Former Vice President of Patient Care Services at the Tufts Medical Center Terry Hudson-Jinks became the center's new Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) on Oct. 31 after serving there for 28 years.
In the new position, Hudson-Jinks is responsible for all nursing concerns at Tufts Medical, reports directly to the president and sits on the senior team, she said.
"I have influence in that level of discussion and decision-making," Hudson-Jinks said. "My voice and the voices of the nurses are heard in that arena."
According to Michael Wagner, interim chief executive officer at Tufts Medical, Hudson-Jinks for five months served as interim CNO when her predecessor, Nancy Shendell-Falik, took a job at the Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass. Her transition to permanent CNO was smooth, he said.
"It was natural for her to step into the interim Chief Nursing Officer role," Wagner said. "I led the process ... of coming up with a decision as to how we're going to move ahead with a permanent CNO."
Wagner said that, after interviewing four other strong candidates from outside institutions, Hudson-Jinks still stood out as the best candidate.
"Terry really provided the greatest skill set combined with a deep knowledge of our organization," he said. "She was the obvious choice for us to move ahead and make the permanent CNO."
Hudson-Jinks said that she most values patient care and plans to stress nurse engagement as she moves forward as CNO.
"As we launch into new and ever-changing elements in healthcare, I think, for me, what's important is truly ensuring and continuing the work of quality patient care for every patient every day, having a voice for the nurses at the senior team level and really engaging the staff," she said.
A new project that Hudson-Jinks has focused on involves reducing "hospital acquired harm," such as infections contracted while receiving care for other conditions.
"There's an initiative having to do with catheter-associated urinary tract infection," she said. "It's a patient safety initiative. She's been working very closely with our Chief Medical Officer on our patient safety initiatives."
Hudson-Jinks explained that she joined Tufts Medical right out of college and worked at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for 10 years as a staff nurse. After returning to graduate school to study nursing administration, more opportunities opened up for her at the center. She served as nurse manager of the surgical ICU for 11 years before stepping into her most recent role as vice president of patient care services.
In the vice president position, Hudson-Jinks oversaw critical care in areas like the Cardiovascular and Neuroscience Centers, and worked hand in hand with other nurse executives and physician leaders under the leadership of Shendell-Falik.
"I've had many opportunities here at Tufts to learn from great leaders and work alongside and then lead great nurses and partner with physicians," Hudson-Jinks said. "I've been here my entire career, learning and growing and contributing to healthcare."
She said she will be earnest in carrying out her new responsibilities as CNO and that she is dedicated to ensuring quality patient care and safety.
"The expectations are clearly outlined by our regulating agencies and professional organization," Hudson-Jinks said. "Nursing care has to meet certain standards for patient care, and that's very near and dear to me. I take that ultimate responsibility incredibly seriously."
The interim period, in which Hudson-Jinks was able to continue to work with Shendell-Falik, was crucial to the smooth transition process, Hudson-Jinks said. Specific projects that Shendell-Falik had been working had to be handed off and carefully communicated.
Wagner said that he has met one-on-one with Hudson-Jinks throughout the transition process to help her acclimate to the new position.
"Over [her time as interim], she has been part of our senior team and has been pulled into all of our executive leadership groups," he said. "She hit the ground running as interim, and in her transition she continues to be a very active learner."
Wagner expressed confidence in Hudson-Jinks' leadership abilities.
"My expectation is that [Hudson-Jinks] will come to the executive team with the wisdom and leadership to ensure the organization is constantly thinking about the quality and safety of care that we provide every day in a patient-centric manner," Wagner said.
Hudson-Jinks plans to proceed with enthusiasm and a strong presence at the center.
"I'm a very visible leader in the unit and plan to probably take a very active role in ensuring those voices are heard," she said. "I'm truly honored and excited to lead in this capacity going forward."
Wagner, who has worked with Hudson-Jinks over the past five years, said that she is incredibly positive, optimistic and engaging, and maintains a steadfast focus on what the center needs to move forward.
"She's a phenomenal nursing executive that's come up through the ranks at Tufts Medical Center," Wagner said. "It's truly our pleasure to honor her for the role that she's done, and we're looking forward to the leadership that she'll bring to the organization."
