President, Professional Nursing Staff
As we close out fiscal year 2025, I reflect with deep pride and gratitude on all that we have accomplished together. It has been an incredible privilege to serve as your Professional Nursing Staff president and to represent such a remarkable community of nurses whose dedication, compassion and professionalism continue to elevate Rush Nursing.
This year, our collective achievements were guided by the pillars of People, Quality and Growth, each reflecting the strength of our shared purpose and collaboration.
Under People, we focused on connection, visibility and recognition. We partnered with nursing senior leadership and expanded our shared presence on day shift and night shift rounds and through micro–town halls, strengthening communication across all teams. The PNS Staffing Committee reviewed each unit nursing staffing grid to ensure equitable and transparent staffing practices. Elise Perron, PNS president elect, and I attended Magnet Day in Springfield, Ill., offering a powerful opportunity to continue advocating for the nursing voice at the state level. We also launched a new workload acuity tool in partnership with the PNS Documentation Committee, created a FAQ document to clarify the new attendance policy and added DAISY clings in every inpatient and outpatient room to celebrate nursing excellence daily.
In Quality and Safety, collaboration drove meaningful progress. The PNS Education Committee offered 21 continuing education hours to support lifelong learning and ensure Rush nurses have free opportunities to maintain their licensure. We also implemented a closed-loop communication tracker to strengthen accountability and sustain strong outcomes during our Joint Commission survey, guided by nursing autonomy and accountability, with nursing quality indicators and metrics tracked in partnership with the Nursing Quality Improvement Committee. These initiatives reflect our shared commitment to a culture of safety, learning and continuous improvement.
Our focus on Growth and Reach highlighted the incredible impact of Rush nurses on both our walls and across our community. We rolled out new PNS posters on every unit to enhance awareness of our communication model and help nurses identify PNS representatives. We hosted three volunteer events — health education at the Genevieve Melody Elementary School in Garfield Park, a Rush anchor mission community, PAWS Chicago and the Chicago Marathon, demonstrating our commitment to service beyond the bedside. Rush nurses also represented the organization at two Rush University College of Nursing panels, inspiring the next generation of nurses. Additionally, we established the Clinic Advisory Committee within the Rush Medical Group structure to strengthen shared governance and ensure consistent nursing representation across the ambulatory setting. In May, we partnered with Rush anchor mission vendors to host a month-long celebration for Nurses Month, and we closed the year with Professional Experience Listening Sessions, ensuring the voices of nurses across all career stages continue to guide our path forward.
These accomplishments belong to all of you. Every project led, meeting attended and idea shared reflects the unity and excellence that define Rush nursing. Together, we strengthened engagement, advanced our professional practice and continued to shape a culture where nurses lead with heart, innovation, and collaboration.
It has been an honor to serve alongside you. Thank you for your continued partnership and dedication to advancing the nursing profession at Rush.
Sincerely,
Abigail Brandt, MSN, RN, CMSRN
President, Professional Nursing Staff