare organizations have a mission statement describing the purpose of their operations, outlining the core values and beliefs that guide them to provide excellent patient care. A healthcare mission statement typically includes two parts:
- Why the organization exists
- How it plans to execute goals
The mission statement guides all members of a healthcare organization to conduct their work from a place of purpose. While it serves as a meaningful reminder of what the organization stands for, it’s also important to create a separate statement about the care nurses provide. As the healthcare providers who spend the most time with patients, nurses are responsible for delivering care that reflects the values of the nursing profession and the organization. This can be reflected in a mission statement for nursing.
What Is a Nursing Mission Statement?
A mission statement outlines the purpose, values, and goals of a nursing program. It aims to articulate the primary focus of a nursing program based on a set of core values for:
- Nursing schools — An educational program may outline its foundational goals in a student nurse handbook.
- Healthcare facilities — Hospitals often share their mission, vision, and values on an organizational website or in an employee handbook.
- Individuals — A professional resume may contain a mission statement for a nurse.
A mission statement often includes nurses’ commitment to providing high-quality care while promoting patients’ health and well-being. It may also demonstrate themes of patient and family advocacy, ethics, and professional standards.
Tips for Improving a Nursing Mission Statement
To create an effective mission statement, healthcare leaders must have a deep understanding of the foundational values that drive nursing practice in an organization. The process involves several key steps to ensure it effectively represents the goals of nursing practice. Below are tips for refining yours.
1. Collaborate With Key Stakeholders
Including stakeholders in any policy or guideline that impacts the nursing department is essential to maintaining a collaborative company culture. Consider asking nurses for input on the contents of a mission statement by conducting a nursing shared governance meeting. This is a useful way to get input based on nurses’ experiences and the patient population your facility serves.
2. Identify Core Nursing Values
If your healthcare organization has a defined nursing mission, vision, and values, state it here. If not, reflect on your healthcare organization’s values by considering the fundamental principles that guide nursing care. Have your committee collaborate on nurses’ professional responsibilities, including the elements that underscore professionalism and ethical standards in nursing. Examples of core values in nursing include:
- Compassion
- Integrity
- Empathy
- Advocacy
- Respect
- Dignity
- Professionalism
3. Define the Purpose
To create an effective mission statement for a nursing program, follow a structure similar to a general healthcare mission statement. Start by describing why the nursing department exists, followed by how you plan to achieve your goals. What is the aim of the nursing program at your healthcare facility? Consider including top priorities such as:
- Improving community health
- Driving healthcare innovation forward through cutting-edge research
- Striving for continuous improvement through nursing education
4. Maintain a Patient-Centered Focus
The mission statement should show your nursing department’s commitment to providing high-quality care to meet the diverse needs of patients. To do this, nurses must keep patient-centered care at the core of everything they do. Use language in the mission statement that prioritizes the well-being of patients through person-centered care.
5. Revise as Needed
A strong mission statement should be reviewed and refined over time. Healthcare leaders should remain open to revisions as the direction and needs of a healthcare organization change. Consider setting timelines to review the mission statement to ensure it’s relevant to the evolving practices and values of your nursing program.
Mission Statement Template
A mission statement serves as a guiding principle that aligns nurses’ professional behaviors with the overall mission and vision of the healthcare institution. Remember to keep it approachable while capturing the essence of what the nursing program stands for. Here’s an example of a template for healthcare facilities:
“[Nursing Organization] is dedicated to [primary aim/purpose]. Guided by [core values], we are committed to providing holistic, patient-centered care while upholding the highest standards of professionalism and ethics. Our mission is to [specific goal or outcome].”
Get More Tips for Healthcare Leaders
As a healthcare leader, your responsibilities span beyond creating a nursing mission statement. Looking for additional guidance? Stay ahead of your task list by connecting with IntelyCare for the latest free healthcare management tips to help your organization run smoothly.