From the Chief Nursing Officers
Kellie Garth Green, CNO, UWMC Montlake and Christin Gordanier, ACNO, UWMC Northwest
A Return to Joy and Connection
The University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC) is pleased to present our 2023 Nursing Annual Report. We are very proud to share many of our nursing-related accomplishments from 2023, our first post-pandemic year that feels closer to pre-pandemic normalcy.
Each of our team members makes UWMC a place where nurses want to work, resulting in staff vacancy rates that are lower than those experienced prior to the pandemic. As our staffing has stabilized in most departments, it has been rewarding to shift our focus to new initiatives and programs that support quality care and bring joy to the workplace. You will learn more about these initiatives in this report.
The 2023-24 Meaningful Connections Initiative particularly highlighted this reconnection and recommitment to our relationships with our patients and with one other. We were all reminded of the research behind how just small moments of connection can have a significant impact on our own work satisfaction as well as on the experience and outcomes for our patients and their families.
Year after year, it is inspiring to attend the Seattle Nursing Research Conference (SNRC) and see the outsized role UWMC plays in fostering a culture of inquiry and innovation. We are leading the way in improving practice, not just on our campuses, but across the state and nation.
Behavioral Health was an important focus in 2023, both from an organizational need, and in preparation for the opening of the Center for Behavioral Health and Learning in 2024. Welle workplace violence prevention training and the new Behavioral Emergency Response Team were both rolled out. This work is changing how we perceive and respond to the most challenging of patient care interactions.
Finally, it has been such a joy to return to being in-person for many of our recognition and celebration activities. We have reconnected through team-building activities like potlucks and outings. These are important tools for building trust and creating a team approach that can directly impact staff engagement as well as quality and patient outcomes. We look forward to continuing to connect with our staff and patients in the next year as we continue to learn and grow together!
Kellie Garth-Green, RN, MN
Chief Nursing Officer
Senior Associate Administrator, Patient Care Services
University of Washington Medical Center | UW Medicine
Christin Gordanier, RN, MN
Associate Chief Nursing Officer
Northwest Campus
University of Washington Medical Center | UW Medicine