Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Professional And Community Volunteer Services
Specialized Training
Certification
Interests
Timeline
Generic

Amy Nicole Akers

Wilmington,NC

Summary

Results-oriented professional with a strong background in leadership and innovative problem-solving. Deep understanding of organizational growth and operational efficiency, utilizing expertise in financial management and team development. Committed to driving impactful outcomes through forward-thinking strategies and fostering effective collaboration.

Overview

28
28
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

VP, Chief Nursing Officer Coastal Region

Novant Health
07.2022 - Current
  • Established Nursing Regional Float Pool to allow for increased flexibility for team members and growth opportunities
  • Through collaboration with other regional executives, Led cross-functional teams for the successful completion of improved patient flow and throughput ensuring right care delivered at the right location
  • Demonstrated leadership skills to motivate employees and build competent teams within facilities, across the region and the Novant Health system.
  • Collaborated with executive teams to develop strategic initiatives and long term goals around team member engagement, patient experience, safety and quality, growth and finance.
  • Decreased TO from 34% to 12% across the Coastal region
  • Partnered with local chamber and nursing schools to establish the NC Health Talent Aliance through the SEAHEC chapter focused on workforce development - accepted role of vice chair

VP, Chief Nursing Executive

Novant Health, Inc
07.2021 - 07.2022
  • Cultivated strong relationships with key stakeholders, including customers, vendors, regulators, and community leaders to promote collaboration and long-term success.
  • Led cross-functional teams for the successful completion of major projects, resulting in increased efficiency and client satisfaction.
  • Demonstrated proficient leadership skills to motivate employees and build competent teams.
  • Collaborated with senior management to develop strategic initiatives and long term goals.
  • Established a culture of continuous improvement, fostering innovation and driving sustainable growth across the organization.
  • Ensured regulatory compliance at all times by implementing robust internal controls systems coupled with proactive monitoring mechanisms.
  • Led recruitment and development of strategic alliances to maximize utilization of existing talent and capabilities.

VP, Associate Chief Nurse Executive

New Hanover Regional Medical Center
10.2017 - 07.2021
  • Company Overview: New Hanover Regional Medical Center is a public, not-for-profit healthcare system located in Wilmington, North Carolina
  • As the largest healthcare provider in southeastern North Carolina, the system consists of hospitals, outpatient centers, emergency services and a physician network
  • Featured services include bariatric surgery, behavioral health, cancer, children's health, emergency, heart, home care, imaging and diagnostics, neuroscience, orthopedics, rehabilitations, spine, stroke, trauma, urgent care and women's health
  • New Hanover Regional Medical Center is a public, not-for-profit healthcare system located in Wilmington, North Carolina
  • As the largest healthcare provider in southeastern North Carolina, the system consists of hospitals, outpatient centers, emergency services and a physician network
  • Featured services include bariatric surgery, behavioral health, cancer, children's health, emergency, heart, home care, imaging and diagnostics, neuroscience, orthopedics, rehabilitations, spine, stroke, trauma, urgent care and women's health

VP of Patient Services

New Hanover Regional Medical Center
10.2016 - 10.2017

Assistant Vice President of Nursing

New Hanover Regional Medical Center
10.2015 - 10.2016

Director of Orthopedics, Neurology, Pediatrics and Director of Rehabilitation (In-patient and Out-patient)

LewisGale Medical Center
06.2014 - 10.2015
  • Company Overview: LewisGale Medical Center is a for-profit 521 bed facility
  • As a member of the HCA Virginia Health System it serves as the tertiary care center for the LewisGale Regional Health System throughout southwest Virginia
  • This network consists of four hospitals, six outpatient care centers and 2 cancer centers with service line focus in cardiac, orthopedic-spine, oncology and maternal/newborn
  • Oversight and accountability for services surrounding orthopedic, spine, neurology and pediatric patients in a 30 bed medical-surgical department
  • Direct report to the CNO, as well as reporting to the VP of Orthopedics and Spine Services for the LewisGale Regional Health System
  • Responsible for 38+ employees with one clinical coordinator as a direct report
  • Consistently maintained 100% budgeted productivity performance
  • Consistently maintained one of the highest scoring Med/Surg units in patient satisfaction
  • Achieved 100% in Core Measures surrounding SCIP and pediatric asthma
  • Partnered with Business Health Services on Community Outreach projects
  • Maintained Shared Governance teams at the department level, department representation on every Shared Governance Council
  • Facilitated Professional Development Council for the facility and served as a leadership member of the market wide clinical ladder council
  • Served as the facility Orthopedic Service Line leader working with the VP of Orthopedic and Spine Services for the health system
  • Served as a member of the Stroke Committee obtaining Primary Stroke Center Re-Certification through The Joint Commission in 2014
  • Facilitated construction/renovations on 6 east in 2014-2015
  • Oversight and accountability for rehabilitation service, to include a 35 bed in-patient department and out-patient services
  • Direct report to the CNO, as well as reporting to the VP of rehabilitation services for the division
  • Responsible for 110+ employees with one unit manager of the in-patient department and one assistant director of therapy services as direct reports
  • Consistently maintained 100% budgeted productivity performance
  • Improved PEM scores quarter over quarter
  • Increased census monthly, YOY, and sustained increase month over month
  • Increased admissions monthly, YOY, and sustained increase in admissions
  • Improved quality quarter over quarter as seen through improved PEM results
  • Obtained needed equipment for both the inpatient and out-patient therapy areas, including ReDoc
  • Facilitating 1.3 million construction/renovations for rehabilitation services (2014-2015)
  • LewisGale Medical Center is a for-profit 521 bed facility
  • As a member of the HCA Virginia Health System it serves as the tertiary care center for the LewisGale Regional Health System throughout southwest Virginia
  • This network consists of four hospitals, six outpatient care centers and 2 cancer centers with service line focus in cardiac, orthopedic-spine, oncology and maternal/newborn

Director of Orthopedics, Neurology, Pediatrics

LewisGale Medical Center
05.2013 - 06.2014
  • Oversight and accountability for services surrounding orthopedic, spine, neurology and pediatric patients in a 30 bed medical-surgical department
  • Direct report to the CNO, as well as reporting to the VP of Orthopedics and Spine Services for the LewisGale Regional Health System
  • Responsible for 38+ employees with one clinical coordinator as a direct report
  • Consistently maintained 100% budgeted productivity performance
  • Consistently maintained one of the highest scoring Med/Surg units in patient satisfaction
  • Maintained 100% in Core Measures surrounding SCIP and pediatric asthma
  • Partnered with Business Health Services on Community Outreach projects
  • Maintained Shared Governance teams at the department level, department representation on every Shared Governance Council
  • Facilitated Professional Development Council for the facility and served as a leadership member of the market wide clinical ladder council
  • Served as the facility Orthopedic Service Line leader working with the VP of Orthopedic and Spine Services for the health system
  • Facilitating construction/renovations on 6 east (2014)
  • Improved patient satisfaction, HCAHPS, scores
  • Established requirements for nursing staff surrounding PALS and PEARS certification, 100% of staff will be certified within 1 year (2014)

Interim Director of Maternity Care Center

LewisGale Medical Center
06.2013 - 10.2013
  • Oversight and accountability for Maternity Care Services including labor and delivery, OB-OR, ante-partum, post-partum, newborn nursery
  • A 17 bed unit including 9 LDRP's, 2 Recovery rooms, 8 medical rooms and an adjacent OR suite
  • Direct report to the CNO
  • Responsible for 60+ employees with one clinical coordinator and an office coordinator as direct reports
  • Less than 5% RN turnover maintained
  • Consistently maintained 100% productivity
  • Maintained patient satisfaction/engagement scores (HCAHPS) above or equal to the 90th percentile
  • Compliance of no elective delivery prior to 39 weeks maintained at 100%

Director of Orthopedics, Neurology, Pediatrics

LewisGale Medical Center
11.2009 - 05.2013
  • Oversight and accountability for services surrounding orthopedic, spine, neurology and pediatric patients in a 30 bed medical-surgical department
  • Direct report to the VP of Orthopedics and Spine Services for the LewisGale Regional Health System, as well as reporting to the CNO
  • Responsible for 38+ employees with one clinical coordinator as a direct report
  • Consistently maintained 100% Budgeted productivity performance
  • Improved RN satisfaction survey scoring above the national mean in three out of five categories with 90% RN participation
  • Achieved 100% in Core Measures surrounding SCIP and pediatric asthma
  • Implemented bedside reporting and charting
  • Increased orthopedic certified nurses from 8% to 20% YOY
  • Partnered with Business Health Services on Community Outreach projects
  • Implemented Shared Governance teams at the department level, department representation on every Shared Governance Council, recruited Magnet/Service Excellence Champions
  • Served as the facility Orthopedic Service Line leader working with the VP of Orthopedic and Spine Services for the health system
  • Served as a member of the Stroke Committee obtaining Primary Stroke Center Certification through The Joint Commission in 2012
  • Completed evidenced based research project in 2012

Director of Emergency Services

LewisGale Medical Center
07.2007 - 11.2009
  • Oversight and accountability for a 27 bed department, including an accredited chest pain center and fast track area
  • Responsible for approximately 90 employees with an assistant director, clinical educator, chest pain center coordinator and emergency management coordinator as direct reports
  • Facilitated ED throughput committee
  • Consistently maintained 100% Budgeted productivity performance
  • Successfully led the ED/Chest Pain Center to achieve Chest Pain Center accreditation for the 2nd time
  • Consistent LPT/LPMSE less than 1%
  • Created dedicated lab phlebotomist position in the department
  • Created additional revenue integrity position dedicated to the department to assist with charges and education of staff on documentation
  • Successfully met core measure requirements related to the department
  • As part of the STEMI committee, met door to dilation times
  • Successfully obtained measures related to risk premium credit
  • Maintained and built EMS relationships to include staff ride-a-longs and EMS personnel shadowing in the ED, regularly scheduled meetings with multijurisdictional areas to improve throughput
  • Collaborated with the physician group to improve fast track throughput

Assistant Director of Emergency Services

LewisGale Medical Center
10.2006 - 07.2007
  • Co-lead with member of IS/IT in the implementation of electronic nursing documentation in 2006
  • Assisted team in successfully obtaining the 2nd accredited chest pain center in VA
  • Increased ED patient satisfaction from the HCA 3rd to the 1st quartile
  • Served as Director in her absence

Forensic Nursing Coordinator

01.2004 - 01.2006
  • Lead team of trained forensic nurses in providing services to 3 facilities to assist with victims of violence
  • Oversaw billing practices related to services provided

Emergency Department staff RN/charge RN/Forensic Nurse Examiner

01.2000 - 01.2004
  • Specialized education and mentorship as a forensic nurse to treat adult and pediatric victims of violence
  • Served as charge nurse in the emergency department with 35-40,000 visits/year

Progressive Care Department Unit Manager

01.1999 - 01.2000
  • Managed day to day operations in the telemetry, PCD department

Progressive Care Department RN/charge RN

01.1998 - 01.1999
  • Served as a charge nurse in the telemetry, PCD department

Progressive Care Department US/TA/MT

01.1997 - 01.1998
  • Multi-skilled and flexible in job roles as unit secretary, technical assistant and monitored tech overseeing telemetry for all patients in the department

Education

Doctorate in Nursing, Executive Leadership - Nursing Administration

American Sentinel - Post University
Waterbury, CT
12-2027

MBA -

Capella University
Minneapolis, MN
01.2009

Bachelor of Science - Nursing

Radford University
Radford, VA
06.1997

Skills

  • Team leadership
  • Relationship building
  • Decision-making
  • Critical thinking
  • Strategic planning
  • Results-driven
  • Performance improvement

Affiliations

  • International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN)
  • Emergency Nurses Association (ENA)
  • National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses (NAON)
  • American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE)
  • American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)
  • American Nurses Association (ANA)
  • North Carolina Nurses Association (NCNA)

Professional And Community Volunteer Services

  • Jingle Bell Run, 01/01/10, 01/01/13
  • Cosmopolitan Track Meet, 01/01/10, 01/01/13
  • Salem Health Advisory Board (SHB) Member, 01/01/13, present
  • ACHE Local Programming Committee, 01/01/14, present
  • Cape Fear Museum Associates Board, 01/01/19, present

Specialized Training

  • Registered Nurse, Commonwealth of Virginia (RN)
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
  • Registered Nurse, North Carolina (RN)

Certification

  • Basic Life Support Certification (BLS)
  • NEA-BC, American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), June 2026

Interests

Running marathons with my family

Reading

Working with local Nourish NC Food Pantry

Timeline

VP, Chief Nursing Officer Coastal Region

Novant Health
07.2022 - Current

VP, Chief Nursing Executive

Novant Health, Inc
07.2021 - 07.2022

VP, Associate Chief Nurse Executive

New Hanover Regional Medical Center
10.2017 - 07.2021

VP of Patient Services

New Hanover Regional Medical Center
10.2016 - 10.2017

Assistant Vice President of Nursing

New Hanover Regional Medical Center
10.2015 - 10.2016

Director of Orthopedics, Neurology, Pediatrics and Director of Rehabilitation (In-patient and Out-patient)

LewisGale Medical Center
06.2014 - 10.2015

Interim Director of Maternity Care Center

LewisGale Medical Center
06.2013 - 10.2013

Director of Orthopedics, Neurology, Pediatrics

LewisGale Medical Center
05.2013 - 06.2014

Director of Orthopedics, Neurology, Pediatrics

LewisGale Medical Center
11.2009 - 05.2013

Director of Emergency Services

LewisGale Medical Center
07.2007 - 11.2009

Assistant Director of Emergency Services

LewisGale Medical Center
10.2006 - 07.2007

Forensic Nursing Coordinator

01.2004 - 01.2006

Emergency Department staff RN/charge RN/Forensic Nurse Examiner

01.2000 - 01.2004

Progressive Care Department Unit Manager

01.1999 - 01.2000

Progressive Care Department RN/charge RN

01.1998 - 01.1999

Progressive Care Department US/TA/MT

01.1997 - 01.1998

Doctorate in Nursing, Executive Leadership - Nursing Administration

American Sentinel - Post University

MBA -

Capella University

Bachelor of Science - Nursing

Radford University

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