Susan Eckert, RN, NEA-BC, CENP, is senior vice president and chief nursing officer for MedStar Health. In this role, she serves as senior nursing administrator and is responsible for systemwide oversight and leadership of professional nursing practice, standards of nursing care, nursing outcomes, nursing education, and nursing research.
Prior to this role, Eckert served as senior vice president of nursing and chief nursing executive for eight years at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, where she achieved record improvements in direct care nurse engagement and was instrumental in the American Nurses Credentialing Center Pathway to Excellence® designation the hospital received in 2017. She also led hospital efforts that resulted in the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accreditation for the Vizient® Nursing Residency Program, Baby-Friendly® designation and exemplar status from Nursing Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders. In addition, she developed the Center for Excellence in Nursing to support clinical simulation training and nursing research.
With more than 30 years of experience, Eckert has an extensive background in nursing leadership, clinical services, professional frameworks, and practice models. She initially started at MedStar Washington Hospital Center as a staff nurse in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. Eckert later became director of Critical Care and Emergency Services; a role she held for 15 years. Subsequently, she served as a director of the Institute for Innovations in Nursing Readiness, EROne Institute, providing consultation to private industry, government agencies and healthcare organizations.
Eckert earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Georgetown University and a Master of Science in nursing from Catholic University of America. She also is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives.