In Rhode Island, Untapped Value of Nurses in the Boardroom Discussed

On June 4, Nurse Leaders in the Boardroom, an initiative of the Center to Champion Nursing in America (CCNA) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, hosted a series of moderated panel discussions in Providence, Rhode Island, on the valuable roles nurses can play in the boardroom. 

The event is part of a larger effort to facilitate relationships between nurse leaders and organizations seeking board leadership, including businesses, health systems, education systems, non-profit organizations and government agencies. Participants included high-ranking government officials, representatives from AARP, business leaders from across the state and nurses with experience  in board service, as well as nurses seeking these opportunities. 

The Center’s Chief Strategist, Susan Reinhard, PhD, RN, FAAN, and its Director, Brenda Cleary, PhD, RN, FAAN, moderated two of the panels and provided perspectives on the skills nurses can bring to the table, as well as the barriers that may prevent them from getting there. Dr. Reinhard, who is also a Senior Vice President and Director of AARP’s Public Policy Institute, told the group, “there is clearly a large perception gap that we must bridge—that nurses don’t have the managerial and fiscal skills, the leadership experience, the knowledge in fundraising and information—to play a strong role in board management.” While nurses may need to acquire certain skills and knowledge to prepare them for board leadership, she added, “the fact is, many nurses now acting in leadership positions are extremely qualified to serve on boards—and can contribute significantly in those roles.”

Dr. Cleary explained that many hospital and health system executives value nurses’ knowledge of issues like quality and patient safety.  However, she noted that nurses also bring a great deal of experience that helps them understand the complex relationships between all health professionals in hospitals—including nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and other providers, as well as unions. “Nurses understand how elements as seemingly disparate as intensive care, housekeeping, hand washing and patient identification are all part of the intricate dance that makes up quality care.”

Speakers and panelists at the event included:

• Kathleen S. Connell, RN, Senior State Director, AARP-RI
• Donna Policastro, RN CNP, Executive Director, Rhode Island State Nurses Association
• The Hon. Frank Caprio, JD, Chair RI Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education
• Joseph DiStefano, Attorney, Adler Pollack & Sheehan
• Laurie White, President, Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce
• John Keimig, Executive Director, Quality Partners of RI
• Claire Nadeau, RN, Regional Director CVS Minute Clinics
• Cathy Duquette, RN, Chief of Nursing Operations, Newport Hospital
• Phil Zarlengo, PhD, National Chair, AARP Board of Directors

Throughout the event, speakers, panelists and participants provided nurses in the audience with a variety of suggestions on the types of boards they might join, what they have to offer boards, what to expect, how best to prepare, and how to market themselves for board service.

Where Nurses Can Serve

Hospital boards are a natural fit for nurses, but speakers and panelists suggested a variety of boards that nurses can consider joining including other health care organization, corporate, community, editorial, educational, or foundation boards. Several participants also encouraged nurses to pursue leadership positions in government and politics, where they can use their standing as trusted members of the community to pursue positive change to health policy. 

What Nurses Can to Offer

All of the panelists agreed that nurses have special skills they could bring to the boardroom. Joseph DiStefano, who has served on the board of St. Joseph’s Health Care Services of Rhode Island, explained that the new era of health care reform will increase the transparency of hospital performance, bringing quality of care to the forefront. As nurses are known for their commitment to quality, their presence in the boardroom will be highly valuable, he said.  Nurses also have a more patient and consumer-focused perspective, echoed Claire Nadeau and Cathy Duquette. And in a post-Enron world where competence is more important than name recognition, they are seen as “highly skilled, highly talented and independent of the old boy network,” explained Laurie White.

What Nurses Can Expect

Nurses, like all board members, should be expected to help execute the strategic plan, whether it be through financial oversight or quality control. Boards vary in terms of time commitment—some require just two meetings a year, while others mandate that members join or chair additional committees, or even help raise funds for the organization. Thus, panel members emphasized that it is important for all potential members to know what is expected of them before they join a board.

How Nurses Can Prepare

While many nurse leaders are very well versed in operations and budgets, Laurie White suggested that those seeking board service positions consider taking a course in advanced financial literacy. For those individuals who serve on corporate boards, understanding quarterly earnings statements and off-balance sheet transactions is critical to successfully exercise fiduciary responsibility.

How Nurses Can Join Boards

Although boards of directors rarely put out ads or ask individuals off the street to join their organizations, panelists had a number of suggestions for nurses interested in taking on these leadership roles. John Keimig suggested looking for volunteer opportunities that provide introductions to board members, while Mr. DiStefano recommended that hospital nurses join patient care quality committees, where they can build their reputation with board members who undoubtedly pay close attention to such groups. Donna Policastro, meanwhile, suggested that all nurses interested in leadership positions should create their own strategic plan and learn how to markets themselves, even seeking the advice of other nurse leaders who can help them create a path toward board service.

Adjusting Perception

At the close of the meeting, Dr. Phil Zarlengo, the National Chair of AARP’s Board of Directors, shared his positive experiences with the nurses of AARP’s boardroom. “They are not just nurses who advise on health care,” he said. “They also are not hesitant to speak out on other AARP priorities. They are fraud fighters—not  only for seniors who are constantly getting ripped off, they speak out on pensions and retirement security.” In short, he said, they are not passive members of the board but active leaders. Dr. Zarlengo also referenced a recent Gallup Poll, sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which found that most opinion leaders do not believe nurses will have much of a leadership voice in the next five to 10 years in the field of health care. “I just can’t grasp that,” he said. “If that is true, we’ve got a lot of work to do to adjust perceptions and the way people think about nurses on boards.” Nurses can bring so much of their experience and perspective to the table, to positively influence the direction of boards of all types, he added. “And together, I think we can move nurses onto as many boards and into as many governing situations as we can. I can’t think of a more noble pursuit for us to pursue.”