At Capital Health, our nurses are dedicated to the Capital Health mission of improving the health and well-being of the populations we serve in urban and suburban communities. They do this while living the key values we hold ourselves to as an organization, committing ourselves to working with integrity, compassion, excellence and teamwork.
Dedicated to achieving superior patient outcomes, Capital Health nurses work in a culture of continuous improvement lending to our commitment to excellence. As an organization six years into our journey as a High Reliability Organization, our nurses serve as a critical piece of the puzzle in consistently delivering safe and effective care to our patients. In part, this is made possible by focusing on evidence-based practices. This is also supported by the exceptional strength of our nurses. Challenges like the COVID pandemic and the resulting workforce impacts, have only reinforced this resilience.
Committing ourselves to teamwork, we promote shared decision-making related to nursing practice and the environment within which our nurses operate. We offer our nurses the opportunity to have a voice in policy and workflow development through a shared governance council structure that includes unit-based, service-based, and core practice councils. This enhances the experience our patients have and promotes nurse engagement.
From our newest nurses to our more seasoned staff, Capital Health also offers opportunities for professional development. As Chief Nursing Officer, my Capital Health journey started 25 years ago as a unit secretary and progressed from staff level nursing to unit leadership through campus leadership and ultimately system-wide leadership. We support the pursuit of advanced degrees, professional nursing board certification, continuing education opportunities, and mentorship and support from nursing leaders.
Nurses are the backbone of any hospital system, and as the leading hospital system for the region, Capital Health nurses are a central part of driving health and wellness within our community.
Caring for patients is not an individual effort—it takes a team, and the team of nurses at Capital Health continues to amaze me. I am proud to lead the nurses at Capital Health and am deeply committed to ensuring their success at every level of our organization.
Best Wishes,
Melissa Chichilitti, MSN, RN, CCRN
Chief Nursing Officer