Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing 38 (2023) 3
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Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing
jo urn a l h om ep ag e: ww w.j o pa n. org
Letter to the Editor
Boards: A Place for Nurses
I joined healthcare boards in 2012 on the West side of the Big
Island of Hawaii to effect change. I was bored with the daily com-
plaints healthcare workers shared with me at the workplace regard-
ing policy that interfered with nurses patient care.
Decisions are made in the C-suite Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Chief Financial Office (CFO) Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief
Nurse Executive (CNE). Boards advise the C-suite. Boards do not man-
age they advise. Remember that because as nurses we advise our
patients everyday. We are a perfect fit to sit on boards and guide
healthcare into this next century.
I was initially overwhelmed with the acronyms flying around the
board table but kept my head down and listened and quickly realized
the A/P was not anatomy and physiology but accounts payable. ACO
meant accountable care organization. APR did not mean April it
meant Adjusted payment rate. And the list goes on.
I felt challenged but pushed through the pain.
I want to effect change to guide our patients through a sustainable
healthcare path.
NURSES RUN HOSPITALS. Nurses need to step up onto the medical
“board” positions.
I did. I have served on four healthcare boards. I started in 2012 and
continue today to serve for the State of Hawaii on the Hawaii Health
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jopan.2022.08.011
1089-9472/© 2022 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses.
Systems Corporation Board or HHSC. I sit on two committees: Per-
sonal and Audit and Compliance.
What a roller coaster of experiences. The opportunity to craft the
direction of health care in the Hawaiian Islands has been challenging.
I am grateful to have this experience.
Nurses need a seat at the “board” meetings. Nurses run hospitals
and our voices can no longer be silenced. When a C-suite officer sug-
gests cutting obstetric services due to revenue loss my eyes pop
open. What?
Babies will still be born. Woman will present into your emergency
rooms for childbirth. Is that what you want?
After fifty years of nursing, I have learned that our voice matters.
We as nurses can step up into the C-suite and state our opinions. Our
experience matters and nurses can craft the direction of healthcare to
benefit all. Provider, patient and administrator. Challenge yourself
and join a healthcare board in your community. I did.
Jane C. Dierenfield, BSN, RN, CPAN, CAPA
Kona Community Hospital, 79-1019 Haukapila Street, Kealakekua, HI
E-mail address: jddierenfield@me.com