Hines VA holds Nursing Leadership Workshop
Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital hosted a special conference for nursing leaders to develop methods that can grow Veteran care and facility culture, on May 18, 2022.
The day-long event, called Hines Nursing Leadership Advance, included Chief Nurses, Nurse Managers, and Assistant Nurse Managers from all services at Hines VA.
“We wanted to bring nurse leaders together to find growth opportunities and develop plans to address them. Hines has a committed team of leaders who are enthusiastic about finding the best practices to better Veteran care and cultivate staff engagement,” said Kathy Hendrix, Acting Associate Director of Patient Care Services and event co-organizer.
During the event, nursing leadership reviewed results from a recent Patient Care Services staff survey. They also developed goals and timelines, and briefed hospital Executive Leadership on issues and solutions raised in the survey.
“It was a great workshop. Considering the fact that Hines Patient Care Services just had a nursing culture assessment survey, it was very timely. Specific findings were addressed, and action plans developed,” said attendee Cecilia M. Beauprie, Hines VA Chief Nurse of Outpatient Nursing Service and Community Based Outpatient Clinics.
According to Alwin Abraham, Senior Health Systems Specialist and event co-organizer, events like this are important because it brings nursing leaders from different services together to address shared issues and priorities to help drive positive change in the facility.
Hendrix and Abraham noted that Hines nursing leaders were encouraged to take what they’ve learned to better their services through “tactical planning and actionable aspects of change implementation.”
“The exciting part about events like this one is that they spark an energy and enthusiasm amongst the leaders, and it can now spread to staff throughout their services,” said Hendrix. “Today and every day, the focus remains the same. To create a care environment that optimizes patient outcomes and the Veteran experience.”
It’s a goal attendees plan to meet.
“Having been in the role of a Chief Nurse at Hines, for over 20 years now, I plan to use what I learned to coach and mentor present and future leaders,” said Beauprie.