Dr. Jamil Norman is the Tempo Academic Program Coordinator for the RN to BSN Program at Walden University and a certified nurse educator with over twenty years of experience as a registered nurse and over fifteen years in higher education.
Throughout her career, Dr. Norman has served as an agent of social change in the roles of educator, researcher, and mentor. She is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Network. As a nurse researcher, Dr. Norman works to advance the body of evidence on pregnancy-related health disparities among African American women.
In February, we’ve been highlighting healthcare leaders who are prominent figures in their organizations and are making transformational impacts in nursing.
Meet Dr. Jamil Norman, the Tempo Academic Program Coordinator for the RN to BSN Program at Walden University
Talk about your career path and how you ascended to that role.
So when I started, I worked as a labor and delivery nurse at the bedside. And so I worked as a labor delivery nurse for three years before I decided to get my master’s degree in nursing education. After I got my master’s degree, I started working at Grambling State University, and I taught women’s health because that was the only area I ever wanted to work or teach. I love women’s health and everything with laboring women and babies until it’s time to hand them off to somebody else. So then I taught clinical and women’s health for several years before I decided to get my PhD in nursing. And that’s kind of when I transitioned into more leadership. I was the BSN program director at an HBCU where I taught before transitioning to online teaching at Walden. Between that was having babies and I needed to be more available for my family, yet still having a career, so I transitioned into full-time on my teaching, which I call a work-life juggle, not a work-life balance. I could still advance my career and pick up my babies from school. And so it’s been wonderful. I get to do a little bit of research and also teach and have leadership in management for being the coordinator of our program.
You mentioned that you always wanted to work in women’s women’s health. Is that what inspired you to become a nurse?
I wanted to be a pediatrician until it was time to take all my biology courses. In my first semester of school, I took a micro and cellular biology class and scored a 32% on a test. I thought I was going to faint! I thought, oh, this must be a 32 out of 50. But it was an F. It was the worst grade I’d ever gotten in my education, and I quickly dropped that course and talked to family and friends to figure out if this was really what I wanted to do.
My sister is also a nurse, and when I talked to her, what I thought doctors were doing was actually what nurses were doing. So that’s when I pursued nursing, but I always knew I wanted to be in medicine. And in fact, I went from I’ll be a pediatrician to I’ll be a pediatric nurse. However, when I went through that rotation, I thought, no, this isn’t for me. And I got pulled down to the labor and delivery unit when I was a patient care tech, going through nursing school, and fell in love. I couldn’t believe that I loved it. And that was it. I was sold. It was the trifecta. And being with mom during the happy time. I love that. Women, you come into the hospital for a happy moment, right? When you’re in the hospital, you’re not feeling well, you know, something’s wrong. This is the hospital’s main area where you come in happy. And, yes, there are sad times, but most of the time, you leave happy. That was it. I was sold after that. I never wanted to do anything else at the bedside.After going through nursing school, I was like, nurses can do so much. Nurses do just so much that I love that about the profession. You can do anything in nursing.
What are the most important attributes of today’s nursing leaders?
Number one, for me, is always going to be passion. Because if you are not passionate about what you do, especially, you know, passionate about the profession of nursing, the hard days, they’re going to make you give up, and you’re not going to want to do it. I’ve seen it, some people go into nursing for money, but they don’t last. So you have to love what you do. And then it’s just accountability. And you’ve got to be a leader. You must be able to show up for those depending on you. And then the other thing right now, which is heavier in my mind, is you have to be ethical. And just everything that’s going on with the fake nursing degrees through Florida. I was heartbroken. When I saw that news, this wasn’t very good. And we’ve got to be able to protect the public. So you must have high ethics and moral standards to be a good nurse leader.
What is the most significant challenge facing nursing today?
It is burnout. Burnout has always been there. But after the pandemic, it’s challenging to be a nurse. Now, you’re short-handed. Sometimes you’re not very trusting of how people care for you whenever you’re in the workplace. And so burnout has got to be the biggest challenge. We have a lot of nurses who are educated to be nurses who are not working. And it’s because, you know, I’m not sure that we’ve always created the best environment for nurses to be able to, to live and to work and do what they, you know, love to do. So definitely, for me, the number one challenge is burnout, and at the bedside, as educators, the shortage is still there. For educators, when you have large classes, it’s exhausting.
What does it mean to you to be a nursing leader, and how are you making a difference?
The biggest thing for me is to embrace some of the changes occurring in the profession. Some nurses will tell you, don’t be a nurse. And I would never be that person because I think nursing is a wonderful profession. So I’m always trying to bring others into the profession and teach them to care for themselves. There are things that you can do to make sure that you don’t get burned out. I always tell my students if they don’t like what they’re doing, then change it. Don’t be afraid to change. Don’t just stay on at that job because you’re comfortable. If you’re tired, sometimes just learning something new and being in a different environment will bring back that passion you had when you first started and help with burnout and self-care. No one gets any awards for not using their days off. I tell everybody to use all their days and vacations, take time off with the family, and put the work aside so when they come back, they’re a better person for the people they work with and those care for.
What nursing leader inspires you the most?
I have had the pleasure of having a magnificent mentor throughout my nursing career. Her name is Dr. Afua Arhin, and I met her when I had just started as a nurse educator. She has been so impactful on me because she was the first African American nurse with a PhD that I’d ever met. She came in and taught me so much about effective leadership. She told me to get my PhD, and at that time, I was like, Are you crazy? PhD? If she told me to jump off the bridge, I’d be like, yes, we’re jumping off the bridge, and it will be fabulous. She’s just that encouraging, but she has been with me throughout my career. She helped me to go out and present at my first conference. I’d never been a presenter at a conference before. I always thought that was what somebody else did. It wasn’t what I did. And she said I have information and research to share. She just held my hand through being the educator in the classroom and developing me as a professional nurse, researcher, scholar, and presenter. And she still does that. Currently, she’s working on a Fulbright and researching in Ghana.
She has just been when there is anything I want to do professionally, and I always bounce ideas off of her. And it’s just been wonderful to have someone like that in my corner throughout these years. And the ways she’s helped me to be, she is for me to others. If she’s helping me, I’m helping to mentor students and lead them throughout their careers. So I learned how to be a mentor from having an amazing mentor.
What inspirational message would you like to share with the next generation of nurses?
My thing is always to be the change. I always tell everyone, there are many things that people will complain about, they don’t like, but they’re not doing anything about it. If you want something to change, you have to be the change. You got to get out there and make a difference, whether at the bedside, as an educator, as a researcher, or in whatever avenue you want to make an impact. So get out there and do it. Even if it seems too small, or it might even be too big, start chipping away at it, and get out there and be the change, even if it’s just for one person. I’ve helped students in courses where we’ll talk about social change. That’s our mission at Walden University. And sometimes they think they’re not doing anything. If you’re out there caring for patients, you don’t even realize it, but you are doing something. There may be something that you want to do on a bigger scale in your community. But whatever it is, figure it out, and go out there and do it. But be the change.
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
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.
