June 2026 Honoree
Vicki Good, DNP, RN, CENP, CPPS, FAAN
It is my distinct honor to nominate Vicki Good, DNP, RN, CENP, CPPS, for recognition as the 2026 DAISY Foundation Nurse Leader Award recipient of the Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC). Dr. Good exemplifies the highest standards of nursing leadership and service, consistently advancing the mission of improving community health through her impactful work on boards, within organizations, and across the profession.
Dr. Good serves as a national role model of nursing leadership excellence. Her distinguished career spans more than three decades, with executive leadership roles that have shaped clinical practice, patient safety, and workforce development across complex health systems. Dr. Good currently serves as the Chief Clinical Officer for the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), where she provides visionary leadership to advance clinical practice, establish standards, and shape national strategies that support critical care nurses and the patients they serve. In this role, she leads initiatives that elevate nursing practice, strengthen healthy work environments, and address the evolving complexities of acute and critical care. Her work reflects a deep commitment to ensuring that nurses are equipped, supported, and empowered to deliver high-quality, safe, and compassionate care across healthcare settings.
In her prior role as Executive Director of Nursing Professional Development at Mercy, she led a system-wide strategy aligning academic partnerships, workforce pipelines, and regulatory engagement, advancing nursing practice and care delivery at scale. Her prior executive roles, including Chief Quality Officer and Vice President, further underscore her ability to lead transformational change across multiple hospitals and care settings.
A visionary leader, Dr. Good’s tenure with the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, including her role as the organization’s Chief Clinical Officer, reflects her enduring commitment to advancing the profession. Her leadership in establishing and sustaining Healthy Work Environments represents a seminal contribution to nursing and healthcare, culminating in her well-deserved induction into the American Academy of Nursing. This body of work has influenced national conversations on workforce well-being, patient safety, and quality care.
Dr. Good is a tireless advocate for the NOBC mission to improve community health. She has consistently leveraged her leadership platforms to advance policies and practices that strengthen care delivery and protect the public. Her expertise in patient safety, quality improvement, and workforce resilience is nationally recognized, including her designation as one of the “50 Experts Leading the Field of Patient Safety”. Through her publications, presentations, and national service, she has shaped the discourse on safety, burnout prevention, and leadership accountability in healthcare.
Her commitment to board service and governance is equally notable. Dr. Good has served in multiple board roles, including as President of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and in her current service on the Board of Directors for the Child Advocacy Center, where she has held key leadership positions, including President. In each role, she brings strategic insight, collaborative leadership, and a deep commitment to community impact.
Dr. Good is also deeply committed to mentoring and sponsoring others for board service and leadership. Throughout her career, she has invested in developing the next generation of nurses through academic roles, professional development initiatives, and national engagement. As a strong advocate for the associate degree pathway, she has worked to expand access and opportunity within the profession. Notably, she led the creation of eight annual scholarships supporting senior nursing students committed to acute and critical care practice, directly strengthening the workforce pipeline and advancing equitable access to professional advancement.
Her leadership is grounded in fostering environments of trust, mutual respect, and professional growth. Dr. Good’s work in cultivating Healthy Work Environments exemplifies her commitment to creating cultures where nurses and healthcare teams can thrive. She consistently models ethical leadership, collaboration, and accountability, ensuring that excellence in practice is both expected and supported.
Above all, Dr. Good demonstrates compassionate leadership, the hallmark of the DAISY Awards and a defining characteristic of her career. Whether advancing patient safety initiatives, mentoring emerging leaders, or shaping national policy conversations, she leads with integrity, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to improving outcomes for patients and communities.
Dr. Good’s current engagement with the Nurses on Boards Coalition further reflects her dedication to advancing its mission. Her contributions have already generated meaningful dialogue and strategic insight, strengthening NOBC’s work and impact.
For these reasons, Dr. Vicki Good is an exceptional candidate for recognition. She embodies the best of nursing leadership, board service, and community impact, and her contributions continue to shape the profession's future in profound and lasting ways.
Dr. Good serves as a national role model of nursing leadership excellence. Her distinguished career spans more than three decades, with executive leadership roles that have shaped clinical practice, patient safety, and workforce development across complex health systems. Dr. Good currently serves as the Chief Clinical Officer for the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), where she provides visionary leadership to advance clinical practice, establish standards, and shape national strategies that support critical care nurses and the patients they serve. In this role, she leads initiatives that elevate nursing practice, strengthen healthy work environments, and address the evolving complexities of acute and critical care. Her work reflects a deep commitment to ensuring that nurses are equipped, supported, and empowered to deliver high-quality, safe, and compassionate care across healthcare settings.
In her prior role as Executive Director of Nursing Professional Development at Mercy, she led a system-wide strategy aligning academic partnerships, workforce pipelines, and regulatory engagement, advancing nursing practice and care delivery at scale. Her prior executive roles, including Chief Quality Officer and Vice President, further underscore her ability to lead transformational change across multiple hospitals and care settings.
A visionary leader, Dr. Good’s tenure with the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, including her role as the organization’s Chief Clinical Officer, reflects her enduring commitment to advancing the profession. Her leadership in establishing and sustaining Healthy Work Environments represents a seminal contribution to nursing and healthcare, culminating in her well-deserved induction into the American Academy of Nursing. This body of work has influenced national conversations on workforce well-being, patient safety, and quality care.
Dr. Good is a tireless advocate for the NOBC mission to improve community health. She has consistently leveraged her leadership platforms to advance policies and practices that strengthen care delivery and protect the public. Her expertise in patient safety, quality improvement, and workforce resilience is nationally recognized, including her designation as one of the “50 Experts Leading the Field of Patient Safety”. Through her publications, presentations, and national service, she has shaped the discourse on safety, burnout prevention, and leadership accountability in healthcare.
Her commitment to board service and governance is equally notable. Dr. Good has served in multiple board roles, including as President of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and in her current service on the Board of Directors for the Child Advocacy Center, where she has held key leadership positions, including President. In each role, she brings strategic insight, collaborative leadership, and a deep commitment to community impact.
Dr. Good is also deeply committed to mentoring and sponsoring others for board service and leadership. Throughout her career, she has invested in developing the next generation of nurses through academic roles, professional development initiatives, and national engagement. As a strong advocate for the associate degree pathway, she has worked to expand access and opportunity within the profession. Notably, she led the creation of eight annual scholarships supporting senior nursing students committed to acute and critical care practice, directly strengthening the workforce pipeline and advancing equitable access to professional advancement.
Her leadership is grounded in fostering environments of trust, mutual respect, and professional growth. Dr. Good’s work in cultivating Healthy Work Environments exemplifies her commitment to creating cultures where nurses and healthcare teams can thrive. She consistently models ethical leadership, collaboration, and accountability, ensuring that excellence in practice is both expected and supported.
Above all, Dr. Good demonstrates compassionate leadership, the hallmark of the DAISY Awards and a defining characteristic of her career. Whether advancing patient safety initiatives, mentoring emerging leaders, or shaping national policy conversations, she leads with integrity, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to improving outcomes for patients and communities.
Dr. Good’s current engagement with the Nurses on Boards Coalition further reflects her dedication to advancing its mission. Her contributions have already generated meaningful dialogue and strategic insight, strengthening NOBC’s work and impact.
For these reasons, Dr. Vicki Good is an exceptional candidate for recognition. She embodies the best of nursing leadership, board service, and community impact, and her contributions continue to shape the profession's future in profound and lasting ways.
Thank you, Vicki, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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