Carol L Koeppel-Olsen
October 2025
Carol L
Koeppel-Olsen
,
RN MSN NEA-BC
Administration
Abbott Northwestern Hospital
Minneapolis
,
MN
United States
Carol has been a mentor to many nurses and leaders across Abbott and Allina. She modeled making and following through on difficult decisions while holding to high-quality patient care standards.
Carol has spent her career leading and advocating for nurses and nursing practice. Carol started her career as a Nursing Assistant in 1980 and then advanced to be an LPN at the University of Iowa while completing her BSN. Carol’s career has spanned decades, covering multiple states, starting in Iowa, to Texas, Minnesota, Florida, and back home to Minnesota.
Carol started as an RN in CV surgery ICU, then advanced to the role of clinical nurse specialist, nurse manager, director, and finally worked as a CNO at 3 different hospitals/ health systems. During the start of the COVID pandemic, Carol joined Abbott Northwestern Hospital as our CNO/VP Patient Services, where she has led our team for an exciting and challenging 5 years. While starting a role during the midst of the COVID pandemic was not ideal, Carol was able to bring stability, nursing advocacy, and innovation. She advocated for bringing the DAISY Award to Abbott and elevating the recognition of the DAISY recipients by purchasing the DAISY “board.”
Carol recognized the importance of supporting nurses and led the creation of the Nursing Professional Development team, with the creation of the Nurse Residency program, Advanced Preceptor Development, and Tiered Orientation redesign. Carol has been a mentor to many nurses and leaders across Abbott and Allina. She modeled making and following through on difficult decisions while holding to high-quality patient care standards. Carol has taught many of us that you can do the “hard thing” and get through it when it’s the right thing to do.
Carol has been a staunch supporter of nurses and patient care excellence, leading quality improvement work, with the creation of Clinical Action Teams for CAUTI, CLABSI, Falls, and Skin; advancing evidence-based practice and support for nurses to present their work nationally at conferences; promoting nurse certification through the creation of the certification pathway program. We are extremely grateful for Carol’s leadership, dedication, and passion for the nursing profession for the last four decades.
Carol started as an RN in CV surgery ICU, then advanced to the role of clinical nurse specialist, nurse manager, director, and finally worked as a CNO at 3 different hospitals/ health systems. During the start of the COVID pandemic, Carol joined Abbott Northwestern Hospital as our CNO/VP Patient Services, where she has led our team for an exciting and challenging 5 years. While starting a role during the midst of the COVID pandemic was not ideal, Carol was able to bring stability, nursing advocacy, and innovation. She advocated for bringing the DAISY Award to Abbott and elevating the recognition of the DAISY recipients by purchasing the DAISY “board.”
Carol recognized the importance of supporting nurses and led the creation of the Nursing Professional Development team, with the creation of the Nurse Residency program, Advanced Preceptor Development, and Tiered Orientation redesign. Carol has been a mentor to many nurses and leaders across Abbott and Allina. She modeled making and following through on difficult decisions while holding to high-quality patient care standards. Carol has taught many of us that you can do the “hard thing” and get through it when it’s the right thing to do.
Carol has been a staunch supporter of nurses and patient care excellence, leading quality improvement work, with the creation of Clinical Action Teams for CAUTI, CLABSI, Falls, and Skin; advancing evidence-based practice and support for nurses to present their work nationally at conferences; promoting nurse certification through the creation of the certification pathway program. We are extremely grateful for Carol’s leadership, dedication, and passion for the nursing profession for the last four decades.