Katie Pitzl
New Brighton,MN
Summary
Mission-driven healthcare leader with a proven track record of bridging bedside insights and strategic execution at the system level, consistently driving measurable improvements in competency, confidence, commitment, and retention across hospital settings. Recipient of the prestigious DAISY Nurse Leader Award for exceptional leadership, team development, and innovative education approaches. Committed to fostering an environment that prioritizes meaningful healthcare delivery while empowering teams to reach their full potential. Passionate about leveraging mission-driven strategies to enhance patient outcomes and advance organizational goals through collaborative initiatives.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
System Manager, Clinical Education and Learning
Fairview Health Services
06.2021 - Current
- Streamlined nursing core orientation curriculum and operations across 9 hospitals to enhance enculturation, ensure practice-readiness, improve efficiency, and reduce administrative waste and staffing errors.
- Led cross-functional teams in implementing new instructional technology solutions (i.e., virtual reality simulation), improving nursing competency and confidence for initial and ongoing competency development.
- Designed and implemented a multi-site transition-to-practice program for newly licensed RNs to improve role transition, as measured by competency, confidence, commitment, and retention.
- Championed continuous improvement and interoperability within the IT, informatics, quality, safety, and other enterprise and system departments by encouraging open feedback loops, clear communication, and purposeful collaboration among team members.
Clinical Education Specialist
Fairview Health Services
10.2018 - 05.2021
- Developed and delivered clinical education programs to enhance staff competency and patient care.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to assess training needs and improve educational offerings.
- Evaluated effectiveness of educational initiatives through feedback and performance metrics analysis.
- Provide clinical instruction to approximately 150 medical surgical RN learners in urban and rural hospital settings on technical, critical thinking and interpersonal topics.
Clinical Educator, Ambulatory
M Health Physicians
12.2016 - 10.2018
- Provided clinical instruction to approximately 300 ambulatory RNs, MAs, and other outpatient rooming staff on clinic procedures, protocols, and safety standards as part of an integrated, academic health care system.
- Developed and implemented clinical training programs to enhance staff competencies.
- Facilitated workshops and seminars on best practices in patient care and safety protocols.
- Evaluated clinical competencies of staff members, identifying areas for improvement and providing targeted training solutions.
Staff RN, Nursing Unit Lead, Interim Nurse Manager, Interim Inpatient Pain Care Coordinator
Fairview Health Services
09.2008 - 09.2016
- Coordinated patient care plans with interdisciplinary teams to enhance health outcomes.
- Mentored new nurses, fostering skill development, and enhancing team performance in clinical settings.
- Promoted teamwork and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams for optimal patient care planning and implementation.
- Managed approximately 75 nurses and nursing assistants in 28-bed surgical-oncology unit by providing comprehensive nursing guidance and maintaining outstanding patient satisfaction and care standards.
Staff RN
Allina
09.2007 - 09.2008
- Provided specialized medical, cardiac and pulmonary nursing care for adult patients needing telemetry monitoring on an
- Provided emotional support for patients and families during difficult times, helping them navigate the healthcare system with compassion and understanding.
- Directed patient care by initiating and following through with plan of care, continuing care, and discharge instructions.
- Educated patients and families on health management, promoting adherence to treatment plans and preventive measures.
Education
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Nursing Education
St. Catherine University
St. Paul, Minnesota05.2025
Master of Science - Nursing Education
St. Catherine University
St. Paul, Minnesota09.2017
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota09.2007
Skills
- Nursing leadership
- Nursing Professional Development
- Strategic workforce management
- Regulatory compliance expertise
- Strategic program execution
- Project management
- Experience with learning management platforms
- Experience with emerging AI technologies
- Virtual Reality Simulation
- Competency management
- Curriculum design & evaluation
- Creative & Professional Writing
- Contact hour management
- Simulation
- E-learning development
- Skilled in Microsoft productivity tools
Accomplishments
- Supervised team of 14 professional development specialists to advance the competency and confidence of nursing teams across multiple clinical specialties.
Affiliations
- Association for Nursing Professional Development Member 2017-Present
- Medical Assistant Program Advisory Board Member, MNSCU 2016-2017
- Elsevier Learning Advisory Council, Member 2020-2024
Certification
ANCC, Nursing Professional Development Certification 2022-2027
Timeline
System Manager, Clinical Education and Learning
Fairview Health Services
06.2021 - Current
Clinical Education Specialist
Fairview Health Services
10.2018 - 05.2021
Clinical Educator, Ambulatory
M Health Physicians
12.2016 - 10.2018
Staff RN, Nursing Unit Lead, Interim Nurse Manager, Interim Inpatient Pain Care Coordinator
Fairview Health Services
09.2008 - 09.2016
Staff RN
Allina
09.2007 - 09.2008
Master of Science - Nursing Education
St. Catherine University
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
University of Minnesota
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Nursing Education
St. Catherine University
AWARDS
System DAISY Nurse Leader Award Honoree 2025, March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Nominee 2013 & 2018, Propel Fairview Leadership Development Program 2013