Stacy Wenner, MSN, RN, NEA-BC
Whitefish Bay,WI
Summary
Nurse Leader with over twenty-one years of experience in system-wide nursing leadership, known for fostering a culture of high engagement and national reputation for clinical excellence. Leadership experiences in a variety patient care, programmatic, and operational settings. Strategic, systems thinker with proven ability to collaborate. Knowledgeable of nursing care delivery across settings and experienced in quality, safety, and outcomes evaluation. Positively represents nurses and the profession, with a vision for elevating nursing professional practice.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director, Nursing Systems & Magnet
Children’s Wisconsin
09.2007 - Current
- Alongside the Chief Nursing Officer, responsible for achieving and maintaining four consecutive Magnet designations, resulting in a system-wide culture of nursing excellence for nineteen plus years.
- Applies systems-thinking and situational adaptability in leading nursing and interprofessional work teams to achieve desired results, including: system-wide nursing strategy, shared governance, alignment of nursing professional practice, workforce development, performance improvement, and organization-wide initiatives.
- Knowledgeable of nursing practice and patient care standards including the Wisconsin State Nurse Practice Act, and experience successfully leading interprofessional teams through Joint Commission and other regulatory surveys.
- Established credability as a nurse leader with personal connections to nurses, providers, team members, and leaders both within the health care system and with external key stakeholders.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills to represent the voice of the nurse and nursing practice within the organization, in the community, and beyond.
Interim-Director, Nursing Research & EBP
Children's Wisconsin
09.2025 - Current
- Strategically leading an engaged, productive team of Nurse Scientists and clinical nurses in developing and implementing innovative programs of nursing research and evidence-based practice.
- Fostering collaboration to enhance shared understanding, increase visibility, and demonstrate value of nursing research within the health system, including implementation of process improvements to remove barriers and cultivating relationships to maximize fiscal support.
- Attentive to relationships with key partners and stakeholders, including academic institutions and affiliated Human Research Protection Programs.
Director, Nursing Student Placement
Children's Wisconsin
02.2019 - Current
- Strengthened collaborations with local and national academic partners to support over two hundred undergraduate and graduate nursing student clinical and precepted experiences per year, with consistently high satisfaction results and conversion to hire rates.
- Fostered strategic partnerships to generate the nursing pipeline, including innovative clinical experiences and programs to enhance nursing workforce needs.
Director, Wisconsin Poison Center
Children’s Wisconsin
11.2014 - Current
- Transformed a niche clinical department into a high performing, engaged interprofessional team.
- Collaborated effectively with physician and administrative leaders across institutions in contract negotiation, strategic planning, program evaluation, and outcomes monitoring.
- Optimized fiscal margins through effective management department operations and pursuit of external funding sources, including grants management.
Consistent Charge Nurse, Hematology/Specialty Medical Unit
Children’s Wisconsin
01.2007 - 08.2007
- Effectively led the evening shift of up to twenty nurses and team members on a twenty-four bed inpatient specialty medical unit, including care delivery, care team assignments, applying systems-thinking in decision-making.
Pediatric Nurse, Medical Unit
Children’s Wisconsin
09.2004 - 01.2007
- Consistently demonstrated exceptional overall performance in the direct care nurse role and achieved highest performance rating for each annual review period.
- Served as relief charge nurse, responsible for supervising patient care activities, making patient assignments, and oversight of unit operations.
- Precepted nursing students and graduate nurses, with a focus on fostering skill development and critical thinking to promote smooth transition into the direct care nurse role.
Education
Master of Science - Nursing Administration & Leadership
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI05-2006
Bachelor of Arts - Liberal Arts-English Literature
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI05-2002
Skills
- Clinical Nursing
- Patient Care Operations
- Nursing Leadership
- Regulatory Compliance
- Workforce Development
- Data Analysis
- Strategic Mindset
- Organizational Savvy
- Effective Written & Verbal Communication
Publications
Gralton, K. S., Sherburne, E., Malin, K., Averbeck, J., Smith, D., Wenner, S., Hornung, G., Newman, A., Norton, A., Feltz, S., & Kavanaugh, K. (2024, May 1). The Impact of COVID-19 during the first two years: Giving voice to pediatirc nurses. Journal of Pediatric Nursing 82 (2025):151-159.
Gralton, K. & Brett, S. (2012). Integrating the Synergy Model for Patient Care at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Journal of Pediatric Nursing 27(1):74-81.
Presentations
- May 2024: Gralton, K. S., Sherburne, E., Malin, K., Averbeck, J., Smith, D., Wenner, S., Hornung, G., Newman, A., Norton, A., Feltz, S., & Kavanaugh, K. (2024, May 1). The Impact of COVID-19 on CW Pediatric Nurses: What We Learned. (Podium). Pediatric Nursing Conference: Growing Purpose and Passion in your Nursing Practice, Milwaukee, WI.
- January 2024: Gralton, K. S., Sherburne, E., Malin, K., Averbeck, J., Smith, D., Wenner, S., Hornung, G., Newman, A., Norton, A., Feltz, S. & Kavanaugh, K. (2024, January 31) The Impact of COVID-19 on CW Pediatric Nurses: What We Learned. (Podium) CW Nursing Grand Rounds, Milwaukee, WI.
- October 2015: ANCC National Magnet Conference, Atlanta, GA: “Ethics at the Bedside: Real-Time Engagement of Clinical Nurses”
- Fall & Spring: 2013- Present: University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee Undergraduate Leadership Class, Milwaukee WI: “The Power and Value of Magnet”
- October 2013: ANCC National Magnet Conference, Orlando FL: “Against All Odds: Building a Model of Care Delivery into the EHR”
- Fall & Spring: 2011- 2014: Marquette University Undergraduate Research Class, Milwaukee WI: “Incorporating Evidence Based Practice into Nursing Care”
- March 2011: Nursing Grand Rounds, Milwaukee WI: “The Path to My Certification and Beyond”.
- September 2009: NRC Picker International Symposium, Salt Lake City, UT: “The Magnet Recognition Program: Its Value and Force”.
Certification
Registered Nurse - State of Wisconsin #148802-30
Nurse Executive-Advanced (NEA-BC) - American Nurses Credentialing Center
Timeline
Interim-Director, Nursing Research & EBP
Children's Wisconsin
09.2025 - Current
Director, Nursing Student Placement
Children's Wisconsin
02.2019 - Current
Director, Wisconsin Poison Center
Children’s Wisconsin
11.2014 - Current
Director, Nursing Systems & Magnet
Children’s Wisconsin
09.2007 - Current
Consistent Charge Nurse, Hematology/Specialty Medical Unit
Children’s Wisconsin
01.2007 - 08.2007
Pediatric Nurse, Medical Unit
Children’s Wisconsin
09.2004 - 01.2007
Bachelor of Arts - Liberal Arts-English Literature
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Master of Science - Nursing Administration & Leadership
Marquette University