"I was encouraged to pursue a career in nursing by my former clinical nurse specialist, Yanick D. Joseph, MSN, RN. The most valuable lesson taught was never spoken, but rather observed. Ms. Joseph demonstrated competencies necessary to excel in nursing leadership. She was knowledgeable, accountable, equitable and had great character and integrity, just to name a few. However, the most valuable lesson she taught was that your actions must speak louder than your words.

"Through your actions, staff must recognize your commitment, dedication and genuine concern for patients as well as their need for a sustainable and rewarding work environment. If such is transparent, it will result in staff delivering high quality care, increased patient safety and enhanced patient and staff satisfaction."

- Vicky L. Holman, MBA, BSN, RN-C
Deputy Director of Nursing
New York City Health and Hospital Corp., New York, NY

"I was encouraged by the president and CEO of Maimonides, Pamela S. Brier, MPH. At the time she was the COO, and I was responsible for organizational performance. She believed I could make a difference in nursing despite my lack of nursing management experience. She taught me - by that act of confidence - to take risks, that varying types of experience matter, and that the people and process skills are as important as the typical credentials and experience requirements."

- Sondra Olendorf, RN
Senior Vice President of Nursing and Hospital Operations
Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY

"Maureen Sullivan, director of staff development at East Orange General Hospital, East Orange, NJ, catapulted my career toward nursing leadership when I was just a year out of nursing school. She encouraged me to take the position of nurse manager of a 50-bed med/surg unit. In doing so, she taught me the importance of stretch goals as an aid in becoming the best you can be and the importance of a having a strong mentor to get you there. I did not look back but kept looking forward at what could be. I kept learning more, which increased my capacity to do more. In turn, my stretch goals and dreams got bigger. Giving back and mentoring is a critical part of my leadership style, and I hope I motivate others to dream more, learn more and become more."

- Susan W. Salmond, EdD, RN
Interim Dean
University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey-School of Nursing, Newark, NJ

"My former director of nursing education and research, Marianne McConnell, RN, encouraged me to assume the senior education manager position at what was then Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. I was a nurse educator, already had a husband and two children and was unsure I could do a new job. I was also very happy in my role, but she convinced me I could give even more to my profession, so I accepted the management position and have never looked back. She taught me to fully analyze a problem/situation and then to make a logical plan and to develop staff on the way to the goal. Thanks, Marianne!"

- Mary Walsh, MSN, RN, CEN
Vice President of Patient Care Services/CNO
Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY

"I was blessed to have two wonderful nurses in my life who encouraged me to strive for leadership, Terry Beck, vice president of community initiative, and Mary Ann Christopher, president/CEO of VNA of Central Jersey. Terry was and continues to be my mentor, always encouraging me to take on new leadership decisions (as I am inclined to do), but to consider all options and to look for new ways of bringing value to a situation. Through the many opportunities Mary Ann has given me, I have learned to be open to the innumerable programs and services in which I can apply my nursing experience and to be confident in my leadership skills. She always encouraged me to take on new opportunities I never thought I would have in nursing, from running a home-repair program for seniors to serving on policy-setting committees. I am fortunate to be surrounded every day by other nursing leaders at VNA of Central Jersey."

- Eileen Helbig Toughill, PhD, APN-C, RN
Vice President of Research, Education and Quality
Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey, Red Bank, NJ

"I was fortunate to have a mentor who saw in me what I did not see in myself. She challenged me in ways I could not challenge myself. I never felt quite 'ready,' but she pushed me way out of my comfort zone. When I failed, she helped me see failure was really a necessary step along the path to success and celebrating success can't happen without the pain of occasional disappointment. Most importantly, she gave me the confidence to take risks and believe I should strive to be the master of my own destiny."

- Pat Hogan, MA, RN, NEA-BC
Senior Vice President of Nursing/CNO
Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, West Islip, NY

"My first position in nursing leadership was as the evening charge nurse on an adolescent inpatient psychiatric unit. Jeff Malone, RN, was the nurse administrator on the unit and he encouraged me to apply when the former charge nurse left. Jeff was a wonderful role model. The most valuable lesson he taught me was how to be liked as well as respected by your staff while still doing your job. An important part of this was by not hesitating to 'roll up your sleeves' and pitch in to get the job done."

- Donna M. Hakala, MS, RN
Clinical Director
ValueOptions New Jersey

"I applied for my first leadership position while I was working as a SICU nurse in the Brooklyn VA (a long time ago!) and my supervisor, Deborah A. Clickner, MEd, RN, NEA-BC, worked with me on important lessons about the 'big picture' and timing in promotions and appointments. Years later another mentor, Carole Birdsall, BS, RN, CEN, CCRN, taught me the experience of working in an academic environment was important for leadership growth and encouraged me to apply for positions at academic medical centers (she was right). And finally, Sandra P. Sperry, FACHE, persuaded me to look at CNO roles and taught me to never underestimate one's own abilities. There are many more lessons over many years but there's not enough room in this Speak Out!"

- Rosanne Raso, MS, RN, NEA-BC
Senior Vice President of Nursing Services
Lutheran Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY

"I wanted a career in nursing since I was 7 years old. I would see pictures of nurses with their caps and tell my mother that I wanted to look just like that! When I graduated nursing school, my family encouraged me to go into the U.S. Navy as a nurse. It was my position as a naval officer that taught me the leadership skills I carried with me throughout my career. As my career in nursing progressed from head nurse to vice president of patient care and CNO, I hear those words that my mother would always say to me: 'Make sure every ptient in the bed gets cared for like the patient was your own family member.' In my role as chief nurse executive, I try to influence nursing practice by those words each and every day!"

- Stephanie Goldberg, MSN, RN, NEA-BC
Vice President of Patient Care Services/CNO
Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY

"My parents encouraged me to develop my leadership skills. However, a nursing career was my choice. My parents' lives exemplified service to the community and respect for others. These qualities are so intrinsic to the nursing profession. During my 39 years of nursing, I have honed the ideals of respectful service and infused them into my current practice."

- Barbara McFadden, BS, RN, LNC
Senior Vice President of Resident Care Services
Buena Vida Continuing Care and Rehabilitation Center, Brooklyn, NY

"Years ago, when I was working in another facility, Pat Brown, RN, corporate nurse, strongly encouraged me to become a director of nursing service. She mentored and taught me many things including that knowledge is power and is to be shared with the nursing staff. This enables them to provide the highest quality of nursing care every day. I keep the nurses current on state and federal regulations, have systems in place to ensure compliance, and be survey-ready every day. Ms. Brown always respected and listened to her staff, encouraging us to never settle for mediocrity."

- Marie Foglia, MS, RN-C, CLNC
Director of Nursing Services
Margaret Tietz Nursing and Rehabilitation Center,
Queens, NY