Mary Gaston, MSN, RN, CNML
Memphis,TN
Summary
Board-certified neonatal and pediatric nurse leader with clinical, management and leadership experience in acute and ambulatory settings. Has strong communication and interpersonal skills with all members of the interdisciplinary team and other stakeholders. Specializes in positive patient outcomes, service excellence and patient and family centered care.
Overview
38
38
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Clinical Director NICU
Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital
2011.08 - Current
- Accountable for the 24-hour operations of a 74 bed Level IV NICU
- 200 direct reports and growing; 6 assistant leaders
- Responsible for clinical delivery, leadership of associates, fiscal stewardship to the institution, and the creation of a positive clinical and associate work environment
- Contributes to the organization’s and the system’s success in clinical outcomes service to patients and families and to a positive financial state
- Fiscally responsible for a 14 plus million dollar budget
- Plan and Prepare budget needs and capital requests
- Ensure patient and nurse satisfaction while promoting safety and retention
- Developed, implemented, revised, and evaluated policies and procedures.
- Monitored, analyzed, and corrected staff performance and worked with nurse manager to raise standards of practice.
- Coached and trained newly hired employees so that each understood job responsibilities and requirements of positions.
- Interviewed and hired highly talented individuals bringing great skills and passion to daily jobs.
- Established and maintained effective communication with staff, physicians and community organizations to promote high quality patient care.
- Designed and introduced leadership development, coaching and team management model, resulting in promotion of employees into increased levels of responsibility.
- Helped develop a successful shared governance committee on the unit
- Developed a two phase orientation for new graduates
Lead Bone Marrow Transplant Clinical Coordinator
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
2008.01 - 2011.01
- Clinical Coordinator responsibilities of Bone Marrow Transplant as well as overseeing employee orientation, conducting performance reviews and hiring of new coordinators
- Primary contact for the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP)
- Collected and maintained documentation for institution’s annual review and certification with NMDP
- Coordinated physician referrals and acceptance for bone marrow transplant consults and workups
- Liason between Transplant Clinical Research and Data Management, Managed Care, Referring Clinical Services, Referring Hospitals and Transplant Quality Improvement Department
- Help conduct institutional desk top drill with NMDP for radiation injury due to exposure.
- Built strong relationships with patients and families for optimized care satisfaction.
- Coordinated, monitored, assigned, and documented patient and clinical care activities.
- Supervised and managed daily activities of clinical team consisting of [Number] physicians, nurses, and support staff.
- Led physicians, nurses and healthcare teams in providing punctual, professional care delivery.
- Established and maintained effective communication with staff, physicians and community organizations to promote high quality patient care.
- Communicated with patients, ensuring that medical information was kept private.
- Liaised with other healthcare professionals to develop comprehensive patient care plans and provide highest quality of care.
Clinical Coordinator of Bone Marrow Transplant
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
2004.01 - 2008.01
Staff Pediatric Oncology Nurse
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
1996.01 - 2004.01
PRN Staff Nurse Neonatal Intensive Care
Baptist Memorial Hospital
1996.01 - 1996.08
Staff Nurse, Neonatal Intensive Care
Peninsula General Medical Center
1986.09 - 1996.01
Staff Nurse, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center
1985.06 - 1996.01
Education
Master of Science in Nursing, Executive -
University of Memphis
Memphis, TNBachelor of Science in Nursing -
University of Maryland
Baltimore, MDSkills
Healthcare Management
Team Building
Leadership Development
Budget Oversight
Patient Relations
Effective Communication
Quality Improvement
Strategic Planning
Certification
- Registered Nurse, Tennessee
- BLS for Healthcare Providers
- Certified Nurse Manager Leader (CNML), 2011-current
- End of Life Nursing Education Consortium Pediatric Palliative Care Trainer (ELNEC-PPC), 2005
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program Instructor (NRP), 1994 – 1998
- Registered Nurse, Certified (RNC-NIC), in Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing, National Certification Corporation, 1992-1998
- Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse, 2003-2013
- National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) certification 2005-2011
Professional Memberships Activities
- American Nurses Association (ANA)
- Tennessee Nurses Association (TNA)
- American Organization of Nurse Leaders (AONL)
- AONL Nurse Director Fellowship 2020
- National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NAAN)
- Manuscript reviewer, Pediatric Quality and Safety
- Class of 2010 Nursing Research Fellowship, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
- The Bone Marrow Foundation, Member of Medical Advisory Board, 2010
Committees
- AONL Foundation Task Force, 2010 – 2011
- ANA Advisory Committee member for Barriers to RN Scope of Practice 2015-2017
- TNA District 1 Membership Committee 2013-2014
- TNA District 1 Board Member 2014-2017
- NANN Nomination Committee 2018-2020
- NANN Awards and Recognition Committee 2020-2022
- Solution for Patient Safety (SPS) member on Pressure Injuries, CLABSIs, Ventilator Associated Pneumonia, and Unplanned Extubation groups
- Member on Institution’s Emergency Preparedness Committee
- Member on Institution’s Quality Improvement for Safe Sleep
- Member on institution’s Serious Safety Event Committee
- Member of System committee: Perinatal Quality Council
- Member of System committee: Clinical Practice Council
- Planning and execution of NICU expansion 2023 (additional 14 beds)
- Leadership preceptor for Union University Nursing Students.
Presentations
- Tennessee Hospital Association 2010 Nursing Leadership Summit, poster presentation
- The Complex Newborn Conference 2016, presenter
- The Complex Newborn Conference 2017, presenter
- Magnet Conference 2017, poster presentation
- Synova NICU Leadership Forum 2018, poster presentation
- NANN 2019, poster presentation
- Complex Newborn Conference 2019, 2022 and 2023course co-director
Awards
Recognized as top 50 leader in 50 years from University of Memphis Loewenberg College of Nursing, 2017
Timeline
Clinical Director NICU
Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital
2011.08 - Current
Lead Bone Marrow Transplant Clinical Coordinator
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
2008.01 - 2011.01
Clinical Coordinator of Bone Marrow Transplant
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
2004.01 - 2008.01
Staff Pediatric Oncology Nurse
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
1996.01 - 2004.01
PRN Staff Nurse Neonatal Intensive Care
Baptist Memorial Hospital
1996.01 - 1996.08
Staff Nurse, Neonatal Intensive Care
Peninsula General Medical Center
1986.09 - 1996.01
Staff Nurse, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center
1985.06 - 1996.01
Master of Science in Nursing, Executive -
University of Memphis
Bachelor of Science in Nursing -
University of Maryland
- Registered Nurse, Tennessee
- BLS for Healthcare Providers
- Certified Nurse Manager Leader (CNML), 2011-current
- End of Life Nursing Education Consortium Pediatric Palliative Care Trainer (ELNEC-PPC), 2005
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program Instructor (NRP), 1994 – 1998
- Registered Nurse, Certified (RNC-NIC), in Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing, National Certification Corporation, 1992-1998
- Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse, 2003-2013
- National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) certification 2005-2011
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