Carrie Peluso
Anchorage,AK
Summary
Dynamic Chief Nursing Officer with a proven track record at Providence Health and Services Alaska, achieving a $17.5 million reduction in agency costs while enhancing nursing retention. Expert in clinical operations and staff development, driving quality improvement and patient-centered care across multiple facilities. Passionate about elevating nursing standards and practice excellence.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Nursing Officer
Providence Health and Services Alaska
, USA
12.2021 - Current
- Oversee clinical operations for Providence Alaska Medical Center, managing 1,300+ nursing staff and respiratory therapists.
- Matrix responsibility for nursing practice across three critical access hospitals and one long-term acute care hospital.
- Achieved $17.5 million reduction in agency costs over two years while enhancing nursing retention rates.
- Directed nursing team efforts leading to a second ANCC Magnet designation recognition.
Regional Director of Nursing Practice, Research, & Education (Interim Critical Care Director)
Providence Health and Services Alaska
, USA
06.2021 - 12.2021
- Led ICU and telehealth services for four units during the Delta wave of the Covid pandemic.
- Worked with hospital leadership to institute Crisis Standards of Care during a significant escalation in patient acuity during the pandemic.
Director of Business Development (Interim Regional Director of Care Management)
Providence Health and Services Alaska
, USA
02.2021 - 06.2021
- Implemented a regionalized reorganization of the Care Management team to include Case Managers, Social Workers, and Patient Navigators.
Director of Business Development (Interim Regional Senior Manager for Clinical Support)
Providence Health and Services Alaska - Kodiak
, USA
11.2020 - 02.2021
- Implemented a reorganization of the quality, risk, and patient safety departments at a Critical Access Hospital in preparation to integrate with the larger regional structure.
Director Of Nursing
St. Elias Specialty Hospital - Providence Alaska
, USA
03.2020 - 11.2020
- Oversight for nursing and respiratory care staff to include leading nursing standards of practice.
- Integration of standards of practice and operations into Providence Health and Services standards during the acquisition and integration period of St. Elias Specialty Hospital.
Director of Nursing Practice, Research, & Education
Providence Alaska Medical Center
, USA
01.2008 - 03.2020
- Led clinical practice, focusing on patient-centered care, enhancing nursing standards and improving patient satisfaction for a 401-bed tertiary acute care hospital.
- Acted as Administrator on Call since 2013.
- Supervised staff development for over 3500 staff.
- Oversaw the effort to achieve Magnet designation in 2018.
- Directed research and practice projects, aiming for bedside clinical excellence and ethical integrity.
- Spearheaded legislation for Clinical Nurse Specialist advanced practice in Alaska with full scope of practice legislation passed in 2016.
- Managed an $800,000 HRSA grant for nurse recruitment and retention.
Clinical Nurse Specialist - Emergency
Providence Alaska Medical Center
, USA
10.2006 - 01.2009
- Performed the role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist for a 37-bed Emergency Department (ED) with 120 staff members and approximately 68,000 visits per year.
- Established the quality improvement program in the ED to include data collection and analysis for all process and outcome measures, including data on STEMI, Strokes, Sepsis, “Code” data, Sedation data, Point of Care testing data, etc.
- Introduced and implemented the ESI 5-level triage that improved door-to-bed and door-to-physician times.
- Mentored ED staff in caring for clinically complex patients.
Clinical Nurse Educator - Emergency
Providence Alaska Medical Center
, USA
05.2001 - 10.2006
- Performed onboarding for all new hires for a 37-bed Emergency Department.
- Monitored and provided all annual and regulatory educational requirements for 120+ ED staff.
- Developed and implemented a successful ED Fellowship program that integrated RNs into the ED setting.
Staff Registered Nurse
Providence Alaska Medical Center
, USA
06.2000 - 05.2001
- Performed nursing care for a 37-bed emergency department.
Registered Nurse
Roundup Memorial Hospital
, USA
01.1998 - 06.2000
- Performed nursing care for an 11-bed acute care hospital and 4-bed emergency room and supervised nursing care for long-term care facility.
Education
Doctor of Nursing Practice -
University of South Alabama
Mobile, AL01.2012
Masters in science of nursing - Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO01.2006
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Montana State University
Billings, MT01.1997
Skills
- Clinical operations management
- Magnet designation achievement
- Crisis standards implementation
- Nursing practice oversight
- Patient-centered care
- Quality improvement strategies
- Staff development
- Conflict resolution
Accomplishments
- Fellow Designation for the American Organization of Nurse Leaders and for the Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, 05/2025
- Championed the joining of Alaska nursing leaders to Northwest Organization of Nurse Leaders, 04/2024
- Led the effort to reduce the use of Registered Nurse agency from a high of 250+ to 24 RNs, 12/2025
- Led the team to its second Magnet designation, 03/2023
- Led the team to its initial Magnet Designation, 03/2018
- Championed for increased scope of practice for Clinical Nurse Specialists with legislation passed, 01/2016
- Co-founder of AK APRN Alliance, 01/2011
- Honorable Mention from the American Board of Nursing for Certification Advocacy, 01/2010
- Founder of Alaska Clinical Nurse Specialist Association (ACNSA), 01/2008
Licensure Certification
- Registered Nurse, Alaska, NURR20104, 11/2024
- APRN – CNS, Alaska, 122896, 11/2024
- Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist – Board Certified (ACNS-BC), National, 2011005018, 04/2026
Professional Memberships Affiliations
- Northwest Organization of Nurse Leaders, 2024, present, Board Member at Large
- American Organization of Nurse Leaders, 2018, present
- National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists, NACNS Board Member at Large, 2017, 2019
- NACNS Treasurer/Secretary, 2019, 2021
- Alaska APRN Alliance, Board Member at Large, 2011, 2020
- Alaska Clinical Nurse Specialist Association, Founder, 2010, 2021
- American Association of Critical Care Nurses, 2006, present
- Sigma Theta Tau – Theta Omicron Chapter, 2008, 2024
- Emergency Nursing Association (ENA), Alaska ENA State Trauma Chair, 2008, 2013
Legislative Regulatory Activities
SB 53 Passed, 01/2016, Championed bill with the AK APRN Alliance, which provided a full scope of practice for clinical nurse specialists.
Awards
- AONL Fellow Designation, 05/2025
- CNSI Fellow Designation, 05/2025
- March of Dimes Leadership Award, 05/2014
- Spirit of Excellence Award, 05/2013
Dissemination
Influence of a Formal Mentor on Hospital-based Nurse Research Resources and Outcomes, 10/2022, Journal of Nursing Administration, Roney, Jamie, Saul, Trisha, Bigand, Teresa, Sperry, Marietta, Doyle, Carrie, Mendelson, Sherri, https://journals.lww.com/jonajournal/abstract/2022/10000/influence_of_a_formal_mentor_on_hospital_based.9.aspx
Presentations
- University of Alaska Anchorage Graduation, 05/2023, Commencement speaker
- Providence Parish Nursing Graduation, 05/2023, Commencement speaker
- Charter College Graduation, 05/2019, Commencement speaker
- Under Pressure: An EBP Project to Reduce Pressure Injuries, 03/2013, Podium Presentation - UTMB National EBP Conference
Timeline
Chief Nursing Officer
Providence Health and Services Alaska
12.2021 - Current
Regional Director of Nursing Practice, Research, & Education (Interim Critical Care Director)
Providence Health and Services Alaska
06.2021 - 12.2021
Director of Business Development (Interim Regional Director of Care Management)
Providence Health and Services Alaska
02.2021 - 06.2021
Director of Business Development (Interim Regional Senior Manager for Clinical Support)
Providence Health and Services Alaska - Kodiak
11.2020 - 02.2021
Director Of Nursing
St. Elias Specialty Hospital - Providence Alaska
03.2020 - 11.2020
Director of Nursing Practice, Research, & Education
Providence Alaska Medical Center
01.2008 - 03.2020
Clinical Nurse Specialist - Emergency
Providence Alaska Medical Center
10.2006 - 01.2009
Clinical Nurse Educator - Emergency
Providence Alaska Medical Center
05.2001 - 10.2006
Staff Registered Nurse
Providence Alaska Medical Center
06.2000 - 05.2001
Registered Nurse
Roundup Memorial Hospital
01.1998 - 06.2000
Doctor of Nursing Practice -
University of South Alabama
Masters in science of nursing - Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist
Saint Louis University
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Montana State University