|
In April, we Spotlight Heather Resseger, DNP, RN, CNL, CPHQ, NEA-BC, the current ALSN Communications Director. With nearly 22 years in nursing, Heather’s career began with an associate degree from a community college in West Virginia, followed by clinical roles in telemetry and the ICU. Early in her career, she stepped into leadership as a lead nurse and later as manager of a medical-surgical unit. During that period, she completed her MSN and earned Certified Nurse Leader certification—milestones that solidified her aspiration to become a Chief Nurse Officer.
Her leadership trajectory continued as she assumed director roles across multiple units and later oversaw most nursing departments within several organizations in California and Oregon. She also served as Assistant Vice President of Quality and Care Management. Today, she is the Senior Vice President, Chief Hospital Operations and Nursing Officer. Throughout her journey, she has remained deeply committed to leadership development and to cultivating leadership capacity in others.
Influence of ALSN on Her Career Trajectory
Her involvement in ALSN has expanded her professional network and deepened her engagement with leadership science. She values the opportunity to connect not only with operational nursing leaders but also with researchers whose work broadens her understanding of leadership as a scientific discipline. These relationships have enriched her perspective and strengthened her leadership practice.
Opportunities Opened Through ALSN
Through ALSN, she now serves as chair of the Communication Subgroup—a role that has increased her exposure to board level leadership and allowed her to further expand her skills and influence within the organization.
Advice for Nurse Leaders Considering ALSN Membership
She believes ALSN offers a unique mission and purpose for nurse leaders across all settings. For current and aspiring leaders, ALSN provides pathways for connection, growth, and professional development. She emphasizes that membership enhances leadership knowledge and skills regardless of one’s practice area.
Interest in the Study of Nursing Leadership and ALSN’s Role
Her passion for leadership has been present throughout her career, but advancing her education helped her recognize leadership as a true science. ALSN has inspired her to continue learning and growing as a leader while also encouraging her to contribute actively to the advancement of leadership science—not simply observe it.
Balancing Academic and Practice Partnerships in Nursing Leadership
She believes that meaningful collaboration between academic and operational experts is essential to strengthening nursing leadership science. Integrating research, best practices, and real-world application creates a more comprehensive and impactful body of knowledge. She sees ALSN as a key facilitator of this balance—particularly through recruiting a diverse membership and fostering collaborative committees, research efforts, and leadership initiatives.
What She Wants ALSN Members to Know
She highlights that ALSN’s members, board, and committees are composed of exceptional nursing leaders with diverse backgrounds and expertise. ALSN’s mission is clear, its community is welcoming, and its opportunities for meaningful contribution are abundant. For anyone seeking to make a difference in nursing leadership science, she believes ALSN is the place to be.
|
