SANDRA K. WISE RUSH, BSN, MA, FACHE
1878 Lemon Grove Street
Henderson, Nevada 89052
(702) 617 3899
Email: WISEST1@AOL.COM

SUMMARY

An innovative healthcare executive with a strong background in hospital operations and senior nursing administration. An experienced executive with demonstrated results in building patient care services, managing organizational transitions, and streamlining systems and a background of excellent team building and communication skills. A proven change agent with improved customer service and productivity.

EXPERIENCE

01/06 to present Catholic Healthcare West – San Francisco, CA
Corporate Director of Service Excellence

6/00 to 12/05 SAINT ROSE DOMINICAN HOSPITAL, Henderson, NV
(2-hospital campus - 141 bed Siena Campus and 129 bed Rose de Lima
campus, part of CHW) Assistant Vice President – Nursing Services;
Chief Nursing Executive–Siena Campus

                                     Responsibilities: Administrative responsibilities including nursing and
infection control. Reports to the COO.

Accomplishments:
· Facilitated opening of new hospital, with rapid occupancy to 100%
census within 3 months
· Prepared for and successfully passed all opening surveys – Nevada State
Department of Health; Medicare/HFCA; JACHO; Open Heart surgery
Survey
· Coordinated major changes in patient care planning and education to
make the processes interdisciplinary

2/98 to 4/00 HAVASU REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, Lake Havasu City, AZ
(99 bed acute care, 10 bed rehab, 8 bed transitional care for-profit rural facility)
Chief Nursing Officer

Responsibilities: Administrative responsibilities including nursing, education, risk management, pharmacy and rehabilitation therapies. Supervise eight department directors and report to Chief Executive Officer.

Accomplishments:
· Right sized nursing leadership and departments
· Facilitated transition of change of ownership and non-profit to for-profit
· Prepared successfully for Joint Commission Survey (1999)
· Passed successfully HCFA Post JCAHO Survey (1999)
· Participated in the development of construction projects –
      In-patient Rehabilitation Unit and major $26 million facility expansion
· Coordinated risk management including physician reporting
· Participated in successful campaign against union effort to organize
· Participated in Physician Recruitment Program that added 15 physicians
to medical staff in 18 months
· Reduced casual labor use in nursing by 40%
· Made major improvements in nursing productivity (by 50%)
· Coordinated major changes in discharge planning to make process
       interdisciplinary.

1981 – 1998 SAMARITAN HEALTH SYSTEMS, Phoenix, Arizona
                                    (A non-profit multi-hospital system with 6 hospitals in Arizona)

GOOD SAMARITAN REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER,
(620 beds, Level I Trauma, Level III OB)

Director of Nursing, Perinatal Family Care Center (9/94 – 2/98)

Responsibilities: Clinical and operational management of 58 bed Perinatal Family Care Center, Home Perinatal Program, Perinatal Specialty Observation Unit; supervised 3 Assistant Directors and reported to nursing administrator.

Accomplishments:
· Developed and implemented Home Perinatal Program
· Developed Center of Excellence - Multiple Order Births
· Led the Staff Education Committee for the Patient Satisfaction Initiative
· Participated in Samaritan Health System Patient Satisfaction Design
Team
· Coordinated SHS Nursing Operations Council

DESERT SAMARITAN MEDICAL CENTER (380 bed acute)

Director of Nursing, OB/GYN (1985 – 1994)

Responsibilities: Clinical and operational management of 52 bed OB/GYN unit; supervised 2 Assistant Directors and reported to nursing administrator.

Accomplishments:
· Developed and implemented Home Perinatal Program
· Developed business plan for Inpatient Antepartum Unit
· Introduced mother-infant care
· Coordinated JCAHO visit for nursing department
· Coordinated multi-hospital SHS Women’s and Infants’ Directors Task
Force

Nursing Coordinator, Medical Surgical (1983 – 1985)

Responsibilities: Clinical and operational management of 32 bed medical surgical unit

Accomplishments:
· Established 16 bed medical unit
· Integrated medical staff and gyn staff

Post Anesthesia Clinical Nurse II (1981 – 1985)

1976 – 1983 EARLIER NURSING EXPERIENCES (Clinical) in Arizona, W. VA.

EDUCATION

1989 MA – Management University of Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona

1986 BSN – Nursing University of Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona

1976 RN – Diploma St. Mary’s School of Nursing, Huntington, W.Va.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American College of Healthcare Executives

Association of Nurse Executives 2003 Annual Meeting Planning Committee

Nevada Association of Nurse Leaders – President Elect

Nevada Medical Dental Screening Panel

Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses

Arizona State Board of Nursing, Previous Committee Appointment