CommonSpirit CNO offers advice on developing strategic plan

Health systems that understand their mission and have a strategy for achieving it will be better able to recruit and retain nurses, according to CommonSpirit Health CNO Kathleen Sanford, DBA, RN. The Chicago-based health system leader and AONL member believes part of pursuing a strategic plan is balancing change because leaders cannot change everything simultaneously. When CommonSpirit developed its nursing strategic plan in 2020, Sanford gave the health system’s 45,000 nurses a role in deciding what the health system’s vision should be. To achieve its vision, CommonSpirit developed a one-year nurse residency program; started an internal staffing agency; developed a virtually integrated care unit; and worked more closely with its academic partners to increase the number of graduates and improve its workforce diversity. Sanford believes nurses will stay if they feel appreciated, have a voice in decision-making and good relationships with their supervisors. (HealthLeaders Media article, 12/12/22)