Earlier this month, Becker’s Hospital Review announced its 2024 list of chief nursing officers (CNOs) to know.
“Becker’s is thrilled to honor noteworthy healthcare CNOs. Chief nursing officers are responsible for tackling nurse staffing shortages, managing nursing budgets, and developing professional growth opportunities for up-and-coming nurses,” said the report.
“In addition to overseeing nursing departments at their organizations, CNOs spearhead innovative initiatives to ensure high standards of patient care. These leaders bring a unique combination of clinical expertise and executive leadership skills to their roles.”
Karen Grimley, chief nursing executive, UCLA Health
Karen Grimley, Ph.D., R.N., leads professional nursing practice and care delivery across UCLA Health’s five hospitals and more than 260 ambulatory clinics, overseeing more than 5,000 bedside nurses.
Under her leadership, UCLA Health has earned multiple prestigious accolades for nursing excellence, including Magnet designations, numerous Beacon Awards from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and Lantern Awards from the Emergency Nurses Association.
Dr. Grimley spearheaded the development of a comprehensive workforce strategy that has driven nursing engagement and excellence scores beyond national benchmarks in six of seven categories across the system. She transformed the relationship-based care initiative called Reigniting the Spirit of Caring into an intentional self-care retreat that provides essential support for nurses and healthcare workers. Dr. Grimley was also instrumental in establishing the Safer U program, significantly enhancing the safety and well-being of staff, patients and families.
Dr. Grimley is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the American Academy of Nursing.
Anne Marie Watkins, senior vice president and chief nursing executive, UC Irvine Health
Anne Marie Watkins, DNP, R.N., oversees patient care across six hospitals and numerous ambulatory sites. She led the integration of community network hospitals into UC Irvine Health, focusing on standardizing clinical practices and optimizing resource allocation. Her work also includes securing a grant for an R.N. externship program in partnership with the UC Irvine Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing. Under her leadership, UCI Health achieved its fifth Magnet designation, as well as numerous quality and safety awards, including the Leapfrog Group’s “Top Hospital” recognition and high rankings from Vizient.