Mission Critical: Building a Culture of Excellence

Did you ever dream that someday you would be responsible for so many lives? The patients, of course, but what about the thousands of young, middle, and mature clinical professionals that you influence, every day, as an executive and as the chief nursing officer (CNO)? In addition to our influence on our colleagues, we also have the lion's share of accountability for patient safety, quality, and physician and patient satisfaction, as well as the usual executive role oversight for efficient operations, financial stewardship, strategic initiatives, community relations, and organizational culture. These are mission critical aspects for every organization, but especially in healthcare, because we are fortunate to be able to serve humanity in ways that heal, comfort, and cure.