Patricia Cummings, RN, is a clinical nurse manager at Howard University Hospital. She holds the distinction of inoculating Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband with their first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
Cummings has been a nurse for more than 15 years and is passionate about health promotion and education. She was born in Guyana and moved to the U.S. about 20 years ago.
In February, we’ll highlight healthcare leaders who are prominent figures in their organizations and are making transformational impacts in nursing.
Meet Patricia Cummings, a clinical nurse manager at Howard University Hospital
Talk about your career path and how you ascended to that role.
I have never envisioned myself being a nurse leader. I wanted to be a nurse when I was 16 years old. I was privileged to live with a family member who was a registered nurse. She would come home and tell about their stories and her experiences. And I was very intrigued and always wanted to help people in whatever capacity, so she influenced me into the world of nursing. When I graduated from nursing school, I went through the typical bedside med surg nursing, and I did that for about eight years. And after I decided I wanted to try different areas. That’s one of the great things about nursing. It is very versatile and allows you to venture off into other areas. So I did some home care consulting for the first few years and case management for a few years. And then, the opportunity presented itself for me to acquire a nursing leadership position. And I was recommended by someone I knew who saw something in me and thought I would probably do well in nursing leadership. And so I started, and over the past five to six years, I’ve grown to love nursing leadership, which is my passion. And I can’t envision myself doing anything else.
What are the most important attributes of today’s nursing leaders?
Today’s nurse leader has to evolve in several ways, especially in light of the COVID pandemic. We’ve had to become creative and tweak some of how we lead. So the nurse leader of today has to be a great communicator. There are persons, whether it’s the staff we’re privileged to lead or the patients we care for, with issues and heightened anxiety just because of everything that’s happening. And so, a nurse leader must listen intently and respond appropriately, be empathetic, and be compassionate. Servant leadership, which I strive for, is one of the best leadership styles needed today. A servant leader who serves offers in whatever capacity to assist and make sure that the job gets done and is very humble has to have a high degree of humility. And that helps to earn your team’s trust and gain buy-in for them to do and see the vision and get it done. And a nurse leader also up to date needs to be innovative, conducting research and keeping up-to-date with current technologies, etc., things that will help make work more efficient. Those are the main attributes a nurse leader needs to have in today’s nursing world.
What does it mean to you to be a nursing leader, and how are you making a difference?
Nursing leadership means I get to influence others. I’ve been a nurse leader for about six years now. And when I was thinking about going back to school for my graduate degree, I did my research. And when I came upon Walden University and looked at their curriculum for the nurse executive leadership program, I was very impressed. And as I mentioned, my aunt is also an alumnus. So she influenced me as far as my choice, but just going back to school and having my degree and everything I received through my education has equipped me and allowed me to influence the people I am privileged to lead.
One of my favorite authors, John C. Maxwell, is a leadership guru. Not just nursing leadership, he has a quote, “He who thinks he’s a leader and has no followers is simply taking a walk.” I love that quote because it says if you’re unable to influence others and have them follow your vision and see what you’re trying to establish or accomplish, you’re not fulfilling that purpose. As a nurse leader, I get to influence others. I get to have new nurses fresh out of nursing school come to me. I get to be a role model. I get to influence and contribute to their nursing career. And beyond the nurses, the patients who we get to touch. One of the things I love about my job as a nurse manager is that as much as I am in a leadership position, I still get to interact with my patients. So I am around daily with every patient on my unit to assess their satisfaction, etc. And so I love all of it. So influence is my biggest reward as a nurse leader.
What is the most significant challenge facing nursing today?
One of the most difficult challenges facing nursing today, nationally and globally, is the nursing shortage. There has always existed a nursing shortage to a degree. However, the COVID pandemic added to a more significant shortage. A lot of middle-aged and older nurses retired. But the bottom line is that there is a shortage of nurses, which has impacted organizations. Several hospitals around the country have closed down or have decreased their capacity because they cannot afford or not afford to do you’re not able to recruit nurses. And that impacts patient care. So the short has a ripple effect.
As a nursing leader, how are you working to overcome this challenge?
One of the things I tried to do is to keep up-to-date with other nurse leaders and get a sense of what we, as nurse leaders, are doing as a group. One of the things I learned while at Walden University is that, as a nurse leader, you have to keep up with research and what is trending because, very likely, whatever challenges you’re facing individually, it tends to be regionally, nationally, globally, so get intel on what other organizations are doing.
So one of the things that are critical right now is effective recruitment. And that entails screening candidates and becoming creative in where we look for candidates. So I work very closely with my recruitment team. I check in with them every other day to ensure we’re utilizing every possible medium to recruit candidates. At Howard University Hospital, we have very robust nurse residency programs to recruit new grads and provide them with a very efficient experience where they can work alongside experienced nurses and the confidence and skills they need to function. At the end of the residency program, we’ve had a great success rate where most of these candidates are desirous of remaining and staying within the organization. I have encouraged many of my ancillary staff, like CNAs and patient care technicians, to return to school because they know that their team will be willing to help them succeed in their nursing journey. And just word of mouth, I have volunteered to go to various nursing schools, for example, Trinity Nursing and the University of the District of Columbia are some of the colleges were are affiliated with, and speak with nursing students about their career paths and the advocating for them to come to our institution. And as simple as it may seem, I am very involved with the community where I reside and advocating for or spreading the word about nursing. For example, I have two children. One is in high school. One is in middle school, and every career day I attend. I talk with students about nursing, why it is important that they pursue nursing, why we need nurses, and the importance of nurses, etc. And so those are some ways I got the word out about nursing and the fact that we need nurses and with recruitment.
How were you chosen to inoculate Vice President Harris with the COVID vaccine?
The universe allowed it to happen because of me. I couldn’t say that I had too much to do with it. I positioned myself because when the vaccines became available at the hospital where I worked, they allotted vaccines and opened up a clinic. The volume of people that came into our clinic differed from what we anticipated. They needed more nurses to administer the vaccine. As a nurse manager, I offered to assist for a few hours. And incidentally, on the first day that I volunteered, I had the opportunity to vaccinate our CEO, CMO, and the entire C-suite. Once they received word that Vice President Harris was interested in coming to that particular organization, they had confidence in my ability. Everything aligned itself, and I’m so grateful I was chosen.
What nursing leader inspires you the most?
My auntie. But presently, the person I have just been able to connect with and who I communicate with is Sandra Lindsay. She is the RN who is the person who received the very first COVID vaccine in the entire country. I had the pleasure and honor of meeting her a few short months ago, so I’ve connected with her. And I admire who she is as a leader. She’s a nurse and has her doctoral degree, but she exemplified servant leadership. So it’s best in its best form when she volunteered to be not a guinea pig but to be that person to be inoculated first in front of the entire country. And so beyond that, she is a nurse leader. She’s a director, and I just dialogued with her about some of her strategies, and I’m so impressed. She is a great mentor and model for me.
What inspirational message would you like to share with the next generation of nurses?
To nurses, you are needed. As a nurse and person, the world of nursing needs you. You can relate to a particular group of patients. Sometimes, I’ve had experiences where a patient’s preference for a nurse of the same race can relate to that. And so I would say to Black nurses, specifically, you are valuable where you’re needed. You make a difference. The pandemic showed that those patients who were in need, who were on good to where, you know, transitioning, just wanted a person to be there to hold their hand as they took their last breath when family members were unable to be present at the time. And nurses were the only ones at the bedside. Those patients did not have a preference for color or any other defining characteristic. They just wanted a nurse or a person to be there with them. And so I, again, you are needed. You’re valuable. We don’t have enough nurses in hospitals, and so I aspire to do and to be and to be committed to the profession of nursing. It is a noble rewarding profession. And it’s fulfilling. I encourage those who are nursing students to remain committed to nursing school is not easy. But the rewards, in the end, will be fulfilling. And that would be my message that they stay committed to the profession because you are necessary. I advise all nurses to ensure they are aware of themselves and engage in self-care. Because for us to administer care to others, we must be mindful of our needs. The pandemic taught us that we must regularly check our mental health.
She grew up in a small town in Nigeria, where career options were limited for women, and her desire to become a nurse was considered too ambitious. Nevertheless, awe defied naysayers and has been a nurse for 36 years.
In February, we’ll highlight healthcare leaders who are prominent figures in their organizations and are making transformational impacts in nursing.
Meet Susanah Awe, RN, SCN1, at the University of Maryland Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Institute (UMROI)
Talk about your career path and how you ascended to that role.
I started my career as a registered nurse in Nigeria in 1987 and earned my midwifery certificate in 1989. Then I moved to the U.S. and began working as an RNII at UMROI in 2005. After some years, I decided to pursue my bachelor of nursing degree in 2013 to increase my knowledge of the field and position myself for growth opportunities in nursing care. In 2022, I was promoted to Senior Clinical Nurse 1 (SCN1) after fulfilling all the requirements to progress in patient care.
What inspired you to become a nurse?
Growing up, I had always wanted to be a nurse. I love caring for people and saw nursing as a platform to do that. I also wanted to carry the torch for my Mother, who desired to be a nurse when it was against the norm in her hometown. At the time, college admission was based on who you knew and how much money you had. She could not achieve her dream with little money and no access to influential contacts. She went on to become a teacher. Her boldness inspires me to pursue a dream no one else around her had dared to follow. Being a nurse brings me fulfillment and honors my late Mother’s memory.
What are the most important attributes of today’s nursing leaders?
The most important attributes of nursing leaders are:
Treating each person with kindness and respect
Excellent communication skills
A great leader must be a good listener and acknowledge issues openly, honestly, and objectively
Lead by example, not just by words, and be willing to do things most people find challenging
Think about the people you work with and have their interests at heart
Providing excellent service and being proactive about opportunities to grow one’s expertise.
What does it mean to you to be a nursing leader, and how are you making a difference?
Being a nurse leader means inspiring, influencing, and motivating nursing staff and other healthcare workers to work together to achieve their highest potential and collective organizational goal. I am making a difference by dealing with other co-workers with respect and kindness and being a good listener with good communication skills. In addition, I have helped solve challenges as they arise.
What is the most significant challenge facing nursing today?
Being short-staffed for brief periods has been a challenge, and even more now after the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic. Being short-staffed can lead to stress and burnout. Unfortunately, we lost many healthcare workers to the disease and the stressors it has brought.
As a nursing leader, how are you working to overcome this challenge?
I contribute to the effort to attract new nurses. When new nurses shadow me, I ensure they feel welcomed and provide support to help them succeed. I work with management to conduct interviews, and I gladly share lessons from my 18 years of experience working with the organization. I also inform them of the organization’s incentives, so new nurses are encouraged to stay and make the best use of the benefits available.
What nursing leader inspires you the most?
All the incredible UMROI nursing leaders inspire me because they are dedicated, passionate, and hardworking. They provide quality patient care and foster a great work environment for nursing staff.
What inspirational message would you like to share with the next generation of nurses
I grew up in a small town in Nigeria where women’s career options were limited. If you were not a stay-at-home mom, you were selling farm produce or becoming a teacher. Everyone but my parents thought my desire to become a nurse was too ambitious. But here I am today, thriving in nursing. To black nurses:
Pursue your dreams relentlessly.
When you face obstacles, remind yourself of your ‘why.’
Always do what is right, especially when no one is watching or applauding. Your integrity will speak for you.
Further your education, and dedicate time to improving your craft. This will ensure you are positioned to take on new opportunities. Lastly, remember to help other nurses while forging ahead on your professional journey.
Rhonda R. Foster, EdD, MPH, MS, RN, is the principal consultant at Stamp and Chase. Dr. Foster is a published and highly sought-after healthcare consultant and coach with a penchant for driving change, quality, and organizational improvement.
Dr. Foster’s consultation experience has allowed her to provide expertise in the U.S. in community hospitals, academic medical centers, and healthcare systems and hospitals in Brazil, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar. She describes herself as a committed, funny, and driven thinker. Her purpose is to make a difference in organizations and leave a legacy through the development and coaching of others.
Some know Dr. Foster as an executive coach, others as a consultant and teacher, but also as an executive leader and thought partner. She performs roles for the American Nurses Association, David Couper Consulting Inc., Stamp and Chase Consulting Firm, and as an independent consultant for her company, the Grace Consulting Group.
Dr. Foster is an important nursing leader, and we’re pleased to profile her as we celebrate Black History Month with the Black Nursing Leaders Series 2023.
In February, we’ll highlight healthcare leaders who are prominent figures in their organizations and are making transformational impacts in nursing.
Meet Dr. Rhonda Foster, the principal consultant at Stamp and Chase
Talk about your career path and how you ascended to that role.
My career started with my graduating from an associate degree program in nursing. I returned to school immediately because it was clear that I would need a bachelor’s degree in nursing to have more options. It took five years part-time to complete this program. I accepted my first management position in an ambulatory environment and was able to influence this level.
My leadership goal was always to advocate and influence decisions that affected nurses. I realized that the more I advanced and became educated, the more influence I could have in the healthcare environment. I completed a master of science in nursing administration degree from Georgetown University. My leadership trajectory was from manager to director to assistant vice president. My position was eliminated due to the consolidation of services, and I had a decision to make. Either return to school or pursue another leadership position. I chose to go to school.
I was admitted to the doctorate program in leadership studies at Bowling Green State University. This interdisciplinary program changed my perspective on my role and responsibility within healthcare. My focus shifted and became broader. I was an advocate and voice for staff and patients, and families. In so doing, I had to be fiscally responsible, competent, articulate and speak truth to power. While attending Bowling Green, I completed a master’s degree in public health administration. This degree stretched me even more to look beyond the hospital’s walls into the community and consider the social determinants of patients’ health. Equipped with this education and experience, I was ready for my first chief nursing officer position.
This position, my colleagues, and the patient population we served were incredible. My leadership philosophy was honed, and my professional growth was encouraged. I’ve held several other CNO positions in my career, but none were so instrumental in my growth and development. Mentors and advocates are critical to success. My career as a consultant evolved from mentorship. My career as an executive coach evolved out of mentorship. My career opportunities to write, speak at conferences, travel internationally, consult, and use my voice came from people inside and outside of healthcare encouraging me, offering opportunities, and seeing me for the person and professional that I am despite the color of my skin.
What inspired you to become a nurse?
My high school counselor helped me to make the decision. I wanted to work within the healthcare setting and wanted options. Nursing afforded me both.
What are the most important attributes of today’s nursing leaders?
The competencies required to lead have stayed the same. However, the value of specific competencies and attributes has changed. The most important attributes now are curiosity and courage. The environment is changing dramatically, and if leaders are not curious about possibilities and ask “what, how, and why” questions, they will limit themselves to what they already know. Unfortunately, that knowledge is dated. Courage is needed to change, test ideas, be wrong, be authentic, and be relevant.
What does it mean to you to be a nursing leader, and how are you making a difference?
Being a nurse leader to me means being a thought partner, using my voice to advocate and be provocative to stimulate others to think, and it means that I have a responsibility to grow daily.
What is the most significant challenge facing nursing today?
It is a fixed mindset about change, diversity and inclusion, and the community’s needs. We get in our way and move painfully slow. The pandemic reminded us that we could be radical, open-minded, and move at lightning speed. We can’t put those skills back on a shelf. We must be open to other points of view, other ideas, and methods to achieve excellence in patient care.
As a nursing leader, how are you working to overcome this challenge?
My circle is huge. I surround myself with diverse leaders from various disciplines and don’t believe I have to have all the answers. My mindset allows me to challenge myself first.
What nursing leader inspires you the most?
The leadership, work, and contemporary thinking of Dr. Maria O’Rourke inspire me. She is wise and yet a life-long learner. She is well-connected in the industry, which makes her an excellent resource. She doesn’t mind sharing the ups and downs of her career, and she is still mentoring nurses. She is an ideal role model and leader.
What inspirational message would you like to share with the next generation of nurses?
A message of hope. It is imperative that you don’t give up. Don’t give up being you, caring, using your voice, and speaking truth to power. Do it even if it is not valued, appreciated, or acknowledged.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
A favorite quote I value: “Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” —Jack Welch
Patrice Little, DNP, FNP-BC, is a senior policy advisor for the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, an initiative of AARP Foundation, AARP, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation working to improve America’s health through nursing.
She is also a family nurse practitioner and the CEO of NP Student ®, a digital lifestyle and educational resource for nurse practitioner students. In addition, Dr. Little has advocated for the nursing workforce on Capitol Hill and has worked as a content producer for Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Lawmakers show.
Before becoming a nurse, Dr. Patrice taught secondary science for three years in South Georgia and served on various committees, including the Ninth Grade Academy Retention Program, Physical Science Curriculum Committee, and as an Academic Decathlon Coach.
Dr. Patrice is an important nursing leader, and we’re pleased to profile her as we celebrate Black History Month with the Black Nursing Leaders Series 2023.
In February, we’ll highlight healthcare leaders who are prominent figures in their organizations and are making transformational impacts in nursing.
Meet Dr. Patrice Little, senior policy advisor for the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action and an adjunct faculty for Georgia Baptist College of Nursing at Mercer University
Talk about your career path and how you ascended to that role.
I like to tell people I took the scenic route to become a nurse. My first degree is in Biology Pre-medicine. Before college, I participated in a Saturday Science program at Nova Southeastern University in south Florida which is very similar to a STEM program. They introduced us to different sciences, including healthcare. I was interested in becoming a physician because of this program.
Fast forward to college, I was on track with finishing my biology degree. I wanted to explore the role of nurse practitioners because of my interaction with the campus’s nurse practitioner (NP). Her name is Mary. Specifically, I set out to become an NP, but you must become a nurse first.
I started my nursing journey by asking her to volunteer to see what [being an NP] was like. Eventually, volunteering at the student health center turned into a work-study opportunity. She was impressed with my work ethic and advocated for me to be a student worker. She encouraged me to complete my biology degree and come back for nursing.
That is why I taught high school science provisionally and how I used my biology degree. I had a great time developing curriculums to ensure students were academically successful. And in my third year of teaching, one of my close sorors said, “do you still want to be a nurse? They have an accelerated program at Georgia Southwestern State University, so you should do that.” I started the accelerated program in August 2006 and graduated in December 2007. After that, I continued with advancement and education, eventually completing my doctorate in 2018.
What inspired you to become a nurse?
Mary is why I decided to become an NP. At the time, she organized a campus assembly addressing ecstasy issues. It was like the problem that we see today with opioids. As a nurse, she took her time and educated us about drugs and how it impacts us. But it’s not even that alone. I went to her for primary care on the college campus. She was so warm and non-judgmental. I felt like I was in good hands, receiving care from her. And I was impressed that she did what was similar to what a physician would do.
My family is from Jamaica, and I was told my three career options: doctor, lawyer, or engineer. My sister is the physician in the family. And when I saw the campus’s nurse practitioner, I said, wait a minute, I want to know more about what she does. She mentioned her flexibility, how much it took, how long it took for her training, and what she could and could not do as a nurse practitioner.. That’s when I knew being an NP was for me. I could see myself doing this. I’m a very family-oriented person. I knew one day I would get married and have children. And I said this role fits what I would like to do in the future.
What are the most important attributes of today’s nursing leaders?
Emotional intelligence is the top attribute because it has to deal with the person’s capacity to have interpersonal relationships with the people they serve. Often, I feel that leaders may lack empathy because they may be more project or task-driven in things to be completed. When you have emotional intelligence, you understand that when your team is supported, emotionally, and respected, they’re more likely to produce at a higher level when the interaction is healthy. So that’s why emotional intelligence is essential.
The next thing is that leaders must be open-minded. That’s how innovation comes about. And that’s how we strengthen our system, either enhance or redesign it, so they’re more efficient in supporting whatever project we have. Often, we deal with leaders who want to be the ones who have the original idea or the only idea. And sometimes, and I know from being a leader, when you work too close to the project, you miss some things that are just slapping you in the face and, like, wait a minute, why don’t you try that. So you have to be open-minded about that. And then also have integrity. I’ve experienced situations where leaders have treated me one way in front of a group of people and then a different way behind a closed door. So we have to be integral with that because we’re demonstrating to our future leaders how they are supposed to conduct themselves in the future. And, of course, the basic or the most common thing is we want leaders to be decisive and disciplined.
But the main thing is interpersonal relationships. That’s what it’s about. That’s what carries you further than anything. It’s how you interact with individuals and navigate challenges or differences. So often, we like to label staff as being difficult or patients as being problematic. And really, what happens is they may have a different particular need, or there may be something going on at the root. And if you have emotional intelligence, you will understand how to handle that logically instead of emotionally.
What does it mean to you to be a nursing leader, and how are you making a difference?
If you had asked me a few years ago what I thought it was to be a nursing leader, my responses would have been different now that I’ve worked as a nursing leader. You must have the courage to stand and speak out when no one else speaks out. And I feel that that’s how I have an impact.
It takes a lot of courage to do something that someone else has not done before when everyone else is telling you, where’s the evidence? Sometimes, the evidence is what you see from your lived experience and has not been produced in the literature. And sometimes, you must go with that gut feeling and do what you need to address a huge problem in your organization or practice.
Being a great leader takes courage. They have to be great at communicating. For people to understand what you are trying to say and the vision, you must be excellent at articulating it clearly and concisely. And then it’s also easier for people to meet your expectations.
I’m making a difference with the platform that I started in 2018. And it’s evolved quite a bit before it was a magazine for nurse practitioner students. And then I realized what they needed, and more students started coming to me and those who aspire to be nurse practitioners. And I said, wow, now I see what the need are. So I get close to them by understanding their needs and curating a program to meet them.
What is the most significant challenge facing nursing today?
The most recent challenge highlighted in the news was the nursing scheme, which created 7600 fake nursing diplomas. There are several contributing factors to this. And often, we have to look at the system. Anytime it’s easy, just point, look at the outcome and say, this is bad. Yes, we know it isn’t good. But how did it get there? What’s the core reason people are trying to pass the rigor of nursing preparation to become a nurse? That’s the question that we must ask ourselves. And so when I asked myself this question, I say, okay, wait a minute, what have I seen from teaching as an adjunct, and with my platform, the fostering of student and faculty relationships to support them through the rigor of the program.
The other thing is the need for more resources. If the resources are there, then students can access them. But faculty can also refer students to help. But then, on top of that, we don’t even have enough faculty to meet this nursing shortage need. And certain things need to be in place to support faculty.
As a nursing leader, how are you working to overcome this challenge?
I’m working on a project at this time to address that need.
Other things could be the curriculum challenges we have to understand. For example, last year, I delivered a talk in New Orleans, focusing on the multi-generational workforce. Each generation has different needs. So it’s time out for nursing to say when I was in school, we did this, but it’s not applicable now. So let’s get over our egos and start acknowledging and addressing the issue. And that’s where emotional intelligence comes in.
With generations where the attention span may differ, you almost have to teach them to be students. When it comes to those basic skills to succeed in nursing school, basic reading and writing skills, and critical thinking, people often say I want to be a nurse because of what they see us do—but not understanding that it involves a lot of thought and problem-solving. So how do we prepare the newest generation to be thinkers when everything at the touch of a button is just given to them? It’s a lot of passivity instead of actively learning.
That’s the huge challenge that we have. We always have to look at our systems. What can we do to make our educational system better and more supportive for the student to be successful, but at the same time to lighten up the load on our faculty so they can make sure they deliver curriculums that the students will embrace?
What nursing leader inspires you the most?
The first nurse leader is Dr. Scharmaine Lawson. She’s a family nurse practitioner and the founder of Nola the Nurse Book, which will be a television series soon. What I appreciate about her is not only did she demonstrate how far you can go with your nurse practitioner degree, but when I reached out to her, I let her know what I was doing in 2018 as far as developing a resource for nurse practitioner students, she was the first one who was like, sure you can interview me, what do you need? And then, I followed up a couple of years later, during the pandemic, and I launched a transition to practice a summit for NP graduates. And I said, Dr. Lawson, can you be the keynote, and she agreed and was the keynote for that virtual summit. So I’m just highlighting just a few things that she has done. But overall, those few things translate into two words: support and mentorship. Having her support as a younger nurse segueing into becoming a leader was priceless.
The second one is Dr. Andrea Brassard. She has been a mentor to me for the healthcare policy part that I do now as a nurse because policy influences practice, which is crucial to what I do. I was finishing up my doctor of nursing practice scholarly project. And I have a habit of reaching out to authors who impressed me. So if an article or book is good, I am reaching out to that author. And I reached out to her and said, wow, this is amazing. Can I speak with you for a few minutes to let you know what I’m doing for my project? And she said, yeah, and the relationship evolved from there.
Again, I was impressed with how far you can go as a nurse leader, and more so with your doctorate. You can influence policy and do things on Capitol Hill. And so, again, she took me under her wings. She also educated me and exposed me to other resources and opportunities to help further my development as a nurse in healthcare policy.
What inspirational message would you like to share with the next generation of nurses?
We often seek mentorship to get to the next step in our careers. And it’s just important not to forget to pick up a book. Your greatest mentors will be in the books you read. For example, I’m reading Successful Women Speak Differently because I wanted to develop my speech a little more as a leader. I challenge Black nurses to take 10 to 20 minutes daily and read a book that could help them further develop as professionals.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I’m happily serving individuals and nursing institutions with my curated programs to improve student retention, provide standardized preceptorships, and to take the load off of faculty. I can be found at npstudent.com or LinkedIn for more information.
Mary Howard, DNP, RN, NEA-BC is the executive director of The Ohio State University East Hospital and is responsible for operations, strategic planning, and program development.
With training in the mediation of workplace and civil rights disputes and alternative dispute resolution, she believes in giving back to the community. She’s a member of the Community Relations Commission with the city of Columbus, the Board of Directors of CRIS (Community Refugee and Immigration Services), and the United Way Key Club.
Howard is an important nursing leader, and we’re pleased to profile her as we celebrate Black History Month with the Black Nursing Leaders Series 2023.
In February, we’ll highlight healthcare leaders who are prominent figures in their organizations and are making transformational impacts in nursing.
Meet Mary Howard, executive director of The Ohio State University East Hospital
Talk about your career path and how you ascended to that role.
II took a career center course in high school to become a nursing assistant in my junior and senior years. I was placed at Columbus Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio as a junior nurse’s aide and progressed to become a senior nurse’s aide. I continued working at Columbus Children’s Hospital while earning my bachelor’s degree in nursing and as a student nursing assistant. Upon graduation, I stayed at Columbus Children’s Hospital and worked as a new grad/staff nurse. I was always interested in becoming a nurse leader. My ultimate goal was to become the chief nursing officer at Columbus Children’s Hospital. However, life sometimes takes us down different paths.
I looked for opportunities to grow as a leader by participating in committees, community involvement, and learning from mentors. My first leadership role at Columbus Children’s Hospital was as a nurse manager three years into my tenure as a nurse. From there, I had the opportunity to serve in progressive nursing leadership roles. First, I was an assistant director at Columbus Children’s Hospital. I later became a director of nursing and chief nursing officer at another organization before coming to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Before my role as executive director, I served as a nursing director and chief nursing officer at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.
I have come “full circle.” The learning lab for the career center course I took in high school was at the hospital where I currently work (formerly St. Anthony Hospital). So I went from learning how to give a bed bath and make a hospital bed to serving as the executive director at this hospital and in a neighborhood close to where I grew up – it warms my heart.
What inspired you to become a nurse?
My healthcare journey was influenced early on by my mother. When my siblings and I were younger, on the weekends, she would take us to visit the residents at the nursing home where she worked. I noticed how much our presence made a difference in the lives of the residents, especially those who did not have a family. This fueled a lifelong passion for caring for others and giving back at an early age. I am thankful to my mother for providing me with this lesson, instilling the value of caring for others, and showing empathy and compassion. By the time I was in middle school, I knew that I wanted to be a nurse.
What are the most important attributes of today’s nursing leaders?
Given the ever-changing healthcare environment and stressors created by the pandemic, today’s nursing leaders must create a culture that promotes the health and well-being of their staff, which will positively impact patient care. Nurse leaders who show compassion and empathy help reduce stress among their staff, decrease burnout, and may serve to improve nurse retention. Critical thinking and decision-making skills are essential for nurse leaders to lead through uncertainty and changing times. It is also important to listen to staff, solicit their ideas and involve them in decision-making when possible. Finally, it is always important to lead with integrity to build trust with their team(s), colleagues, and patients: say what you mean, mean what you say, and follow through.
What does it mean to you to be a nursing leader, and how are you making a difference?
I consider it an honor and privilege. It’s a huge responsibility. I strive to make a difference by making decisions that are in the best interest of staff and patient care. Encourage work-life balance, allowing flexible and creative work schedules. Promoting nursing excellence ensures we provide the best possible care to our patients. Celebrating and recognizing staff and, importantly, mentoring and developing future leaders.
What is the most significant challenge facing nursing today?
Staffing shortages leaving staff working long hours and burnout is a major challenge today. Working in a pandemic/post-pandemic climate is stressful. There has been a rise in aggressive behaviors toward healthcare workers and staff are concerned for their safety.
As a nursing leader, how are you working to overcome this challenge?
To overcome these challenges, we promote a positive work culture, offer flexible work schedules, and encourage staff to take advantage of the wellness/self-care programs the organization provides. In addition, we are ensuring adequate staffing and advocating/supporting policies that support staff. It is also essential that we offer market-competitive salaries.
What nursing leader inspires you the most?
It isn’t easy to pick just one, so I would like to highlight two nursing leaders in our organization that are genuinely making a difference. Reggie Pryear is the chief nursing officer at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center East Hospital. He is a strong advocate for nurses. He rounds on the units daily and is very visible to staff. He listens to their concerns and ideas to understand their perspective and includes them in decision-making. He promotes nursing excellence and opportunities for advancement and celebrates staff achievements.
Bernadette Melnyk is the chief wellness officer of The Ohio State University and dean of The Ohio State University College of Nursing. She is a nationally recognized leader and researcher. She has established innovative programs at the college to educate nurses of today and build a pipeline for the future. She has guided the university in “its vision to become the healthiest university and community in the world.”
What inspirational message would you like to share with the next generation of nurses?
Early in my career as a staff nurse and nurse leader, I learned that you must cultivate relationships. The patients we serve and the people we lead must trust us. You must earn it -you can’t just ask for it. Relationships are the threads of teamwork. So, in addition to investing in others, invest in yourself. Educate yourself, develop strengths, and leverage them – invest in your personal development. And importantly, practice self-care.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Healthcare is at the heart of what we do and what I am passionate about—improving people’s lives, providing access to care, and treating people with dignity and respect. Serving and caring for individuals translates to serving and caring for communities. Access to healthcare, especially in underserved communities, is vitally important, and I am proud to be able to do that in a community nearby where I grew up. I am proud to support, promote and sponsor such programs as Moms2B – a program aimed at reducing infant mortality and our annual Healthy Community Day, where we offer several free health screenings. Addressing healthcare disparities and ensuring equitable healthcare is important to me and a purpose I stand ready to fulfill.
