Sandy Severson
Sandy Severson
- BSN, MBA, CPHQ, CPPS, CENP, FACHCredentials: BSN, MBA, CPHQ, CPPS, CENP, FACHE
Place of Employment: Arizona Hospital & Healthcare Association
Which Nursing Organizations are you currently a member of: ANA, AONE, AzONE, AzNA
Board(s) currently serving on: Arizona Action Coalition, Arizona Organizations of Nurse Executives, Carver Estates Home Association, Attorney General Healthcare Advisory Board
Tell us about your journey to the boardroom. What inspired you to seek a leadership position?
In my role as a nursing leader I have presented data to many hospital and health system boards and now I work at the hospital association level and work with many senior executives and trustees. I have extensive experience in educating executives on value-based purchasing and how to understand the shortfalls and strengths of quality measurement and reporting. As a senior executive who actively leads statewide improvement initiatives, I know the hard questions to ask to motivate consensus and inspire needed action for collective impact to reach what may seem as an unattainable aim.
What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader?
I attend many national and local leadership conferences annually as well as being active in national evidence-based societies, associations and blogs.
What impact have you had serving on a board? Example?
I have led the design of major statewide initiatives, participated in national program development, successfully lead a fund-raising project for $1 million, and successfully promoted legislative redesign which will result in a statewide registry for advance directives so healthcare workers/EMS in any setting can access electronic advance directives when needed.
What advice would you give someone going into a board leadership position for the first time?
Understand the role of the non-profit board and be willing to put in many hours of hard work outside the board meetings.
What are a few resources you would recommend to someone looking to gain insight into becoming a better leader and eventually obtaining a board position?
Nurses on Boards Coalition Resources, AHA Trustee Leadership sessions, Best on Boards, and Sigma Theta Tau’s Board Leadership Institute.
Why do you feel it is important for nurses to serve on boards?
Nurses connect the evidence with the intended outcome and connect with the stakeholders and the customers.
What do you think is the most significant barrier to nurses serving on boards?
There is not enough exposure to open positions.
Boards: Arizona Action Coalition, Arizona Organizations of Nurse Executives, Carver Estates Home Association; Attorney General Healthcare Advisory BoardContinue Reading
The Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC) represents national nursing and other organizations working to build healthier communities in America by increasing nurses’ presence on corporate, health-related, and other boards, panels, and commissions.