COLLEEN GORDON
Nurse Leader
Westminster,MD
Summary
Dynamic healthcare leader with over 20 years of progressive leadership experience in academic medical centers, pediatric critical care, and nursing operations. Expertise in driving organizational transformation through effective workforce strategies, optimizing patient throughput, and implementing quality improvement initiatives. Proven success in leading large multidisciplinary teams to enhance clinical and operational outcomes while fostering the development of future leaders. Committed to aligning nursing practice with organizational strategy, financial stewardship, workforce sustainability, and a steadfast focus on patient-centered care.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Interim Nurse Manager, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL CHILDREN'S CENTER
Baltimore, Maryland
01.2026 - Current
- Provide operational and strategic leadership for a 28-bed PICU with more than 125 nursing and support staff FTEs.
- Partner with physician and nursing leaders to improve workforce engagement, throughput, quality, safety, and operational performance.
- Lead cultural transformation efforts focused on rebuilding trust, strengthening accountability, and improving collaboration.
- Empower frontline leaders through leadership development, coaching, role clarification, and shared decision-making.
- Advance organizational goals related to critical care access, patient flow, and capacity management.
Nurse Manager, Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL CHILDREN'S CENTER
Baltimore, Maryland
01.2020 - Current
- Provide operational, financial, and strategic leadership for a high-acuity pediatric cardiac intensive care unit.
- Accountable for workforce planning, recruitment, retention, labor management, productivity, and resource allocation.
- Direct quality, safety, patient experience, and professional practice initiatives.
- Partner with executive and physician leadership to support strategic growth, operational excellence, and patient outcomes.
- Develop future nurse leaders through mentoring, succession planning, and leadership development initiatives.
- Closed staffing vacancy gap of 62% and retained staff more than 5 years later
- Increased Glint staff-engagement score by 8 points in six months
- Developed and implemented protocols to enhance operational efficiency and safety standards.
- Managed departmental budgets, ensuring effective allocation of resources and cost control measures.
- Conducted performance evaluations, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement among staff.
- Streamlined patient admission processes, reducing wait times and improving overall family satisfaction.
- Led staff meetings to keep team informed of departmental changes and provide opportunities for nurses to share ideas and concerns.
- Fostered open communication among nurses through regular team meetings, promoting collaboration and shared decision making.
Clinical Manager, Admissions & Hospital Operators
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
01.2017 - 01.2020
- Directed enterprise admissions and communication operations supporting patient access and organizational effectiveness.
- Developed staffing strategies, operational metrics, and workforce engagement initiatives.
- Increased hospital reimbursements by 20% through EPIC optimization
- Led process improvement efforts that increased reimbursement performance and operational reliability.
- Led interdisciplinary teams to enhance patient care protocols and ensure regulatory compliance.
- Developed and implemented strategic initiatives to improve operational efficiency across clinical departments.
Nursing House Supervisor
Nursing House Supervisor, Nursing Operations & Capacity Management
Philadelphia, PA
01.2015 - 01.2017
- Led enterprise patient flow, staffing deployment, and capacity management operations.
- Facilitated executive operational briefings and multidisciplinary throughput initiatives.
- Served as liaison between executive leadership and clinical operations during off-shift operations.
- Coordinated patient care operations, optimizing workflow for improved service delivery and patient satisfaction.
- Led multi-disciplinary initiatives to decrease ED boarding times and maximize patient access.
Registered Nurse
Registered Nurse, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
Philadelphia, PA
01.2004 - 01.2015
- Pediatric cardiac critical care nurse, charge nurse, preceptor, and Epic super-user.
- Led education and workflow redesign initiatives producing operational and financial improvements.
- Administered complex medications and therapies for critically ill cardiac patients.
- Monitored vital signs and implemented care plans to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to coordinate comprehensive treatment strategies.
- Educated patients and families on post-operative care and lifestyle modifications.
- Mentored junior nurses, fostering skill development in intensive care practices.
- Led quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient safety and care protocols.
Education
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Executive/Systems Leadership
Chamberlain University
Chicago, IL01.2025
Master of Science in Healthcare Administration - Healthcare Informatics
Trident University
Chandler, AZ01.2019
Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Nursing
Widener University
Chester01.2003
Skills
- Strategic Planning
- Nursing Operations
- Workforce Development
- Succession Planning
- Financial Stewardship
- Quality & Safety
- Shared Governance
- Throughput & Capacity Management
- Change Management
- Culture Transformation
- Performance Improvement
- Executive Communication
- Physician Partnership Development
- Staff supervision
- Quality improvement
- Department management
Accomplishments
- Provided interim leadership for a 28-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit during a period of operational and cultural transformation.
- Led initiatives focused on trust building, accountability, competency validation, leadership development, and workforce engagement.
- Advanced critical care throughput and capacity goals through admission management and resource optimization.
- Operationalized shared governance and professional practice initiatives supporting frontline engagement and accountability.
- Successfully managed operations across multiple pediatric critical care environments while maintaining quality and safety priorities.
- Led succession planning and leadership development initiatives to strengthen organizational leadership pipelines.
Timeline
Interim Nurse Manager, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL CHILDREN'S CENTER
01.2026 - Current
Nurse Manager, Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL CHILDREN'S CENTER
01.2020 - Current
Clinical Manager, Admissions & Hospital Operators
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA
01.2017 - 01.2020
Nursing House Supervisor
Nursing House Supervisor, Nursing Operations & Capacity Management
01.2015 - 01.2017
Registered Nurse
Registered Nurse, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
01.2004 - 01.2015
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Executive/Systems Leadership
Chamberlain University
Master of Science in Healthcare Administration - Healthcare Informatics
Trident University
Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Nursing
Widener University
Publications
- Gordon, C. (2026). Nurse-Led Transition Program to Improve Transition Readiness in Adolescents With Congenital Heart Disease. Journal of Nursing Care Quality. Advance online publication. DOI: 10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000987.
- Peterson, J., Ascenzi, J., Thompson, K., Gordon, C., & O'Connor, J. (2023). It Takes a Village: Advanced Nursing Practice and Leadership Roles in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Washington, DC. Poster Presentation.
- Peterson, J., Thompson, K., Ascenzi, J., Gordon, C., & O'Connor, J.A. (2023). Variation in CNS Practice in the Pediatric Cardiac ICU: A State of Practice from C4-MNP. National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA. Podium Presentation.
Organizational & Professional Leadership
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Healthy Work Environment Collaborative
- Shared Governance and Professional Practice Leadership
- Workforce Engagement and Retention Initiatives
- Capacity Management and Throughput Improvement Workgroups
- Nursing Leadership Development and Succession Planning
Professional Membership & Honors
Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society, Nurse Manager LEAD Award, Enterprise Collaborative and Scholarly Initiatives Nominee