Susan Segundo, LPN

Susan is the kind of nurse who strengthens every space she enters. Through her engagement in critical decision-making workgroups, her dedication to lifelong learning, and her commitment to the community, she embodies the true essence of empowered nursing practice. Her influence is both broad and deeply personal, touching patients, colleagues, and the community in lasting and meaningful ways.

Susan plays an essential role in shaping organizational initiatives that directly impact safety and clinical excellence. She partners closely with her service line and Physician Services to sustain and optimize Beaker Specimen training, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and safety across all locations. This work has strengthened specimen integrity and improved workflow reliability which are two pillars of safe patient care.

She also serves as a key member of the Workplace Violence Workgroup and the Intimate Partner Violence Workgroup, bringing a calm, thoughtful, patient-centered lens to these important discussions. Her contributions help shape policies and practices that protect staff, support vulnerable patients, and reinforce the organization’s commitment to safety. Susan approaches these efforts with humility and courage, advocating for strategies that are both practical and compassionate.

In addition, she leads preceptor meetings, creating the material and ensuring the voices of frontline educators are heard and incorporated into decisions affecting onboarding, training, and role development. Her leadership strengthens the preceptor program, improves communication, and enhances the overall orientation experience for new nurses and clinical staff. The number of team members who attend these meetings speaks to her leadership skills and ability to spark engagement.

Through every committee and collaborative group she touches, Susan helps shape systems that elevate quality, safety, and the overall patient experience.

Susan models a lifelong commitment to learning—constantly expanding her own knowledge while lifting others along the way. She plays a pivotal role in hosting Ambulatory Clinical Orientation, ensuring every new clinical team member feels welcomed, supported, and prepared. Her warmth and expertise help lay the foundation for new colleagues to succeed.

Her commitment to professional development extends far beyond the walls of the organization. Susan volunteers at back-to-school events and visits local schools to share her journey in nursing, sparking curiosity and planting seeds of inspiration for future generations. She brings authenticity and encouragement to students, many of whom may be encountering a nurse leader in a professional role for the first time.

By balancing internal leadership with external outreach, Susan strengthens both the quality of care within Inova and the future pipeline of the nursing profession.

Susan is everything Structural Empowerment is meant to recognize. She is a collaborative decision maker, a devoted lifelong learner, a community partner, and a leader who uplifts everyone around her. Her work spans committees, education, safety initiatives, mentorship, and community engagement—yet she approaches each contribution with humility, warmth, and genuine care for others.

Her impact is felt on every level, and she is profoundly deserving of this honor."