Heather Harris
Denver,CO
Summary
Transformational Nurse Executive with over 20 years of experience in leading nursing units and specialty service lines. Proven track record in driving operational success through financial management, process efficiency, and enhanced patient satisfaction. Builds strong relationships to achieve strategic goals, foster employee engagement, and elevate quality of care.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of CV Services
HCA HealthONE Mountain Ridge
04.2025 - 02.2026
- Oversaw CV services, ensuring operational efficiency and high-quality patient care.
- Directed daily operations to uphold productivity and quality standards across CV services.
- Increased all metrics over the last year to promote exceptional quality and safe patient care.
- Launched PFA, RDN, and Barostim procedures to enhance patient care.
- Facilitated monthly meetings with Advanced Heart and Vein to align on program growth and quality initiatives, providing updates to CEO and COO.
- Daily and monthly reports related to volume and new initiatives for the program to continually drive growth.
Director of Professional Development, CSC’s and Transport
Swedish Medical Center
03.2023 - 04.2025
- Facilitated Leadership Institute Academy and Leadership Essentials, improving participation from lowest to top 2% while assisting directors/managers with program compliance.
- Developed CNC program that increased Nurse Leadership Certificate enrollment over 2 years.
- Led SWARM PEX initiative on Power Units to improve Press Ganey Scores.
- Supported the facilitation of Inspire and Aspire leader and CNC classes to develop future leaders.
- Created and finalized individual development plans for nursing leadership and managers to align with organizational goals.
- Organized NLR bootcamp to enhance compliance efforts.
- Conducted BSSR audits, NLR audits, and patient rounding, ensuring updates in ORBIT.
- Executive sponsor –UBC Co-chair committee, PEX committee, Catalyst committee member.
Director of Professional Development
Rose Medical Center
09.2021 - 03.2023
- CNC Development - 100% compliance for Nurse Leadership Certificate.
- Founded A.C.E Mentor Program, leading monthly Learn and Lead development sessions to foster staff professional growth.
- Created and completed individual development plans to enhance leadership skills for nursing staff in Q4 2022.
- Led as executive sponsor for Professional Nurse Practice Council and Nurse Executive Council, engaging in community team initiatives.
- Supported directors and managers to uphold compliance standards in the Leadership Institute Academy and Nurse Residency programs.
- Assisted with BSSR audits, NLR audits, and patient rounding to enhance patient experience and ensure compliance in ORBIT.
Director Emergency Services
Rose Medical Center
11.2020 - 10.2021
- Led strategic initiatives to enhance patient care and operational efficiency.
- Directed daily operations for over 50 FTEs, prioritizing productivity, staffing, scheduling, coaching, and mentoring to strengthen staff engagement and physician relationships.
- Coordinated multidisciplinary teams to improve service delivery and collaboration.
Interim Director Emergency Room
Rose Medical Center
03.2020 - 11.2020
- Led COVID operations and engaged staff to ensure safety of patients and healthcare providers.
- Collaborated with team to implement COVID-19 response components, enhancing clinical care and ensuring staff availability.
- Ensured resources were available and coordinated staff transfers from the STER to the main campus to maintain stable staffing.
CV Director
Rose Medical Center
05.2018 - 11.2020
- Oversaw CV service line, including EKG, echo, vascular techs, cardiac rehab, cath lab, and CPCU, ensuring operational efficiency and quality care.
- Created multi-disciplinary CV surgery pre-huddles prior to all CV surgery cases, involving intensivists, cardiologists, ICU staff, RT, PT/OT, case management, pharmacy, blood bank, tele unit staff, OR, and pre-op staff to ensure effective communication.
- Conducted monthly meetings with surgeons to enhance patient safety, elevate staff and physician satisfaction, and improve communication across multidisciplinary teams.
- Onboarded 3 cardiothoracic surgeons through weekly meetings focused on supplies, charting, and staffing coordination.
- Achieved largest volume increase in 2019 at Rose Medical Center.
Interim CV Director
Rose Medical Center
04.2017 - 05.2018
- Facilitated monthly CV quality meetings and established weekly Denver Heart meetings with clinic, hospital staff, and cardiologists to enhance collaboration.
- Coordinated bi-weekly growth meetings to promote Denver Heart and drive patient volume increases.
- Initiated construction of new cath lab to expand facility capabilities.
- Managed the CV service line operations.
- Complete monthly and weekly reports related to volume.
Director of Telemetry Unit, Float Pool and Tele Techs
Rose Medical Center
08.2015 - 04.2017
- Managed operations of 2 departments, supervising approximately 90 FTEs to ensure optimal functionality.
- Coordinated unit operations, overseeing scheduling, staffing, hiring, and payroll to align workforce with organizational needs.
- Monitored unit compliance with all JCAHO standards.
- Controlled labor costs and tracked budget expenditures to ensure fiscal responsibility.
- Validations and coaching of the staff to ensure consistent expectations of bedside report and hourly rounding.
- Improvement of employee satisfaction from 73% to 80% in first year.
- Reduced first year turnover and overall turnover in last 2 years.
- Helped implement new telemetry system house-wide.
Clinical Nurse Manager
St. Anthony Hospital
06.2011 - 08.2015
- Oversaw operations of 2 inpatient clinical units, ensuring high-quality patient care and effective staff management for approximately 87 FTEs.
Education
MSN -
Regis University
Denver, CO01-2015
BSN -
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL01-2003
BS Biology -
South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD01-1998
Skills
- Effective communication
- Staff empowerment advocacy
- Team mentorship
- Adaptability in complex environments
- Conflict resolution
- Patient safety initiatives
- Leadership development programs
- Performance management
Timeline
Director of CV Services
HCA HealthONE Mountain Ridge
04.2025 - 02.2026
Director of Professional Development, CSC’s and Transport
Swedish Medical Center
03.2023 - 04.2025
Director of Professional Development
Rose Medical Center
09.2021 - 03.2023
Director Emergency Services
Rose Medical Center
11.2020 - 10.2021
Interim Director Emergency Room
Rose Medical Center
03.2020 - 11.2020
CV Director
Rose Medical Center
05.2018 - 11.2020
Interim CV Director
Rose Medical Center
04.2017 - 05.2018
Director of Telemetry Unit, Float Pool and Tele Techs
Rose Medical Center
08.2015 - 04.2017
Clinical Nurse Manager
St. Anthony Hospital
06.2011 - 08.2015
MSN -
Regis University
BSN -
University of Alabama
BS Biology -
South Dakota State University