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Walk the Talk
I don’t think we do a good job of building leadership succession plans in nursing. This is not a new statement from me and over the past year I have had the opportunity to begin walking that talk. Not because I plan to leave soon, but because it takes time to build a strong succession plan within an organization. It is important for leaders to understand that succession planning is aligned with long-term organizational sustainability. A true legacy is to build a strong organization that has been set up to thrive after a leader moves on.
Over the past year, we have been working with our team on professional development and building new leadership talent. It seems like this should be easy, and for The Center, it gave us the opportunity to identify gaps and see what we need to do differently as a team. I then took a modified sabbatical which we named a 3-1-3 sabbatical. It wasn’t the traditional 3-12 month sabbatical. This model required me to step away completely for 3 weeks, return in a consulting role to work with the team to do a rapid cycle quality improvement process for a week, and then leave for another 3 weeks. My challenge was to completely disengage with Center work when I was away, and not re-engage as the CEO during the week back. I had to stay in a support role.
I am happy to report that this model allowed us to begin to test our foundations and provide new leadership experience and development for a variety of team members. The wonderful impact was that this requires trust among the team to be successful. This team allowed themselves to be very vulnerable, building trust and it turned out to be a very successful test! Additionally, I might add, I am very rested. What a gift! I plan to write about this experience, as I think it may be a model that other small employers could use to build organizational long-term sustainability and stronger relationships among team members. We are learning a lot from this exercise and are already making adjustments from our learnings!
Thank you for all you do! You matter. You set an example for our next generation of healthcare providers, and I am proud to call myself a nurse.
Ingrid Johnson DNP, MPP, RN, FAAN President and CEO
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Our own Tondeleyo Gonzalez was awarded the Margie Ball-Cook Award from the Colorado Nurses Association.
This award is given to those making contributions to advance equal opportunities in nursing for members of minority groups. A few members of the Center team were able to attend and cheer for her.
Congratulations Tondeleyo, well deserved!
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As nurses, we took an oath to practice evidence-based science. The most up-to-date evidence is clear; all decisions made from here on out that impact nursing practice must be made with the intention to:
- permanently remove barriers preventing nurses from impacting patients [or patient care or health] at the top of scope
- value nurses’ contributions
- prepare nurses to advance health equity
- diversify the workforce
If your organization is not making decisions that align with these evidence-based recommendations, we invite you to help us, and let us help you. Colorado has implemented five Strategic Advisory Committees that champion nurses and nursing practice in Colorado. You, too, can be a champion! Join us to advocate for yourself, the nursing workforce, and Colorado's health equity.
Learn More on Our Website.
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New Nurse Residency Apprenticeship
A huge congratulations to our Workforce Innovation Nursing Network (WINN) partners at Southwest Health System, Gunnison Valley, Animas Surgical Center, Mercy Hospital, and Delta Hospital for guiding their new nurse residents through the rigorous New Graduate Nurse Rural Residency Program! These residents completed over 144 hours of related instruction and gained 2,000 hours of hands-on experience, preparing them for roles in Medical/Surgical, Labor & Delivery, the OR, ICU, and the ER.
To the latest WINN graduates—your dedication and hard work has paid off!
Interested in supporting your new nurses with a rural residency program? Contact our team Tondeleyo or Cheryl.
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Nurses on Boards
Colorado’s Nurses on Boards and Action Coalition was one of 13 states that participated in an AARP Health Equity Innovation Grant in 2024. The grant's goal was to increase health equity across America through the increased number and diversity of nurses on boards, commissions, and appointments within and outside of healthcare.
The project title is “Strengthening Nurses’ Voices to Improve Health Equity: A Community-based Approach.” The data collected examines nurses' impact on addressing social determinants of health and leading change on issues of structural racism.
Colorado’s Nurses on Boards and Colorado’s Action Coalition lead, Callie Anne Bittner MS, RN, CCHC participated in the grant town halls and development of the grant outcome tools (stay tuned for their impactful release!).
Learn More on our Website
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Join Us
It is Going to Be GREAT!
If a full-day conference doesn't fit into your schedule, check out our new 4-hour Bias Busters Preconference Workshop.
This is an interactive workshop designed to increase awareness of bias and to create impactful conversations on how conscious and unconscious bias impact communication and decision-making when we interact with individuals and groups that are different from us. Attendees will walk away with tools and strategies to mitigate bias and create inclusive environments.
Student Registration - $100
General Registration - $140
Bias Buster Preconference - $60
Conference & Preconference Combo - $190
Visit the Conference Webpage for more information, view the schedule and REGISTER.
10 Student Registration Scholarships available thanks to the support of the Colorado Nurses Foundation.
Complete this form for your opportunity to receive this scholarship.
Check out our keynote speakers.
You don't want to miss this.
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E. Gaye Woods, MBA System Vice President, Equity and Inclusion, at CommonSpirit Health
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Connor Wesley BSN, RN is a graduate student at the University of Washington working on his Doctor of Nursing Practice.
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Robert Franklin II leads the diversity, health equity and inclusion programs and initiatives for Children’s Hospital Colorado.
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Leadership Diversity Conference
November 8, 2024
Bias Busters Preconference
November 7, 2024
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Nursing Student
Success Fund Fellows
Last September the Center launched its Nursing Student Success Fund that provides financial and other support services to nursing students to eliminate barriers of successful completion of school and transition to practice.
We are honored to introduce one of our fellows -Alicia Torres. Here is her story.
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Alicia lives in Trinidad Colorado, a small rural community in south central Colorado. She attends Trinidad State College (Trinidad campus) and will complete her ADN in May of 2025 and bridge to the RN-BSN Program summer of 2025. Her motivation to pursue nursing has been a dream since she was a child and watched her mother try to make it through CNA school but had to work to support her family. She is proud that she will be the first in her family to have a degree. She works two jobs to support her two children while managing nursing school. Her long term goal is to specialize in Forensics, become a SANE and an FNP.
To learn more about the Nursing Student Success Fund and donate, visit our website.
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The Fall Institute for Psychiatric Advance Practice Nurses has been providing professional development since 1979. This year's event was held in Pagosa Springs where content experts delivered evidence-based assessment and treatment methods for providers. Callie Anne Bittner, Project Director of The Center's rural behavioral health access expansion grants, attended to network with providers throughout Colorado and recruit preceptors for the BH Fellows.
The Center team also participated in the Colorado Rural Healthcare Conference and the Adams County Education Consortium Career Expo, connecting with more than 6,000 students eager to explore career opportunities in nursing and healthcare.
It is always great to get out and connect in the community!
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Nurse Refresher
Scholarship Opportunities
Nurses in Weld County and the Western Slope can apply for scholarships covering up to 100% of tuition. Eligible nurses must live in either Weld County or in the 22 counties that make up the Western Slope. Scholarships are funded by the Rocky Mountain Health Foundation and Weld Trust.
Register HERE & Contact Us if you have any questions.
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If you are looking for a professional development opportunity and love working with new graduate nurses and/or students, consider enrolling in our upcoming Preceptor 101 Training beginning on January 8th.
This training series consists of five 1-hour sessions that teach you the basics of what you need to know to become a great Preceptor and help grow our future nursing workforce. You can learn more on our Website and register using HERE.
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