Nurses on Boards Coalition and Chamberlain College of Nursing Join Forces to Empower Nurse Leaders — April 26, 2017
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. – April 26, 2017 – Today, the Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC) and Chamberlain College of Nursing announced the culmination of their year-long work developing a long-term strategic partnership with two goals: 1) Increase awareness of the significant impact nurses can have on healthcare through service on boards at every level; and 2) co-create programs to help nurses develop the competencies and readiness to serve on boards. Chamberlain has committed to supporting the work of the Coalition for a minimum of five years and will collaborate with the Coalition to accomplish the Coalition’s goals, positively impacting a culture of heath through the transformation of healthcare.
“We are excited about our Founding Strategic Partnership with the NOBC as it exemplifies our alignment around the vision, mission and purpose of empowering extraordinary nurses to step into leadership roles and have a significant impact on healthcare from bedside to boardroom,” said Susan Groenwald, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, national president for Chamberlain College of Nursing. “Through the development of programs that improve nurses’ leadership skills and competencies, nurses, including Chamberlain colleagues and alumni, will be more likely to participate on boards where they can make significant contributions to healthcare.”
According to recent statistics reported by Trustee magazine, an American Hospital Association publication, the vast majority of the nation’s hospitals and health systems do not have a nurse on their board. While America has 3.6 million nurses, only 5 percent of the nation’s hospitals have a nurse as a trustee or that serves on a board.1 Chamberlain aims to assist the Coalition’s goal of ensuring at least 10,000 nurses are on boards by 2020, and raise awareness that boards can benefit from the unique perspective of nurses.
“A nurse perspective helps boards achieve their goal of improved health, as well as more efficient and effective healthcare systems at the local, state and national levels,” said Rita Wray, MBA, RN, BC, FAAN, Chamberlain Board of Trustees member. “Nurses represent one of the largest segments of our healthcare workforce and it simply makes good business sense to have the nursing perspective represented in all places where decisions affecting health are made.”
Chamberlain intends to expand upon its current board member roster of nurse leaders including:
- Dawn Gubanc-Anderson, DNP, MSN, RN, NE-A, BC, FACHE, Chamberlain associate professor. Gubanc-Anderson was recently appointed as trustee for the Lake Health System Board of Trustees and is responsible for oversight of the organization's quality and strategic initiatives, as well as contributing to the strategic planning committee of the board. She also serves on the advisory committee for the American Organization of Nurse Executives Education Board, which aims to review priorities and develop educational offerings.
- Julie McAfooes, MS, RN-BC, CNE, ANEF, FAAN, Chamberlain web development manager. McAfooes serves as a steering-committee member for the Ohio Action Coalition (OAC) on behalf of the Ohio League for Nursing, one of the leaders of the OAC. The OAC fulfills the mission of the national Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action through workgroups that mobilize nurses and consumers at the state level to promote academic progression, workforce data analysis, and leadership and inter-professional education.
- Adele Webb, PhD, RN, FNAP, FAAN, Chamberlain Cleveland campus president. Webb serves as a partner with the World Health Organization (WHO), focusing on its Non-Communicable Disease Initiative, and is committed to providing access to advanced education to Seychelles nurse educators. Additionally, Webb was recently elected as president-elect of the Greater Cleveland Nurses Association, part of the Ohio Nurses Association.
“The NOBC is pleased to partner with Chamberlain College of Nursing to extend our reach and provide support to nurses as they offer their expertise to relevant boards,” said Kimberly J. Harper, RN, MS, CEO, Indiana Center for Nursing, Nursing Lead, Indiana Action Coalition-National Future of Nursing Campaign for Action, NOBC National Co-Chair.
“Placing nurses on boards is essential to transform and improve care for all people, particularly with the healthcare system in transition,” said Marla Weston, PhD, RN, FAAN, CEO, American Nurses Association Enterprise and NOBC National Co-Chair.
Nurse leaders that are currently serving on a board, or would like to be considered for a board seat, are encouraged to visit nursesonboardscoalition.org.
1 http://www.trusteemag.com/articles/1212-getting-nurses-on-the-hospital-board
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About Chamberlain College of Nursing
For over 125 years, Chamberlain College of Nursing has been at the forefront of excellence in nursing education. Chamberlain is increasing access to nursing education nationwide with campuses offering the three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program and flexible post-licensure programs such as the RN to BSN option, Master of Science in Nursing degree program, Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program and graduate certificates.
Chamberlain College of Nursing is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC, www.hlcommission.org). HLC is one of the eight regional agencies that accredit U.S. colleges and universities at the institutional level. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program, the Master of Science in Nursing degree program and the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program at Chamberlain College of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE, One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036, 202-887-6791). Accreditation provides assurance to the public and to prospective students that standards of quality have been met. For the most updated accreditation information, visit chamberlain.edu/accreditation.
Program/program option availability varies by state/location. Chamberlain reserves the right to update information as it becomes available. Information is current at the time of posting. Comprehensive consumer information is available at chamberlain.edu/studentconsumerinfo.
Chamberlain College of Nursing, LLC is a part of DeVry Education Group (NYSE: DV), a global provider of educational services. All rights reserved. chamberlain.edu.
About Nurses on Boards Coalition
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. The coalition’s goal is to improve the health of communities and the nation through the service of nurses on boards and other bodies, ensuring that at least 10,000 nurses are on boards by 2020. For more information visit nursesonboardscoalition.org or contact Patricia Epstein at 301-628-5203.
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