Jessica Nichols DNP, MS, RN, CENP
Mattapoisett
Summary
Dynamic Chief Nursing Officer with a proven track record, excelling in clinical leadership and regulatory compliance. Achieved a 43% reduction in falls through innovative patient care programs. Skilled in strategic planning and staff mentoring, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance patient safety and operational efficiency.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Nursing Officer
Encompass Health
Braintree And Framingham
11.2024 - Current
- Provide Leadership for 160 bed hospital across two campuses.
- Responsible for development and implementation of nursing and clinical services, including nursing units, Respiratory Therapy, Hemodialysis, Employee Health, Infection Prevention, Clinical Dieticians, Hospital Educators, Wound Care Team.
- Ensures appropriate staffing model for 24-hour care to meet the patient needs and manage the NHPPD.
- Implements/integrates Joint Commission, CMS, State, and Federal, hospital standards.
- Develops patient care programs, policies, and procedures.
- Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams.
- Committee member of Medical Staff, Medical Executive, Quality, Governing Body.
- Evaluates nursing staff performance.
- Restructured nursing leadership team to meet the needs of the organization and patients.
- Team building and mentoring of nurse leaders.
- Implemented fall prevention program and education reducing falls by 43%.
- Decrease overtime and bonus utilization by 60%.
- Developed recruitment and retention strategies through continuous improvement and staff engagement.
- Administrator on call duties.
Senior Director of Clinical Services
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital
Plymouth
07.2015 - 09.2024
- Accountable for the overall planning, development, operations, and regulatory requirements/standards of assigned service lines, including but not limited to Critical Care, Progressive Care Unit, Medical/Surgical, Birthplace, Case Management, Infusion Therapy, Emergency Management, Professional Practice, Clinical Nutrition, Interpreter Services, Respiratory Therapy, Pulmonary Function Testing, Nursing Supervisors, Staffing Office, Patient Throughput, overseeing 400+ FTEs.
- Recruitment and retention through nurse and staff engagement.
- Responsible for operating and capital budgets and planning.
- Nursing Administrator in the absence of the Chief Nursing Officer.
- Administrator on-call duties.
- Operation of Incident Command Center during times of crisis, IS 100-800 completed.
- Participates in negotiating teams for collective bargaining agreements.
- Planning and coordinating services with Chiefs of Service, other departments, and outside agencies.
- Nurse leader development program.
- Relationship building through collaboration and shared governance.
- Created an Emergency Management program.
- Achieved Baby-Friendly Designation.
- Joint Commission Accredited Total Joint Program.
- CNA Apprenticeship program implementation.
- New Graduate Nurse Residency.
- Standardized scheduling practices throughout all clinical areas.
Director of Emergency Services
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital
Plymouth
01.2013 - 07.2015
- Managed overall operation of nursing services and patient care, including financial management, quality assurance, safety standards, risk management, and quality improvement in the Emergency Department.
- Developed departmental goals and objectives.
- Implemented and achieved 95% compliance with the STarTBack questionnaire, resulting in a 50% reduction in return ED visits.
- Collaborated with the interdisciplinary management team to ensure necessary standards of care and improved patient satisfaction scores.
Nurse Manager, Emergency Department
Southcoast Health
New Bedford
02.2011 - 12.2013
- Collaborated and opened a pediatric Emergency Department.
- Coordinated New Nurse Residency Program.
- Day-to-day operations of patient flow, patient care, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
- Implemented stroke initiative.
- Responsible for operating budget.
Emergency Department Staff Nurse
Southcoast Health
New Bedford
06.2001 - 02.2011
Emergency Department Staff Nurse
Saint Francis Hospital & Medical Center
Hartford
06.1999 - 05.2001
Education
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Leadership
Aspen University
Master of Science - Healthcare Administration
Southern New Hampshire University
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Elms College
Bachelor of Science - Rehabilitation
Springfield College
Skills
- Clinical leadership and management
- Regulatory compliance
- Quality improvement initiatives
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Budget and resource management
- Policy development and implementation
- Data analysis and reporting
- Patient safety
- Nursing operations
- Staff mentoring and coaching
- Strategic planning and execution
- Recruitment and staffing processes
Certifications Licenses Awards
- Massachusetts Allied Health Professions: Licensed Registered Nurse
- Rhode Island Department of Health: Licensed Registered Nurse
- Organization of Nurse Leaders, AONL
- Emergency Nurses Association, ENA
- Sigma Theta Tau member
- Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP)
- Nurse Excellence Award 2022
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Chief Nursing Officer
Encompass Health
11.2024 - Current
Senior Director of Clinical Services
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital
07.2015 - 09.2024
Director of Emergency Services
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital
01.2013 - 07.2015
Nurse Manager, Emergency Department
Southcoast Health
02.2011 - 12.2013
Emergency Department Staff Nurse
Southcoast Health
06.2001 - 02.2011
Emergency Department Staff Nurse
Saint Francis Hospital & Medical Center
06.1999 - 05.2001
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Leadership
Aspen University
Master of Science - Healthcare Administration
Southern New Hampshire University
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Elms College
Bachelor of Science - Rehabilitation
Springfield College
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