Charting the Course with Karen Keady

Dear Colleagues, 

I want to celebrate the power of your voices and the impact of your advocacy. Since our Bylaws were first ratified in 1980, nurses have consistently championed the highest standards of patient care and fought for the recognition and respect our profession deserves. We had 101 delegates, an unprecedented record attendance. Important amendments to the Bylaws were voted on and this demonstrates the exceptional commitment our nurses and leaders have toward professional governance. Thank you for ensuring that our collective voice resonated during the 15th Biennial Bylaws Convention. 

Congratulations to our many awardees: the DAISY recipient, Katrina Brown-Magnet Nurse of the Year, and to all of VUMC for our 5th time earning Best Place to Work for Men in Nursing! I hope you will find time to celebrate, with family and friends, the many end-of-year holidays coming up. If you are working over one of those holidays, know that you are appreciated. 

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended my inaugural Grand Rounds. You asked smart questions and filled the room with positive energy; I am excited for the bright future we are building together.

Karen Keady, PhD, RN, NEA-BC
VUMC System Chief Nursing Officer 




 

Past Charting the Course Messages
 

Dear Colleagues, 

This month's newsletter is a testament to the sustained impact our nurses have on our patients and our organization. Dr. Mamie Williams' leadership inspires us all to create a more inclusive and equitable workplace. The MICU's recognition demonstrates how teamwork, when powered by evidenced-based practice, delivers world-class patient care. And, with the support of new grant funding, we will continue to invest in programs that empower our nurses to integrate and advance our DEIB values into the future of nursing.  

Congratulations to our DAISY Award recipients! Together, we’re making a lasting difference in each other’s lives and the lives of our patients.

Karen Keady, PhD, RN, NEA-BC
VUMC System Chief Nursing Officer 

Dear Colleagues, 

Your steadfast commitment to providing innovative world-class patient and family-centered care is what sets us apart as Vanderbilt Nurses. To maintain this standard, we must prioritize self-care and support each other. In the September edition of Nursing Notes, you can look forward to learning more about nurse wellness and our commitment to nurturing the next generation of healthcare leaders. These partnerships with our community members are incredibly valuable and these investments will help us stabilize the workforce. You'll also read about the role Vanderbilt Nurses play in setting benchmarks as global leaders in critical care training. 

Congratulations to our DAISY Award recipients! Together, we’re making a lasting difference in each other’s lives and the lives of our patients.

Karen Keady, PhD, RN, NEA-BC
VUMC System Chief Nursing Officer 

As I come to the end of my second month here at VUMC, I am grateful to all the welcoming people who have helped orient me. Our recent triennial Joint Commission Survey was a resounding success, truly one of the best I’ve witnessed. The teams were confident, organized, and open to feedback. The surveyors commented multiple times on the knowledge, professionalism, and compassion of our nurses and clinical teams.  

We welcomed 327 nurse residents over the summer with an inaugural picnic celebration at First Horizon Park. It was wonderful to meet our new nurses who have come from all over to join the Vanderbilt family.  

As I conduct my 100-day assessment of Vanderbilt Health and our nursing programs, it's clear what sets us apart: our unwavering embrace and support for new hires and the culture of kinship that I witness everywhere. Our nurses’ exceptional dedication proves that our Credo is not just rhetoric but the foundation of excellent care.

We are committed to investing in Vanderbilt nurses with an expanded student loan repayment program inclusive of LPNs and respiratory therapists. More details are coming soon.  

The coming fiscal year holds much promise as we construct the 21st Street tower and expand our patient services. We eagerly anticipate the expansion of our emergency room and the addition of the Pediatric ENT Clinic this summer in Hendersonville.

Here are a just a few more key advancements and offerings we’re making this year:

• Beginning our fifth Magnet journey
• Holding another EPB Plunge in September  
• Deploying a new system-wide intranet and new communication tools for nurses to improve engagement  
• Introducing inclusive learning resources for nurse educators using a REDCap-based algorithm that individualizes the learning environment

Together, we can cultivate a culture of excellence, caring for our patients and each other. Lastly, I would like to offer a heart-felt congratulations to the latest recipients of The DAISY Award!

Karen Keady, PhD, RN, NEA-BC
VUMC System Chief Nursing Officer