The traditional hourly pay structure may no longer meet the needs of staff members, managers, or patients in the current health care environment. Staff members at a university surgical center ventured toward a professional salary model. The goals of the salary model were to increase professional practice, accountability, autonomy, and flexibility of nurses; increase overall efficiency of the facility; and to increase or maintain patient, staff member, and physician satisfaction. Data from this study indicate that the majority of these goals were met.