Professional Practice Model

Our Professional Practice Model was updated in 2020 with input from more than 500 nurses.

The model is a compass. It signifies nurses’ role as advocates who help patients and families navigate their experience.

Relationship-based care – our care delivery system – is the heart of our practice. The relationships among patient, family, nurse and team are vital to the delivery of relationship-based care.

The four points of the compass – collaboration, compassion, knowledge and excellence – are essential to our ability to deliver the best care.

Compassion is our “true north” and a defining quality of Brigham nursing practice. These components also connect to our Brigham values, which are reflected in the outer circle.

BWH's Professional Practice Model, a compass

This video, narrated by BWH nurses, tells the story of our Professional Practice Model:

Learn more about Brigham and Women's Hospital


For over a century, a leader in patient care, medical education and research, with expertise in virtually every specialty of medicine and surgery.

About BWH