Transformational Leadership

ChristianaCare Nursing and HomeHealth leadership help shape the health system’s vision for the future and build the systems and environment necessary to achieve this vision. These exemplary leadership teams empower caregivers to contribute to transformations that meet the future of nursing and health care.

Council Highlights

Administrative Council

Chair: Jamie Ayala, DNP, RN-BC, NE-BC

• Created a Follow the Leader page on Microsoft Teams to enable nurse managers and assistant nurse managers to connect and support each other across all campuses.

• Developed a Nurse Administration Council (NAC) newsletter to ensure communication and education gets out to all leaders.

• Initiated leader walking rounds with NAC members to support two-way communication.

• Promoted a simplified way to conduct stay interviews with frontline staff and share information back to senior leadership.

Education, Development & Advancement Council

Chair: Samantha Greenlaw BSN, RN, PCCN

• Assisted in creating a new clinical ladder promotion process.

• Awarded Preceptor Excellence Awards and Dot Fowler Award at the Excellence in Nursing Awards ceremonies.

• Distributed the Learning Needs Assessment survey and disseminated results to participating units.

Nursing Research & Evidence-Based Practice Council

Chair: Kate Shady, Ph.D., RN, OCN, CCLS

• Established a direct mentorship program with nurse residents.

• Created an evidence-based practice (EBP) database for inpatient and outpatient topics.

• Developed a strategy to increase unstructured EBP and research mentorship between Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Council and Unit Practice Councils, including establishing quantifiable goals for EBP and research output.

Off-Shift Support Council

Chair: Cathryn Minnich, BSN, RN, CCRN

• Piloted Lumify flashlights in three units with great success.

• Extended blood drive and flu vaccination hours overnight on the Wilmington Campus.

• Hosted a Paws to De-stress event for overnight shifts.

Professional Nurse Council

Chair: Michelle Metcalf, BSN, RN-BC

• Increased caregiver recognition with expansion of the DAISY and ROSE Awards across campuses.

• Coordinated inclusive Nurses Month celebration by expanding activities to additional areas throughout the organization.

Quality and Safety Council

Chair: Elizabeth Shearon, MSN, RN-BC

• Partnered with key stakeholders to increase quality and safety report visibility and availability on ChristianaCare’s Clinical Effectiveness Reports website.

• Provided Nursing feedback and decision making on numerous quality and safety initiatives to improve nursing practice and clinical outcomes.

• Partnered with IT to create a Vocera texting template for potential change in patient condition/National Early Warning System, to improve communication between Nursing and providers.

• Collaborated with Pharmacy on AccuDose override medications and therapeutic duplication/medication administration that impacts on nursing caregivers.

Technology & Innovation Council

Chair: Kira Hoefler, BSN, RN, GERO-BC

• Improved timely and accurate documentation of vital signs by implementing VitalsLink, a system that allows caregivers to upload vital signs with the tap of a button.

• Reduced the time that caregivers spend searching for lab results by adding lab alerts to Care Compass.

• Created a REDzone strategy to reduce and eliminate distractions at the AccuDose.

Workforce Connection Council

Chair: Jasmin Orange, BSN, RN, CCRN

• Included Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in holiday standardization plans.

• Successfully piloted Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression, a screening that helps nurses assess aggression risk in patients and maintain a safe environment.

Systemwide promotions to nurse leadership

• Patricia Blair, MSN, APRN, ACNS-BC, CEN, CNML, LSSGB, nurse manager, Center for Surgical Optimization

• Maureen Boothby, MSN, RN, nurse manager, HVIS

• Courtney Cruz-Castaneda, MSN, RN, GERO-BC, nurse manager, 4C

• Tracy Curry, MSN, RN, OCN, nurse manager, 6E/Bone Marrow Transplant Unit

• Joshua Gorman-Zolochik, BSN, RNC-NIC, nurse manager, Pediatric Care Center

• Brooke Groff, BSN, RN, CDP, director of marketing, Care Transitions and Adult Day Program

• Michelle Gibson, MSN, RN, director of clinical operations, HVIS

• Dennis Harris, MSN, MA Ed, NE-BC, clinical operations director, Capacity Management

• Stephan Jones, MSN, RN, CCRN, NE-BC, nurse manager, 8S ACE Unit

• Janet Kucera, BSN, RN, nurse supervisor, Private Duty Nursing, HomeHealth

• Nikkole Lee, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, nursing professional development manager

• Theresa Mead, MSN, RN, PCCN, nurse manager, 7S

• Stacy Noel, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, integrative care manager

• Angelique Ombam, BSN, RN, nurse manager, 5E

• Ashley Pezzullo, MSN, RN, PCCN, CPAN, nurse manager, Newark Campus PACU/CSAU

• Lauren Rogers, BSN, RN, CCM, manager care management, CareVio

• Dawn Setting, BSN, RN, CCM, manager care management, CareVio

• Jessica Tagliaferro, MSN, RN, PCCN, nurse manager, 3C

• Kaprie Tserkis, MSN, RN-BC, nurse manager, HVIS

• Danielle Weber, MSN, MSM, RN-BC, NEA-BC, chief nurse executive