Louise started her career in 1974 as a clinical nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Labor and Delivery, Postpartum, and High-Risk Obstetrics areas. Over the years, she assumed many leadership roles, held various nursing board positions, and became a member of several professional nursing organizations. Louise has been an amazing Chief Nursing Officer for the past 10 years and continues to exemplify the true essence of a transformational leader. She is an extraordinary nurse leader, the kind we all aspire to be. By leading with passion and integrity, Louise inspires us to achieve extraordinary outcomes and creates a culture of nursing excellence. As a result, we have achieved multiple prestigious honors including two consecutive ANCC Magnet® recognitions and Baby Friendly designation in the nation's 2nd largest birthing center.
There are infinite examples of how Louise exemplifies the qualities of our Professional Practice Model every day.
She empowers clinical nurses to make decisions by engaging them in discussions at the Nursing Practice Council, Magnet Champions, and Peer Review Committee meetings. She takes time to listen to their input and values and respects their responses, empowering them to make decisions that affect their practice and improve patient outcomes.
For leaders, she provides guidance and support while encouraging us in our endeavors with the freedom to make decisions, implement ideas, optimize creativity, and grow and develop as professional nurses.
Louise promotes a culture of safety by sharing information so that nurses can implement initiatives to drive outcomes and even went so far as to put on a poodle skirt and sing and dance in a video that promoted patient safety through hand hygiene best practices - Born to Hand Wash!
She values education and nursing certification as Louise recognizes that lifelong learning and having specialized knowledge and skill promotes professionalism and improves nursing practice and patient outcomes. With her support and encouragement, our nurses have achieved outstanding certification rates and are well on their way to achieving our goal of 80% BSN by 2020.
Louise uses innovative strategies to develop and engage nurses and create a resilient nursing team by increasing their knowledge and infusing the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Nurses into practice.
She engages clinical nurses and leaders in the promotion of the profession and creating a positive image of nursing. Louise values, respects, and recognizes the team for their contributions. We are so proud to work with her because she makes us feel valued and it is obvious that she truly cares about her team. Louise is an exceptional nursing leader who sets the example of how truly amazing it is to practice our profession!