M. Lindell Joseph is a clinical professor and nurse researcher who co-developed the GEMS theory, the only program theory for shared governance in nursing practice.
Dr. Lindell Joseph is a clinical professor and the director of the Health Systems/ Administration Program at the University of Iowa College of Nursing. She also serves as the chief executive officer and lead nurse researcher for Courageous Healthcare Inc. Through mixed methods studies, Lindell and Dr. Richard Bogue co-developed the General Effectiveness Multilevel Theory for Shared Governance (GEMS), which remains the only program theory for shared governance in nursing practice. Specifically, GEMS offers a systematic, evidence-based approach that prepares nursing leadership to gain higher productivity from the nursing work force. In addition, it enables nursing practice councils to become increasingly effective through three phases of shared governance. She consults on GEMS through Courageous Healthcare.
In 2018, Lindell was inducted into the American Academy of Nursing. From 2016 to 2018, she served on both the American Organization for Nurse Executives board of directors and as an ex-officio member on the American Hospital Association, Regional Policy Board for Region 6 (Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota). Previously, from 2014 to 2016, she served on the board of directors for the Council on Graduate Education for Administration in Nursing as vice president for Programs and Professional Development. While in that role, she chaired the International Nursing Administration Research Conference in 2014 and 2016. Currently, Lindell serves on the editorial board for Nurse Leader and on the Board of Directors for The AONL Foundation.
Dr. Joseph also chairs the Innovation Scholarly Interest Group (SIG) at the University of Iowa College of Nursing, which promotes innovativeness across practice and academia. Through this SIG, the team developed a “Typology for Nursing Innovations” and the “Theoretical Framework for Innovations Across Practice and Academia.” More recently, the SIG has begun work on a measure entitled “Innovativeness Across Academia and Practice for Progress Scale (IA-APPS).”