Credentials: BSN, RN, HN, CLC, Birth Doula
Place of Employment: Adventist Health Simi Valley Hospital
Which Nursing Organizations are you currently a member of: AWHONN
Board(s) currently serving on: Maternal Mental Health Coalition of Ventura County
Tell us about your journey to the boardroom. What inspired you to seek a leadership position?
Previous experience writing policy for breastfeeding rights of student mothers on California State University Channel Islands campus.
What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader?
Listening and supporting my team members, seeking information on effective nurse leadership, advocacy, and pursing an advanced practice degree.
What impact have you had serving on a board? Example?
Providing organization when connecting existing community resources.
What advice would you give someone going into a board leadership position for the first time?
Ensure you are aware of expectations and know that everyone brings their own experiences and **personalities to the table. Teamwork is a must.
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?
Bridge’s Model of Change.
Why do you feel it is important for nurses to serve on boards?
Nurses are skilled at seeing things holistically, able to continuously reevaluate, and have exceptional critical thinking skills. This, and the trust they hold in the community, makes them uniquely suited to developing needs assessments, action plans, interventions, and evidence-based policies free of political influence.
What do you think is the most significant barrier to nurses serving on boards?
Time. Staff nurses are overworked and burnt out with staffing ratios. Full time nurses should be granted time to serve on shared governance unit boards, community health boards, etc. The private healthcare system itself is a barrier to patient care and nurse leadership.
