Hospital head shares the QI strategies she employed as a CNO

Kerri Scanlon, RN, FAAN, executive director of Glen Cove (N.Y.) Hospital, built a reputation as an innovator skilled at leading successful quality improvement (QI) initiatives. Citing QI as essential to patients, processes and staff, Scanlon shared four ways she has achieved success in QI as a chief nursing officer (CNO). First, she emphasized prioritizing QI over financials, explaining good QI leads to dollars saved. Second, she advised leaders to create structure through a nursing QI coordinating group that includes leadership and front-line staff. Third, Scanlon explained QI efforts should start with small steps to test change and grow accordingly. Last, she urged leaders to engage everyone in the QI effort, from leadership to front-line nurses to housekeeping. (HealthLeaders Media article, 3/15/21)