For Nurse Leaders
Inspiration, Ideas, Solutions
Rhonda Collins, DNP, RN, FAAN has served as Chief Nursing Officer at Vocera since January 2014. She works closely with nurse leaders around the world to improve the safety and well-being of nurses, care teams, patients, and families by improving clinical communication and workflow.
Lifting Each Other Up
Chief Nursing Officer at Vocera

I distinctly remember the first CNO I had as a young nurse, and the impact she had on my life and my career.
She did not walk down the halls with her arm around me, whispering in my ear what I needed to do here or there. She was tough. I wanted to be good enough to please her because she gave out accolades very sparingly. I wanted her to see me and to value me. Because of that, I worked hard.
An opportunity came up for me to reopen an obstetrical service in a different hospital that had been closed. I would need to hire all the nurses, write all the policies – all that goes with it. I saw it as an exciting challenge, and I resigned.
The CNO called me to her office – and you understand this is West Texas. She said, “Rhonda, I just want to make sure no one has stepped on your tail here because you know you could run that service out of your garage with one hand tied behind your back, right?”
I think the challenge and opportunity for nurse leaders is to let the nurses around you know you value their work and see their contribution.
In that moment, I knew she saw me. I knew she truly valued my work and found it extraordinary. I left to go do the other job with the CNO’s blessing. I try to give back to every nurse around me that same gift of knowing that I find their work valuable, that I value what they do with me. I try to do that with my team always.
I think the challenge and opportunity for nurse leaders is to let the nurses around you know you value their work and see their contribution.
This is how we lift each other up, not only as nurses, but as human beings.
Articles, Podcasts, and More by Dr. Collins

Nursing Management Journal
Clinical communication: Four tools to keep nurses safe beyond the next crisis

Health Podcast Network
Rhonda Collins is breaking down communication

2022 CNO Perspective Report
Reimaging Nursing for the Future

The Texas Nursing Podcast
Taking a Seat at the Table: Nursing and Technology

Vocera Blog
Healthcare Workplace Violence. Staffing Pressures. Solutions.

Becker's Hospital Review Webinar
How hospitals can use tech to protect staff from exhaustion and workplace violence in complex work environments.
Reimagining Nursing for the Future
Nurses Are Innovators
By Rhonda Collins, DNP, RN, FAAN
Burnout is a work-related injury. Discover 6 ways to address nurses’ calls for innovation and improving the work environment.
Access Report