Susan McDonald
Marshfield
Summary
Dynamic and compassionate nurse leader with a proven track record of fostering excellent interpersonal relationships, strong organizational skills, and unwavering employee advocacy. Visionary leader with strategic acumen focused on driving growth, enhancing customer service, and promoting transparent communication with staff and providers. Committed to cultivating a positive work culture centered on trust, collaboration, and innovation. Dedicated to driving positive change to elevate clinical quality, patient safety, customer and team satisfaction, and financial performance within the challenging healthcare landscape.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Administrative Director Children’s Hospital, Birth Center & Campus Pediatrics
Marshfield Clinic Health System
03.2022 - Current
- Responsible for providing administrative and operational leadership within Women’s and Children’s Services.
- Operational size includes 24 bed NICU, 8 bed PICU, 24 bed general pediatrics, sedation & surgical services for pediatrics, Child Life program, Birth Center & Lactation services.
- March 2022- July 2024 provided administrative & operational oversite for Ambulatory general pediatrics and pediatric subspecialist.
- Facilitated department roll out for Cerner EMR in the clinics.
- Worked closely with consultants, peer & senior leaders to realign all dept's. and programs for financial stability.
- Fall 2022 opened an 8 bed pod to accommodate influx of RSV patients.
- Presently working with facilities & philanthropy to build a new 26 bed single room NICU.
- Focused intent to improve communication/ synergy between the managers, staff, and providers.
- Responsible for quality outcomes and initiatives.
- Responsible for maintaining patient and staff satisfaction scores throughout the service line, ensuring rounding and follow up is completed; develop service initiatives as indicated.
- Effective partner with peers, physicians & staff & across the service line to ensure optimal safe patient care.
- Participate in Community events to give back, serve & market.
- Facilitate educational needs identified for our teams/leaders.
- Facilitate system hospital(s) pediatric educational needs.
NICU Manager
American Family Children’s Hospital
01.2020 - 03.2022
- Operational leader for a team of 50 RN FTE & Lactation program for 26 bed Level IV NICU.
- Successfully manage the budget to exceed yearly targets.
- Led the roll out of policy/procedures through COVID-19.
- Current focus on Magnet redesignation.
- Unit NDNQI scores improved in 1 year.
- Identified gap in trach ordering process and facilitated changes.
- Participated & organized for my team concentrated education focusing on maternal/child/neonate disparities with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training.
- Facilitated NICU Neuro ICU education.
- Facilitated the roll out of NICVIEW camera system.
- Maintain Zero CLABSI for the past three years.
- Reduced NICU unplanned extubation rate over past year.
- Support NICU FICARE roll out.
Patient Care Manager
West Allis Women’s Pavilion
11.2017 - 01.2020
- Operational leader for a team of 47 FTE, included PT/OT/Speech for NICU.
- Responsible for the day to day operations a 23 bed, level III NICU.
- Upon hire, I quickly evaluated the current unit situation & aligned Aurora goals with new unit goals.
- Raised employee perception survey results to Tier 2 in 1 year.
- Developed a Lead Charge RN program with the unit.
- Facilitated STABLE program to begin at AWAMC.
- Interim leader for the post-partum, antepartum and women's surgical unit.
Manager of Cardiovascular Specialty Services
Aspirus Hospital
04.2014 - 11.2017
- Operational leader for four specialty clinics: Atrial Fibrillation, The Valve Center, Pediatric Cardiology and Pulmonary Hypertension.
- Responsible for budget, nursing and front desk staff, and for the facilitation of community outreach education.
- Started the development of expanding the pulmonary hypertension clinic.
- Successfully align with providers and our VP to support the vision of AHV programs to continually improve our quality outcomes and build market share.
NICU Manager
Aspirus Hospital
03.2005 - 04.2014
- Lead RN who collaborated with many professionals in the development of the NICU which opened in February 2006.
- Operational leadership accountability for 22 FTE’s.
- Successfully managed supplies and salary dollars under target budget volumes.
- Created unit based shared governance and councils, where lead nursing staff could discover empowerment, roles as change agents, and personal accountability.
- Raised patient satisfaction scores to 93%.
- Facilitated all educational needs for staff.
- Facilitated the development of the NICU orientation program.
- Strategic minded: Sought out regional involvement and became the initial voice for the Aspirus NICU.
- Started local involvement in WAPC to establish the NICU into our community.
- Travel to the regional hospitals on a regular basis to promote system referrals and transports.
- Collaboratively worked with Medevac and RT’s to develop the NICU transport team.
- Developed self-scheduling in the NICU.
- Facilitated the NICU council.
- Developed multiple volunteer programs in the NICU.
- Collaborated with therapies on the development of Early Childhood Clinic.
- Implemented the STABLE program.
- Implemented interdisciplinary rounds in the NICU.
- Developed our NICU survey, now used in conjunction with the PRC survey.
- Involved in marketing plans for the NICU and Birth Center.
- Speaker at conferences, poster presentations.
- Responsible for choosing the design of the NICU unit, clinical/operational oversight during the build.
- Prepared the department of joint commission.
- Implemented VON, the NICU quality database.
Interim Director of L&D, Postpartum, & NICU
Aspirus Hospital
03.2013 - 10.2013
- Interim director over 50 FTE’s which encompassed a 14 bed NICU, 11 bed LDRP, 4 bed triage, 17 bed mother baby.
- Stepped into support daily operations of their birthing center and positively managed the staff through this transition.
- Partnered with physicians to create a more positive learning environment for new staff.
- Decreased the use of agency nurses during this 6-month period.
- Began implementation of a new perinatal education program for new employees.
- Facilitated the development of a perinatal grief education program.
- Involved in the magnet redesignation process.
Registered Nurse
Avidyn
04.2002 - 03.2005
- Worked as an RN case manager for high risk obstetric patients and premature infants.
- Job duties included telephonic interaction with patients, educator for Birthline program, hospital and home health certification, coordination of plan benefits, consultation for Synagis and infertility cases.
Registered nurse & Perinatal Educator
Aspirus Hospital
03.1998 - 03.2005
Registered Nurse
Evanston Northwestern Healthcare
08.1989 - 01.1998
Registered Nurse
Saint Mary’s Hospital
06.1991 - 06.1992
Registered Nurse
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
07.1988 - 06.1989
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Madison, WIMaster of Science - Nursing Leadership And Management
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ04-2020
Skills
- Team development facilitator
- Fostering interdepartmental relationships
- Operational issue resolution
- Strategic thinker
- Operational management
- Experienced in facilitating organizational change
- Policy and program design
- Motivated and dedicated professional
Certification
Neonatal Resuscitation Program
Certified provider of BLS
Certified provider of STABLE
American Nurses Association
National Association of Neonatal Nurses
Wisconsin Association of Perinatal Care
Timeline
Administrative Director Children’s Hospital, Birth Center & Campus Pediatrics
Marshfield Clinic Health System
03.2022 - Current
NICU Manager
American Family Children’s Hospital
01.2020 - 03.2022
Patient Care Manager
West Allis Women’s Pavilion
11.2017 - 01.2020
Manager of Cardiovascular Specialty Services
Aspirus Hospital
04.2014 - 11.2017
Interim Director of L&D, Postpartum, & NICU
Aspirus Hospital
03.2013 - 10.2013
NICU Manager
Aspirus Hospital
03.2005 - 04.2014
Registered Nurse
Avidyn
04.2002 - 03.2005
Registered nurse & Perinatal Educator
Aspirus Hospital
03.1998 - 03.2005
Registered Nurse
Saint Mary’s Hospital
06.1991 - 06.1992
Registered Nurse
Evanston Northwestern Healthcare
08.1989 - 01.1998
Registered Nurse
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
07.1988 - 06.1989
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Master of Science - Nursing Leadership And Management
Grand Canyon University
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