University of Virginia Health System

The shared governance model practiced by the PNSO is guided by two sets of documents, the Bylaws and the Operational Guidelines.

The Bylaws were first adopted by the PNSO membership in June 2000 and serve as a high-level framework for the mission of the PNSO. Its contents are reviewed annually by the Governance Committee to identify potential amendments, which are put to a full membership vote during October elections.

The Bylaws provide a set of principles which are applied to the daily operations of the PNSO; the actual processes for implementing the Bylaws' principles can flex and evolve to meet the needs of the organization. A growing set of Operational Guidelines describes the PNSO's working processes, drafted by the Governance Committee and reviewed at a minimum three-year cycle. Each guideline is approved by a vote of Cabinet.

PNSO members contact the Governance Committee both to ask for guidance and to make suggestions for potential new Operational Guidelines and amendments to the Bylaws.

• The PNSO Bylaws, last amended Nov. 2006.
• Operational Guidelines:
  • OG 1: Choosing Cabinet Members 
  • OG 2: Selecting Candidates for President-Elect, Nominating Committee and Cabinet 
  • OG 3: Providing Communication to PNSO Members 
  • OG 4: Electing Nursing Congress Delegates 
  • OG 5: Committee Meeting Process 
  • OG 6: Representation to Committees Affecting the Practice of Nursing 
  • OG 7: Process for Establishment of PNSO Annual Goals and Priorities
• Contact the Governance Committee with questions or suggestions.