Suzanne Bertsch Gibson
Naples
Summary
Dynamic Chief Nursing Officer with a proven track record, excelling in clinical leadership and strategic planning. Achieved a significant reduction in RN turnover while enhancing employee engagement and quality outcomes. Expert in infection control and committed to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and team development.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Chief Nursing Officer
Physicians Regional Healthcare System
Naples
04.2024 - Current
- Executive Nursing Lead over a three-hospital full-service market in Naples, Florida. Comprehensive nursing accountability across the system including clinical care, quality outcomes, patient experience, physician relationships and team development, with a strong focus on leadership development.
- Achieved over a 60% reduction in Hospital Acquired Infections year over year with a complete elimination of CAUTI, CLABSI, and C-Diff at the Collier Blvd Campus. Built a strong, collaborative relationship between Nursing, Quality, and Infection Prevention. Recognized by corporate leaders for ongoing commitment to keeping our patients safe.
- Participated and graduated from Objective Problem Solving (OPS) December of 2024. Lean based project that targeted C-Diff prevention. Have maintained results of zero cases of hospital acquired C-Diff since August of 2024.
- Maintained voluntary RN turnover below national average of 16.4%, achieving 13% in 2024 and maintaining similar rates in 2025.
- Developed and implemented Level up Your Leadership program to enhance leadership skills among frontline team members.
- Achieved the “Need for Speed” Award from corporate for consistently meeting targeted door-to-needle times for stroke.
- Achieved quarter over quarter HCAHPS improvement, elevating hospital rating from 25th percentile in Q1-2025 to 51st percentile in Q1-2026.
- Participated in Leadership Marco, Class of 2025.
- Member of CHS Nurse Executive Council 2025
Chief Nursing Officer
JFK Hospital
Atlantis
07.2021 - 01.2024
- Provided leadership and support to a team of over 600 Registered Nurses and 200 Nursing Support Personnel. Clinically responsible for all Inpatient Nursing Units and strong collaboration with all Essential Support Services. Committed to maintaining a workforce that is qualified, competent, and caring while achieving quality patient outcomes. Focused on workforce stabilization and ongoing development of all Team Members.
- Reduced overall annualized RN Turnover from 26.3% in 2022 to 17.6% in 2023. Reduced first year turnover from 41.8% in 2022 to 23.6% in 2023. RN vacancy rate of 17.6%, down from 26.3% the prior year.
- Increased overall employee engagement from 70% in May 2021 to over 74% consistently in last three surveys; LPN engagement rose from 72% to 85%.
- Workforce stabilization with integration of LPN Alternative Care Model and the addition of 20 International RNs.
- Implemented Nurse Extern program in 2022 and hired over 90 Nurse Externs with a 50% conversion rate to the Graduate Nurse.
- Implemented DAISY Nursing recognition program and BEE (Being Excellent Everyday) recognition program for ancillary and essential support team members.
- Revitalized JFK Nursing Shared Governance program in 2022, expanding it to include Patient Care Technician Council, Licensed Practical Nurse Council, and Nurse Extern Council (October 2023).
- Established and implemented StaRN (Graduate Nurse) Signing Day to start connecting with new nurses prior to onboarding and early on in their orientation, with a focus on the Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath.
- Developed next generation nursing leaders through Clinical Nurse Coordinator Elevation to Excellence Series.
- Focused on internal leadership development with nine internal promotions for members of Nursing Leadership Team, with a concentrated effort on building a solid pipeline and increasing bench strength. Monthly position specific development series for Directors and Managers, quarterly for Clinical Nurse Coordinators.
Chief Nursing Officer
Johnston-Willis Hospital
Richmond
07.2017 - 06.2021
- Direct oversight and leadership for inpatient nursing operations, inclusive of over 600 Registered Nurses and complementary clinical staff. Accountable for guiding, supporting, and ensuring a culture that is both inclusive and diverse while maintaining an emphasis on employee engagement, quality care outcomes, fiscal responsibility, and care experience.
- Increased RN engagement to 75% in 2020, achieving recognition as #1 in National Group and #3 in company for E-G hospitals in most recent Pulse Survey for improvement.
- Consistent progress in throughput metrics with year over year improvement in both discharges before 9am and 1pm. Established high functioning discharge process inclusive of a dedicated Discharge Nurse, Discharge Lounge, and engaged Hospitalist Lead. September through December MTD average 15% Discharges before 11 am and 40% before 1 pm.
- Collaborated with Quality Team, Infection Preventionists, Hospitalists and CMO to reduce HAIs by 50%. Reduced septic shock mortality below 25% Q1-Q4 2020.
- Executed HCA Nursing Agenda to advance nursing competency, advocacy, and leadership; implemented Clinical Nurse Coordinator Council to develop future nurse leaders.
- Collaborated with CMO to enhance Physician Engagement and perceptions of nursing care, achieving quality of care at 79.4%, Nursing Care at 70.8%, and Patient Experience at 70.0%, all above 50th percentile.
- Partnered with VP of Operations to reduce floor stock expense by 61% year over year by implementing a standardized formulary, saving $407K in 2019.
Assistant Chief/Interim Chief Nursing Officer
Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute
01.2015 - 06.2017
- Led and supported nursing and clinical support staff across Nursing Administration, inpatient nursing units, emergency services, behavioral health services, ambulatory surgery, cardiac cath lab, and rehabilitative services.
- Successful regulatory/accreditation surveys completed under Interim Role: American College of Surgeons validated Level II Trauma Program, July 2016; Joint Commission Triennial Survey, August 2016; Florida Department of Health, September 2016. Achieved state re-validation for Level II Trauma Program.
- Achieved designation as a Comprehensive Stroke Center from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) in August 2016.
- Achieved 2016 productivity targets across all departments under span of control.
- Reduced RN turnover from 17.6% in Q2 2016 to 16% in Q4, driving continued focus towards target goal of < 14% while enhancing engagement among millennial and novice nurses.
- Medical Surgical Unit recognized as 2016 Unit of Distinction winner within HCA. Tied for first place, companywide initiative.
- HCA East Florida Division
Assistant Chief Nursing Officer
Memorial Hospital
05.2002 - 01.2015
- Collaborated with facility Chief Nursing Officer to develop nursing leadership and clinical practice models, integrating evidence-based nursing to meet organizational strategic initiatives for patient satisfaction, employee engagement, fiscal responsibility, and clinical safety. Appointed Interim Assistant Chief Nursing Officer in October 2011 and permanently appointed in February 2012; served as Interim CNO from January 2013 to July 2013, successfully onboarding new facility CNO under directive from facility CEO.
- Proposed and implemented an in-house sitter pool, eliminating the utilization of Agency sitters.
- Increased inpatient discharges before 11 am from a monthly average of 3% to a sustained monthly average of 15% with continued goal of 25%.
- Improved employee engagement scores of direct reports from 68% in 2011 to 93% in 2013 for direct leadership.
- Led facility recertification for Joint Commission Disease Specific Stroke and Sepsis certifications in 2013, ensuring compliance with national standards.
- Spearheaded facility wide pressure ulcer prevalence reduction year over year from 4.9% in 2012 to 1.9% in 2013, well below the national average of 3.7%in 2013.
- Oversaw inpatient medical surgical units, inpatient wound care program, and stroke and sepsis programs (Joint Commission certified), as well as facility staffing and patient throughput.
- HCA South Atlantic Division
Education
MSN - Leadership and Management
Western Governors University
Salt Lake, Utah01.2021
MHSc - Healthcare with a concentration in Leadership
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, Florida01.2013
BSN - Nursing
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, Florida01.2008
AS - Nursing
Florida Community College
Jacksonville, Florida01.2002
AS - Business Administration
Georgia Military College
Milledgeville, Georgia01.1994
Skills
- Clinical leadership
- Nursing management
- Patient safety
- Infection control
- Quality improvement
- Regulatory compliance
- Strategic planning
- Policy development
- Continuous improvement
- Leadership development
- Employee engagement
- Team building
- Nursing staff supervision
Credentials
- MSN
- MHSc
- RN
- CENP
Certification
- Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP), Current
- Certified Lean Healthcare Professional (CLHP), Current
Licenses
Multi-State RN License, RN9580743, Florida
Community Affiliations
- Keiser University Advisory Board, 2022-2023
- Palm Beach State College Advisory Board, 2022-2023
- John Tyler Community College Foundation Board, 2020-2021
- John Tyler Community College Institutional Advancement Committee, 2021
- March of Dimes, March for Babies Chairperson, Indian River County, Florida, 2016
- Humane Society Volunteer, Kingsland, Georgia, 2011-2016
Professional Organizations
- American Organization for Nursing Leadership, Current
- American College of Healthcare Executives, Current
- Florida Nurses Association, Current
Timeline
Chief Nursing Officer
Physicians Regional Healthcare System
04.2024 - Current
Chief Nursing Officer
JFK Hospital
07.2021 - 01.2024
Chief Nursing Officer
Johnston-Willis Hospital
07.2017 - 06.2021
Assistant Chief/Interim Chief Nursing Officer
Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute
01.2015 - 06.2017
Assistant Chief Nursing Officer
Memorial Hospital
05.2002 - 01.2015
MSN - Leadership and Management
Western Governors University
MHSc - Healthcare with a concentration in Leadership
Nova Southeastern University
BSN - Nursing
Nova Southeastern University
AS - Nursing
Florida Community College
AS - Business Administration
Georgia Military College