Helene Burns, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, is Senior Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer
of Clinical Services at Jefferson Health in New Jersey. In this role since 2013, Dr. Burns led her organization to receive its first Magnet Designation® in 2018.
Dr. Burns has overall responsibility for patient care services and nursing operations at the multi-hospital New Jersey division of Jefferson Health, with oversight of its more than 1,400 RNs and Department of Nursing staff. Dr. Burns has direct oversight of patient safety as it relates to nurse-sensitive indicators, e.g., patient fall rates, readmission rates, catheter-associated urinary track infections, blood stream infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia rates, sepsis rates, and pressure ulcer rates. She collaborates with the medical staff and administrative teams leading High Reliability initiatives as they relate to patient safety.
An inspiring and engaged leader, Dr. Burns has championed many key initiatives linking patient and employee satisfaction, including leading a healthy work environment nursing council with clinical nurses; infusing shared governance councils within the organization; and improving nurse communication through nursing hourly rounds and beside communication initiatives. She also implemented several nursing retention initiatives, including Nurse Intern, Nurse Residency, and Nurse Mentorship programs. Dr. Burns has jointly led initiatives with two hospital administrators to design new patient towers with clinical staff putting design input.
