The Nursing Professional Governance Organization (NPGO) includes all nurses employed by the health system. Established formally in 1988, then known as the Professional Nursing Staff Organization (PNSO), the NPGO has served as an organized nursing professional governance structure using a hybrid congressional model. The participation of direct-care nurses in organizational planning and decision-making is achieved through this infrastructure. UVA nurses are responsible for their individual practice and hold aggregate accountability for the quality of nursing care and outcomes.

The NPGO is led by elected clinical nurses supported in the roles of the President and President-elect as 50% central positions in governance activities while retaining 50% of their time in their local clinical roles. NPGO leaders partner closely with the Chief Nursing Officer, who is ultimately responsible for nursing practice in all settings.

Nursing practice is guided by the ANA 2021 Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, Fourth Edition, the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements (ANA, 2015), and the UVA Nursing Professional Practice Model.

American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet® designations: 2006, 2015, 2021.

View our NPGO Office Team Directory!