Philadelphia Executive Director Supports B.S.N. Initiative For Nurses
Patricia A. Stover, RN, MSN, serves as the senior executive director of nursing services at Doylestown Hospital, where she previously served as the director of patient services. At Doylestown Hospital, Stover provides leadership and direction for the functioning of the various departments of the nursing team, consistent with the hospital's mission and annual strategic goals. She is a graduate of Gwynedd-Mercy College — now Gwynedd Mercy University — where she received an Associate of Science in Nursing degree, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Stover later earned a Master of Science in Nursing degree from La Salle University.
Can you describe your duties in your chosen field?
"Presently as senior executive director, Nursing Services, I am responsible for providing leadership and direction for the nursing department at Doylestown Hospital, a 232 not-for-profit community hospital. Doylestown is owned and operated by the VIAA, which is a women's organization. I oversee the overall operation of nursing service and patient care, which includes financial management, quality assurance, patient care, safety and program development. Additionally, I provide project management for identified special projects, such as a new, six-bed pediatric unit. I also feel I serve as the advocate for nursing to promote recruitment, retention, and recognize excellence in nursing."
How has education prepared you for your career?
"Not only has the education I've had prepared me for my various nursing career positions, it has also provided me many opportunities. I value education and have supported the BSN initiative for nurses, as well as certification in their area of specialty. When I knew that I wanted to be in a leadership position, I furthered my education by obtaining my master's degree, took the certification exam in nursing administration and was given the opportunity of attending several advanced programs. I find learning keeps you motivated, stimulated and updated on your profession."
What continuing education is required for your role?
"In order to maintain certification and an RN license, we are required to complete a minimum number of continuing education credits. Most of these are leadership focused. I also have completed a patient safety officer training, which has helped me tremendously in promoting patient safety in our hospital."
What advice would you give someone just starting out?
"The first thing I would say is to be sure you know yourself and do an honest assessment of your skills and abilities. Be willing to be open to learning and comfortable with asking questions. Nurses need to use their knowledge and skills and become critical thinkers. This takes time and learning. You need to learn from others and time gives the experience. Also, be open to constructive feedback. I have had the privilege of having several mentors in my career. They were all different, but special in their own way, and I learned a great deal from them, enabling me to further my career goals while staying at Doylestown Hospital for almost 39 years. Lastly, be willing to take a risk for learning something new and expanding your knowledge base, no matter how uncomfortable you might be. You can become more well-rounded, and be able to do and understand more."
Christina Thompson is a freelance writer living in Philadelphia. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.