Frontline Innovation spotlight

Frontline Innovation Spotlight: Duke Professional Accountability Program for Nurses

Posted By The Academy

March 15, 2023

Executive Summary

Duke University Hospital, part of Duke Health’s three hospital system based in Durham, NC created a Professional Accountability Program (PACT) to increase coaching conversations while offloading this work from already time constrained nurse managers. Previously a nurse manager task, PACT trains nurses, known as peer messengers, to have initial coaching conversations with peers reported for disciplinary issues. In November 2022, Duke launched the peer messenger program in the ED. PACT started with 13 peer messengers across all pilot areas and has since expanded to the Neuro ICU and a few step down units, training 20+ peer messengers. The initial pilot successfully improved nurse manager capacity in the Neuro ICU.

2023 Frontline Innovation Spotlight Duke Health Pact.pdf