title: Alignment of the system's chief nursing officer: staff or direct line structure?
abstract: The role of the system chief nursing officer nationally and internationally has been traditionally structured as a staff model, a direct line model, or a hybrid that includes parts of each model. The choice of structure should be made after a thorough investigation of what outcomes the system wants this position to accomplish, developing the appropriate structure to achieve these outcomes, and then engaging a chief nursing officer with the skills indicated by the type of structure chosen. This article describes these 3 structures and the support infrastructure necessary for each model.
authors.affiliation: Kerfoot & Associates, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 46202, USA. Karlene@iindy.rr.com
authors.forename: Karlene M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kerfoot
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luquire
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009718:Nurse Administrators; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011361:Professional Competence; D014481:United States