Rocio Olvera MSN, RN, DNP(c)
Round Lake,IL
Summary
Critical care registered nurse and emerging national nurse leader with leadership across direct care practice, professional governance, nonprofit executive leadership, health equity, mentorship, and systems-level quality improvement. Experience includes representing approximately 22,000 nurses across Advocate Health's Illinois and Wisconsin division, contributing to professional governance infrastructure supporting approximately 44,000 nurses enterprise-wide, and serving as National Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair for the National Association of Hispanic Nurses. Currently completing a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in Leadership and Management with scholarly work focused on ICU Liberation and ABCDEF Bundle implementation.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Charge RN, Stroke/Neurology Department
ADVOCATE HEALTH
09.2025 - Current
- Serve in a dedicated charge nurse role supporting daily operations, staff assignments, patient flow, throughput, clinical coordination, resource allocation, and interdisciplinary communication.
- Coordinate staffing assignments, patient flow, and unit resources in a high-volume patient care environment.
- Support frontline nurses through prioritization, escalation, clinical decision-making, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Strengthen formal operational leadership skills while continuing to practice as a direct care nurse.
- Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
Clinical Staff Nurse, Critical Care Clinical Resource Unit
ADVOCATE HEALTH / ADVOCATE CONDELL MEDICAL CENTER
Libertyville, Illinois
01.2016 - Current
- Provide direct patient care across high-acuity clinical settings, including the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, and Progressive Care Unit. Serve as a critical care clinical resource nurse supporting staffing needs, interdisciplinary collaboration, workflow adaptation, and patient-centered care across complex practice environments.
- Provide direct care across emergency, intensive care, and progressive care settings while maintaining organizational, state, and national leadership roles.
- Support staffing and operational needs across multiple high-acuity units and interdisciplinary workflows.
- Lead ICU Liberation / ABCDEF Bundle implementation activities as part of DNP scholarly work, including staff education, workflow integration, interdisciplinary communication, and evidence-based practice support.
- Apply direct care nursing perspective to governance, workforce development, professional practice, and systems-level leadership initiatives.
Nursing Staff President
ADVOCATE HEALTH NURSING PROFESSIONAL GOVERNANCE
01.2023 - 01.2024
- Served as Nursing Staff President for Advocate Health's Illinois and Wisconsin Professional Governance structure, representing approximately 22,000 nurses across Illinois and Wisconsin during a period of enterprise transformation while maintaining direct care practice. Partnered with executive nursing leadership, Quality, Informatics, Research, Patient Safety, and Nursing Professional Development teams to advance governance strategy, professional practice, nurse engagement, leadership development, and systems-level nursing initiatives.
- Partnered with executive nursing leaders and interdisciplinary stakeholders to strengthen governance accountability, communication, and direct care nurse representation.
- Contributed to the transition from Shared Governance to Professional Governance following Advocate Aurora Health's integration with Atrium Health.
- Supported implementation of a bi-directional Professional Governance model serving approximately 44,000 nurses enterprise-wide.
- Co-developed the Vision, Values, Principles, and Culture framework for Advocate Health Professional Governance, establishing shared language, guiding principles, and a unified identity for the enterprise Professional Governance model.
- Helped deliver a system-wide Professional Governance roadshow, both in person and virtually, to educate nurse leaders and stakeholders, strengthen understanding of the new model, and support adoption across the organization.
- Mentored site Professional Governance leaders and supported leadership development, succession planning, and engagement across governance structures.
- Championed external recognition for nurses, contributing to a record 19 Advocate Health nurses recognized through Illinois Nurses Foundation Emerging Nurse Leader recognition over two years.
- Led strategic initiatives to enhance nursing governance and improve patient care standards.
Clinical Staff Nurse, Medical-Surgical Clinical Resource Unit
ADVOCATE HEALTH
01.2016 - 01.2020
- Provided staffing support across multiple specialty areas, including Progressive Care, Neurology, Renal, Trauma, Medical-Surgical, GI Lab, and Cardiac Telemetry; adapted to diverse patient populations, workflows, and interdisciplinary teams to support operational needs.
Patient Care Technician, Medical-Surgical Unit
CANCER TREATMENT CENTERS OF AMERICA
Zion, Illinois
01.2012 - 01.2016
- Provided patient care support in a medical-surgical oncology environment; served on the PCT Task Force and advanced through the Moving On Up Clinical Ladder program through committee participation, community service, and educational activities.
Certified Nursing Assistant
GREEK AMERICAN REHABILITATION AND CARE CENTRE
Wheeling, Illinois
01.2009 - 01.2012
Education
MBA - Business Administration
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Gies College of Business
Champaign, IL10-2026
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Leadership & Management
Illinois State University, Mennonite College of Nursing
Normal, IL08-2026
Master of Science -
Illinois State University, Mennonite College of Nursing
Normal, IL12-2024
Bachelor of Science -
Chamberlain College of Nursing
Addison, IL08-2016
Skills
- National Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair, National Association of Hispanic Nurses
- Board Member, National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations
- Former Nursing Staff President, Advocate Health Illinois/Wisconsin Professional Governance
- Contributed to Professional Governance infrastructure supporting approximately 44,000 nurses enterprise-wide
- Selected Recipient, National Association of Hispanic Nurses President's Award, 2026
- AONL Emerging Professional Voices Cohort Member, 2025
- Illinois Organization of Nurse Leaders Future of Nursing Award Recipient, 2023
- President-Elect, National Association of Hispanic Nurses–Illinois Chapter
- Program Coordinator, National Association of Latino Healthcare Executives–Chicago land
- Represented approximately 22,000 nurses across Illinois and Wisconsin
- Direct care critical care nurse with organizational, state, and national leadership impact
- Diversity MBA Top 100 Under 50 Executive and Emerging Leader, 2024
- ANA-Illinois Clinical Practice Award Recipient, 2023
- NAHN 40 Under 40 and Illinois Nurses Foundation 40 Under Forty Award Recipient, 2022
- Direct care critical care nurse with organizational, state, and national leadership impact
- Diversity MBA Top 100 Under 50 Executive and Emerging Leader, 2024
- ANA-Illinois Clinical Practice Award Recipient, 2023
- NAHN 40 Under 40 and Illinois Nurses Foundation 40 Under Forty Award Recipient, 2022
- Direct care critical care nurse with organizational, state, and national leadership impact
- Diversity MBA Top 100 Under 50 Executive and Emerging Leader, 2024
- ANA-Illinois Clinical Practice Award Recipient, 2023
- NAHN 40 Under 40 and Illinois Nurses Foundation 40 Under Forty Award Recipient, 2022
Affiliations
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
- American Nurses Association–Illinois
- American Organization for Nursing Leadership
- Illinois Nurses Foundation 40 Under Forty Planning Committee
- Illinois Organization of Nurse Leaders DEIB Committee
- National Association of Hispanic Nurses
- National Association of Hispanic Nurses–Illinois Chapter
- National Association of Latino Healthcare Executives–Chicagoland
- National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations
- Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
Certification
- Registered Nurse, Illinois, License 041447569
- BLS, ACLS, PALS, American Heart Association
- NIH Stroke Scale Certification
- Community Health Worker 101 Certification, Illinois Public Health Association, 2024
- SAMHSA Training Certification, 2024
- Progressive Care Certified Nurse, AACN, 2019–2022
SELECTED LEADERSHIP INITIATIVES
- Lattes y Liderazgo: A Cross Collaborative Leadership Forum: Developed a cross-collaborative leadership forum connecting Latino healthcare leaders, emerging professionals, nurses, executives, students and community partners through dialogue, networking, mentorship, and professional development.
- NAHN Latino Leadership Institute: Provide education for chapter leaders on nonprofit leadership, fiscal stewardship, governance, organizational sustainability, and chapter operations.
- NAHN-Illinois Scholarship & Awards Gala: Led planning and execution of NAHN-Illinois' highest-grossing fundraising event to date, generating more than $27,000 in support of scholarships, mentorship, leadership development, and community programming.
- Advocate Condell Professional Development Day: Designed and facilitated Advocate Condell Medical Center's inaugural Professional Development Day, creating a structured opportunity for nurses to engage in professional growth, leadership development, networking, and advancement with nearly 200 attendees.
- Shared Governance Leadership & Wellness Retreat: Developed and led a leadership and wellness retreat for more than 80 shared governance leaders, integrating Gallup CliftonStrengths, leadership development, wellness, mentorship, and team-building strategies.
- Community Partnership: Love Purse & Lake County Haven: Established a collaborative service initiative supporting women and children experiencing homelessness and survivors of domestic violence.
- Mentorship & Sponsorship Development: Mentor nurses and emerging leaders through Advocate Health and NAHN-Illinois mentorship programs, supporting educational advancement, career planning, leadership development, and professional involvement.
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Emerging Professional Voices Program: American Organization for Nursing Leadership | 2025
- Emerging Leader Program: Advocate Health | 2023
- Wisdom of the Whole Coaching Academy: Coach Training / Integrative Nurse Coach Preparation | 2024–2025 | Completed coach training curriculum including the 30-Hour Core Competency Course, Advanced Tools Course, Practicum, and Mentoring. Certification testing clearance pending.
- Community Health Worker 101 Certification: Illinois Public Health Association | 2024
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Training: 2024
CIVIC, ADVOCACY & HEALTH EQUITY LEADERSHIP
- NAHN Hispanic Health Policy Summit: Participant through NAHN | 2023–2026 | Engaged in national health policy dialogue focused on Hispanic health, workforce representation, health equity, advocacy, and policy priorities affecting Latino communities and nurses.
- Illinois Hospital Association Magnet Nurse Day at the Capitol: Participant | Springfield, Illinois | 2025 | Participated in professional advocacy and nursing visibility efforts with Magnet-recognized nursing colleagues.
- ANA-Illinois Nurses Day at the Capitol: Participant | 2022–2025 | Participated in state-level nursing advocacy and policy engagement through ANA-Illinois.
- Wisconsin Nurses Day at the Capitol: Participant / Professional Governance Representative | Madison, Wisconsin | 2022–2025 | Supported Wisconsin nurse colleagues during state-level Capitol advocacy visits while serving in professional governance leadership roles across Advocate Health.
- National Association of Hispanic Nurses–Illinois Chapter: Volunteer / Board Leader | 2021–Present | Support health screenings, health education, outreach, volunteer engagement, and community initiatives for Hispanic and underserved communities.
- Mentor Leaders Organization: Medical Mission Volunteer | El Salvador | February 2020, March 2022 | Supported health screenings, patient education, BLS training, community outreach, and healthcare access.
- Family Hope Charity: Medical Mission Volunteer | Nairobi, Kenya | 2016 | Supported health screenings, education, and community-based healthcare outreach.
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, SCHOLARSHIP & EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE
- Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project | Illinois State University, Mennonite College of Nursing | Expected Completion August 2026
- Project Focus: ICU Liberation / ABCDEF Bundle Implementation. Leading a scholarly quality improvement project focused on implementation of the ICU Liberation ABCDEF Bundle in an adult intensive care setting, including staff education, workflow integration, interdisciplinary communication, delirium screening support, mobility promotion, family engagement, and outcome evaluation.
- Designed and implemented an evidence-based quality improvement initiative in a high-acuity ICU setting.
- Coordinated staff education and workflow integration to support ABCDEF Bundle adoption.
- Engaged interdisciplinary stakeholders in advancing delirium prevention, sedation management, mobility, and family-centered critical care practices.
- Applied DNP leadership competencies in systems thinking, quality improvement, evidence translation, implementation science, and outcome evaluation.
SELECTED PRESENTATIONS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- Leadership in Action: Empowering Your Nursing Journey: Presenter, NAHN-Illinois Chapter, 1.5 CEUs | February 2025
- Healthcare Delivery & the Role of Nurses: Where We Are and Where We Need to Go: Panelist, Health Equity in Action Summit: Communities Forward, Pfizer Multicultural Health Equity Collective, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | October 2024
- NCEMNA Health Policy Roundtable: Moderator, Hispanic Health Policy Summit, National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations; facilitated national panel discussion on equitable policy, representation, intersectionality, community-led solutions, and sustained health equity action; 1.2 CEUs | February 2026
- Beyond the Ask: Building a Sustainable Chapter Through Strategic Leadership: Invited Faculty Speaker, NAHN Latino Leadership Institute | July 2025
- Unleashing the Power of Nurses: Innovation through Professional Governance: Co-presenter, Carolina Medical Center, Central Area Professional Governance Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina | September 2024
- Advocate Health Nursing Professional Governance: Keynote speaker, Advocate Health Virtual Nursing Summit | May 2024
- Empowering Critical Care: Leading Through Professional Governance: Presenter, Midwest Nursing Professional Governance | September 2024
- Effective Fundraising Strategies for NAHN Chapters: Invited Faculty Speaker, NAHN Latino Leadership Institute, 0.9 CEUs | July 2024
- Who We Are: Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion: Panel speaker, Advocate Health | March 2024
- Magnet Capitol Visit Nursing Advocacy Panel: Panelist, ANCC Magnet Program Office virtual session with nursing colleagues on the IHA Magnet Capitol Visit, professional advocacy, and nurses' role in policy engagement | 2025
- Empowering Nurses Through NAHN: Leadership, Mentorship, and Equity in Action: Presenter, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, Northwest Chicago Area Chapter; 1 CEUs | June 2025
PUBLICATIONS & STANDARDS CONTRIBUTIONS
- Sanchez, R., et al. (In press, 2026). From Shared to Professional Governance: Building a Unified Framework to Advance Nursing Accountability, Engagement, and Outcomes. Journal of Nursing Administration. Contributing author.
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Scope and Standards for Progressive Care Nursing Practice. National task force member and acknowledged contributor in published standards, 2025.
SELECTED HONORS, AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS
2026 | Selected Recipient, National Association of Hispanic Nurses President’s Award,
2025 | NAHN-Illinois President’s Award; AONL Emerging Professional Voices Cohort Member; Illinois Nurses Foundation Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Next Generation Scholarship,
2024 | Diversity MBA Top 100 Under 50 Executive and Emerging Leaders; Laura Sue and Charles Baue Endowed Scholarship; William Carl “Bill” McDonald Scholarship,
2023 | ANA-Illinois Clinical Practice Award; Illinois Organization of Nurse Leaders Future of Nursing Award; Advocate Health Emerging Leader Program Graduate; Latinx Up & Comer Award Nominee; Rebecca L. Sapp Ferguson Scholarship; Jean E. Mattingly Endowed Scholarship; Nurse Coach Fellowship,
2022 | National Association of Hispanic Nurses 40 Under 40 Award; Illinois Nurses Foundation 40 Under Forty Emerging Nurse Leader Award,
2021 | Nurse of the Year Award and Nurse Excellence Award, Structural Empowerment, Advocate Condell Medical Center,
2015 | Inducted, Phi Pi Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
LANGUAGES & TECHNICAL SKILLS
Spanish: Native proficiency
English: Fluent proficiency
Epic
Microsoft Office
Canva
macOS
Timeline
Charge RN, Stroke/Neurology Department
ADVOCATE HEALTH
09.2025 - Current
Nursing Staff President
ADVOCATE HEALTH NURSING PROFESSIONAL GOVERNANCE
01.2023 - 01.2024
Clinical Staff Nurse, Critical Care Clinical Resource Unit
ADVOCATE HEALTH / ADVOCATE CONDELL MEDICAL CENTER
01.2016 - Current
Clinical Staff Nurse, Medical-Surgical Clinical Resource Unit
ADVOCATE HEALTH
01.2016 - 01.2020
Patient Care Technician, Medical-Surgical Unit
CANCER TREATMENT CENTERS OF AMERICA
01.2012 - 01.2016
Certified Nursing Assistant
GREEK AMERICAN REHABILITATION AND CARE CENTRE
01.2009 - 01.2012
MBA - Business Administration
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Gies College of Business
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Leadership & Management
Illinois State University, Mennonite College of Nursing
Master of Science -
Illinois State University, Mennonite College of Nursing
Bachelor of Science -
Chamberlain College of Nursing