Pamela Johnson-Carlson, DNP, RN, NE-BC, chief administrative officer of UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital, will leave University of Iowa Health Care to become chief nursing officer at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. Her last day at Iowa will be Jan. 11, 2023.
As chief administrative officer at UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital, which includes leadership of the UI Center for Disabilities and Development and Children’s and Women’s Services in the Department of Nursing Services and Patient Care, Johnson-Carlson provides oversight of day-to-day operations as well as planning and management of pediatric care initiatives—working with leaders and staff in the Stead Family Department of Pediatrics in the Carver College of Medicine and administrators across UI Health Care.
Johnson-Carlson also has played a key role in employee recruitment efforts, particularly for nursing staff, and in UI Health Care’s annual employee engagement survey and follow-up. She has led efforts aimed at making UI Hospitals & Clinics a safer and welcoming place for employees, patients, and visitors. And she led a team focused on strengthening the children’s hospital’s performance metrics and national reputation, which resulted in seven pediatric specialties being included in the 2022-23 U.S. News & World Report rankings of “Best Children’s Hospitals.” Johnson-Carlson also has been involved in the application process for Magnet re-designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, which evaluates hospitals for excellence in nursing practice. UI Hospitals & Clinics first earned Magnet status in 2004 and was re-designated in 2008, 2013, and 2018.
“Pam has brought outstanding administrative experience to UI Health Care, and she’s provided unique perspective and expertise to our patient care enterprise,” says Kimberly Hunter, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, interim CEO of UI Hospitals & Clinics. “She’s been a valuable member of our leadership team and a great resource across our organization. We wish her the best.”
Johnson-Carlson joined UI Health Care in April 2020. In December 2020, she accepted additional responsibilities as interim chief nurse executive at UI Hospitals & Clinics prior to Hunter’s arrival in April 2021 as chief nurse executive.
Details about the appointment of an interim chief administrative officer for UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital and a national search for Johnson-Carlson’s successor will be shared at a later date.