Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies

A Conversation with Kelly White, MSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer, Hennepin Healthcare: Partnering to Improve Work Culture

Gertrude Thomas

School of Nursing, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Keywords: Equity, Partnership, Collaboration, Leadership, Safety, Quality

Abstract

Gertrude Thomas, MSN, RN, PHN, CNE, interviews Kelly White, Chief Nursing Officer at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their conversation addresses the vision of the new nurse leader collaborative work to improve outcomes for patients that align with the organization’s mission of providing equitable and incisive care for patients and staff. Expectations and hopes for improving work culture and health-care outcomes are at the highest level with the incoming of the new CEO and the new CNO. We hope for transformation through partnerships across disciplines and collaborative work to meet goals that will improve our health-care systems. In their 2021 document, The Future of Nursing, 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity, The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine identify ways in which nurses should work with other members of the interdisciplinary team to eliminate disparities in health care and move toward equitable care delivery. This call to action cannot be achieved by one discipline. Stepping out of our silos and partnering across disciplines to bring our best efforts to the table, backed by actions that deliver care with a focus on equity and excellence, will bring us closer to achieving these visionary goals. Leadership challenges that include patients’ safety, staff satisfaction, financial accountability, and equitable care delivery, have spiraled downward because of an ongoing pandemic. This is more reason to lean into partnerships and gain collaborative insights that bring out our best. We can intentionally and effectively redesign health-care delivery through partnerships to achieve mutual goals.