Andrea Kaye Hixon, PhD, RN, CNAA, CPHQ

Administrative Vice President (2008 – Present)

Prior to her appointment to her current position at Winter Haven Hospital, Kaye worked closely with the senior leadership team as a Magnet Consultant for over 5 years. Her leadership skills supported the organization’s journey to successfully obtain ANCC Magnet Recognition in December 2008. Kaye’s leadership style and warm personality made her a natural fit into the organization.

Comments Made by Members of her Team

“I really enjoy being a part of Kaye’s team, she always identifies my strengths and supports me in my decisions”

“I want to do whatever I can for this organization and Kaye makes it all possible through her direction and leadership.”

“Under Kaye’s direction anything is possible.”

“Kaye looks for your talents, taps into them and let’s you do the rest.”

“Kaye is the type of leader you read about and wish you had the opportunity to work with.”

Professional Experience

Magnet Appraiser
2002 - Present

Dr. Hixon is a senior Appraiser/Mentor for the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition program.  She has personally reviewed over 30 applications and is frequently consulted by the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center to evaluate the validity of decisions made by other appraisal teams when disputes occur.  

Independent Healthcare Consultant
2002 – 2008

Provides expert consultation for the development of organizational quality systems and for guiding healthcare leadership development. Consultant for the development of organizational programs aligned with Magnet principles and concepts, working with both academic and healthcare delivery organizations.  Conducting extensive reviews of the literature related to effectiveness of the Magnet framework in support of the dissertation research and has also served as Examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, 2002.

Provides consultant services for healthcare administration and organizational quality systems development for the World Health Organization.   Developed CQI core curriculum for all levels of hospital staff; provided onsite consultation to healthcare teams to enhance quality and efficiency of care; developed tools and measurement strategies for measurement of patient satisfaction and patient outcomes (seven Caribbean countries).

James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital and Clinics
13,000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.
Tampa, Florida    33612

Executive Assistant for CQI Programs
November 1993 – 2002

Functioned as an internal consultant to the CEO and other senior hospital leaders for continuous quality improvement programs.  Guided planning and implementation of the Malcolm Baldrige framework for a 3,500-employee system inclusive of a 340-bed university-affiliated medical center, a 300-bed nursing home, and 8 satellite outpatient clinics.  Obtained external grant funding and provided guidance for strategic planning, budget planning, and labor-management relations. Coordinated the development and implementation of strategic planning and the budget decision-making processes for senior leadership.

Coordinated organizational submission of applications for the 1996, 1997, and 2002 Robert W. Carey Awards.  The award is based upon the Baldrige Quality Criteria and is the Department of Veterans Affairs highest recognition of quality.  Guided planning, edited written application, and coordinated site visits.   The facility received the Deparment of Veterans  Affairs top quality award in 1997.

Coordinated submission of the President's Quality Award ( 2000, 2002)  to recognize quality of federal agencies.  This federal award is based upon the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Criteria.  Coordinated the Washington, DC award ceremony, and the facility’s participation in the “Excellence in Government Conference”, July 2000.

As an educator, provided CQI education appropriate to the varying needs of all medical center staff.  Topics: CQI Team Leadership and Facilitator Skills, CQI Tools, Performance Measurement, Overview of Baldrige System, and Customer Service training.   Contributed to the Positive Results in Diversity Education program as instructor and mentor.  Participant evaluations reflect high levels of satisfaction and successful use of adult learning theories and interactive teaching methods.   Served as a mentor and preceptor for students of both undergraduate and graduate-nursing programs.

Magnet Project Director
1998 – 2002

Facilitated the nursing service and hospital’s interpretation of the Magnet standards and expectations.  Coordinated the organization’s Magnet Recognition program assessment and development project; edited the facility’s application and supporting materials for submission, August 2000.   Coordinated the site visit and award program, May 2001.   This organization was the first VA and first federal healthcare facility to attain Magnet recognition.

Quality Improvement Coordinator, Nursing Service
1987 - 2002

Developed, implemented, and evaluated comprehensive quality improvement program for clinical nursing service functions.  Developed nursing standards of care, standards of practice, risk management activities, and programs for continuous monitoring.  Provided leadership for interdisciplinary monitoring, e.g. team approaches for restructuring and/or improving primary care, mental health, long-term care, rehabilitation, and intensive care programs.

Provided support to interdisciplinary projects as a team leader/consultant. Outcomes: 1) improved discharge planning process, 2) improved medication delivery system, including merging of all policies and procedures into interdisciplinary format, 3) improved hospital compliance with infection control policies, 4) improved skin and wound care, 5) improved patient safety, 6) implementation of bar-coding system for medication administration, 7) improved continuity of care after discharge, 8) improved assessment and management of pain in all settings, and 9) implementation of automated medical record systems.

Provided education and consultation to clinical and administrative staff to promote knowledge and responsibility for monitoring and improvement programs consistent with JCAHO standards. As educator, provided CQI orientation sessions for all new hospital employees, frequent informal in-services, and formal continuing education offerings several times per year.  Initiated the Nursing Service program  to address nursing recruitment, retention, and recognition.  Drafted proposal for hiring of full time Nurse Recruiter (1987) and was first Chairperson of Nursing Service Recruitment, Retention, and Recognition Committee (1988).

Adapted commercial software applications for process analysis, data gathering, data analysis, and graphic data display.  Highly proficient in use of word processing programs (Microsoft Office®, Word®), spreadsheet applications (Excel®), databases (Access®), statistical tools (All Clear®, Visio®, Path Maker®) and graphics packages (Harvard Graphics®, PowerPoint® ).  Provides ongoing staff education in use of tools to display data in graphic formats.

Nurse Manager, Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center
July 1986 - November 1987

Provided first level nursing leadership for a 30-bed comprehensive rehabilitation program.  Represented nursing on various interdisciplinary hospital committees and task forces.  Co-authored hospital's first guidelines for interdisciplinary management of head injured patients and chaired hospital’s interdisciplinary Head Injury committee.  Developed interdisciplinary team approach for care planning and evaluation.

Veterans Administration Medical Center
Martinsburg, West Virginia 25401

Chief Nursing Officer, Nursing Home Care Unit
May 1983 - July 1986

Chief Nursing Officer for a 120-bed skilled nursing home.  Guided strategic planning and implemented interdisciplinary program for monitoring, evaluation, and patient care improvements.  Selected and developed Nurse Managers; recruited a gerontology clinical nurse specialist, and established advanced practice roles.   Fifty-percent (50%) of staff nurses attained ANA Certification in Gerontological Nursing. Utilized participative management to increase staff motivation and commitment to quality patient care.  Staff turnover decreased from 49% (1982) to < 9% (1986).  Research project identified Quality of Life variables and measured resident / family satisfaction.

Chaired the medical center’s Geriatric Council.   Provided consultation to VA’s Central Office for: 1) NHCU environmental design, 2) development of patient classification and staffing requirements for long term care, 3) field testing of long term care patient satisfaction survey, and 4) data gathering for the resource allocation model (RUGs).  The NHCU program was fully accredited by the Joint Commission.

Staff Nurse, Ambulatory Care / Emergency Services
April 1976 - May 1983

Direct care provider utilizing assessment competencies for adult medical-surgical, psychiatric, and gerontological patients.  Provided triage functions for emergent and/or unscheduled patient visits.  Developed standards of practice and protocols for provision of ambulatory nursing care.  Contributed to development of emergency cardiac response and emergency psychiatric teams; standardized cardiac emergency carts throughout medical center; trained staff in use of portable cardiac monitors and defibrillators.  Chairperson of initial Nursing Service QA Committee; chaired task group that drafted Standards of Nursing Practice.

Graduate / Staff Nurse, Orthopedic Surgery
June 1974 - April 1976

Entry-level staff position, staff nurse / team leader for 50-bed specialized unit.  Change agent for the use of nursing process and problem oriented medical record documentation system.  Developed protocols for emerging technology in field of orthopedic surgery.  Initiated the development of Standards of Practice for this unit.

Education

PhD:

Health Administration, April 2005
Kennedy – Western University
Thousand Oaks, CA

Postgraduate Courses:

Informatics, Epidemiology, Biostatistics
University of South Florida School of Public Health
Tampa, Florida

Healthcare Management, Quality Management Theories
University of Alabama at Birmingham

MS:

Master of Science, May 1986
University of Maryland at Baltimore
Baltimore, Maryland

BSN:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, May 1981
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia

AA:

Associate in Arts, May 1974
Frederick Community College
Frederick, Maryland

Certification

Examiner – Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award
May 2002
U.S. Department of Commerce
Washington, DC

Appraiser - Magnet Hospital Recognition Program
July 2001 - present
Mentor – New Team Leaders / Appraisers
American Nurses Credentialing Center
Washington, DC

Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality
Jan 2008 - Dec 2009
Healthcare Quality Certification Board (since Jan 1990)
San Gabriel, CA

Certification in Nursing Administration, Advanced
American Nurses Association
Jan 2008 - Dec 2013
Washington, DC (since Jan 1988)

Licensure

Florida RN 9180892 Exp. 4-30-2011

Task Forces, Committees

Department of Veterans Affairs (Corporate Headquarters)
Washington, DC
Baldrige Award Task Group 2001 – 2002
Kizer Award Site Review Team 1998 - 2002

Veterans Integrated Service Network 8
St. Petersburg, FL
Editor, Quality Recognition Grant 1998 – 2000
Editor, Sterling Award application 2000

James A. Haley Veterans Hospital
Tampa, Florida
Chair:  Task Force for Nursing Service Retreat:  Shared Governance 2002
Chairperson: Pain Assessment Task Force 1999 - 2002
Facilitator: Annual Organizational Budget Planning Retreats 1999 - 2002
CQI Project Team: Patient Transport 1999 - 2001
Editor, Magnet Award application 1999 - 2000
Chairperson: Organizational Restructuring Team 1998 - 1999
Hospital Restraint and Seclusion Task Force 1997 - 2002
Hospital Strategic Planning Committee 1997 - 2002
CQI Project Team: OR Scheduling and Utilization 1996 - 1999
CQI Project Team: Radiology Results Reporting 1995-  1996
Hospital Quality Leadership Team 1994 - 2002
Hospital CQI Education Committee 1994 -1998
CQI Project Team: Pain Assessment 1993 - 1996
CQI Project Team:  Patient Safety 1993 - 1994
CQI Project Team:  Discharge Planning 1992
Task Force - Medication Issues 1990 - 1993
Task Force - Revision of Nursing Documentation System 1989 - 1992
Nursing Service Safety Committee 1990 - 1997
Nursing Service Executive Board 1988 - 2002
Hospital Quality Management Committee 1987 - 2002
Chairperson: Nursing Service PI Steering Committee 1987 - 2002
Chairperson: Recruitment & Retention Committee 1987 - 1989
Chairperson: Head Injury Committee 1986 - 1987

Martinsburg VA Medical Center
Martinsburg, WV
Nurse Professional Standards Board, Chairperson 1985 - 1986
Clinical Nursing Practice Committee 1984 - 1986
Medical Center Geriatric Council, Chairperson 1984 - 1986
Nursing Service Executive Council 1983 - 1986
Task Force for Head Nurse Development, Chairperson 1984 - 1986
Nursing Research Committee 1983 - 1986
Nursing Service Policy Committee, Chairperson 1982- 1986
Task Force - Nursing Standards of Practice 1981
Task Force - Nursing Documentation 1978 -1979
Nursing Service QA Committee, Chairperson 1976 - 1981

Professional Organizations

Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society for Nursing

American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses
Chairperson, Clinical Practice Committee, 1997-1999
Chairperson, Task Force for Dev. of Standards and Practice Guidelines
Co-author, Clinical Practice Guideline: Autonomic Dysreflexia, 1996

American Nurses Association
West Virginia Nurses Association
Board of Directors, 1982 – 1984

American Nurses Association
Florida Nurses Association

National Association for Healthcare Quality
Association of Healthcare Quality, Program Chairperson, 1997 – 1999
Board Member - Area II, 1994 - 1995, 1997 - 1999
Program Chairperson, 1993 - 1994
Outcome: Utilized national experts and increased attendance of bimonthly offerings from average of 30 to 90 attendees / program.

Professional Honors / Awards

Director’s Commendation Sept 2002
Certificate of Appreciation – VHA Undersecretary for Health Dec. 2001<
Special Contribution Award Feb. 2001
Certificate of Appreciation – VHA Undersecretary for Health Dec. 2000
Special Contribution Award Jan. 2000
Marquis’s Who’s Who in America Oct. 1999
Special Contribution Award March 1998
CQI ‘Quality Achievement Award’ Dec. 1995
Who's Who in American Women Dec. 1995
Special Advancement for Achievement March 1994
Special Advancement for Performance June 1990
Who's Who in American Nursing Dec. 1989
DVA Management Development Program Oct. 1989
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Special Contribution Award Sept. 1988
Special Advancement for Achievement Jan 1988
Medical Center Director's Special Commendation June 1986
Special Advancement for Performance June 1986
Special Advancement for Achievement June 1982
Special Advancement for Performance Aug. 1979

Research

Dissertation: Partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Healthcare Administration: Addressing the Nursing Shortage: Establishing the Foundation for Magnet Recognition, April 2005.

Co-Investigator: Use of Focus Groups to Clarify Ethical Issues of Staff Nurses, 1999.

Contributor: Nursing Service, James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital Delphi Study, 1997.

Chairperson: American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nursing, subcommittee for development of practice guidelines.  1994 - 1995.

Contributor: Nursing Service, James A. Haley Veterans Hospital Delphi Study, 1993.

Member: American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nursing - National Task Force for development, testing, and implementation, and evaluation of practice guidelines for care of spinal cord individuals,  1991.

Project: Partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science: The Interdisciplinary Team Approach to the Management of Alzheimer's Dementia, May 1986.

Project: Factors Associated with the Development of Urosepis in Long-Term Care Residents with Indwelling Catheters, May 1985.

Survey: Educational Needs / Job Satisfaction of Nursing Staff, February 1984.

Proposal: Quality of Life Variables for Residents in VA Nursing Home Care Units, Dec 1984.

Project: Partial fulfillment of requirements for the B.S. in Nursing: Relationship of Knowledge Manifestations and Level of Stress as Measured by the Social Readjustment Rating Scale, 1981.

Publications /  Presentations

Presenter: “Building the Foundation for Magnet”, Tenth Annual Magnet Conference sponsored by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, Denver, Colorado, October 6, 2006.

Presenter:  ‘The Chief Nurse Executive’s Role in Magnet Programs’,  Third Annual Florida Magnet Nursing Research Conference sponsored by the University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, February 9 – 10, 2006.

Presenter: “Benchmarking: Tracking Performance Improvement.  Evidence-Based Strategies for Patient Falls and Wandering”. Co-sponsored by the University of South Florida and James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, May 10-13, 2005,  Clearwater, Florida.

Presenter: “Magnet Status: Has It Made a Difference?”  Eleventh Annual Nursing Research Conference, Winter Haven Hospital, November 22, 2003.

Presenter: “Pursuing Magnet Status”, Tenth Annual Research Seminar, Winter Haven Hospital, Winter Haven, FL.  November 9, 2002

Panelist: “Quality Healthcare: Whose Responsibility is it?’ Published in Health Leaders Roundtable, March 2002.

Co-author: “Administrative Support for Addressing Staff Nurses’ Ethical Concerns Regarding Staffing”, Journal of Nursing Administration, 31, No 3, March 2001.

Contributor: “Quality Improvement and Outcome Evaluation” In Audrey Nelson (Ed) “Nursing Practice Related to Spinal Cord Injury or Dysfunction: A Core Curriculum', Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association, 2001.

Guest Lecturer: Total Quality Management Seminar, University of South Florida Colleges of Engineering and Business Administration, Tampa, Fl, June 2000.

Co-Developer:  Tampa Veterans Administration Hospital and Network 8’s Website for Nursing Services, February 2000.

Author:  “Teamwork and diplomacy improve x-ray turnaround” QI / TQM - Tools for Creating Change (newsletter).  June 1999.

Editor: "Clinical Guideline: Bladder Management in Adults with Spinal Cord Injury".  Jackson Heights,  NY. American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses, 1998.

Presenter: "Restraints and Restraint Reduction” for workshop: “Feeding Frail Elders: Practical and Ethical Guidelines” St. Petersburg, Fl., June 15 – 16, 1998.

Co-Author: "Clinical Practice Guideline: Autonomic Dysreflexia".  Jackson Heights, NY.  American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses, 1996.>

Author: "How AASCIN Members are using Standards of Practice” SCI Nursing, 12, 3, August 1995.

Editor: "Standards of Spinal Cord Injury Nursing Practice".  Publication of the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses, 1994.

Co-author: "Taking Charge of Discharge Outcomes” VA Practitioner, 10, 1,  Jan.  1993.

Presenter: "Overview of JCAHO Survey Experience>", Tampa Bay Organization of Nurse Executives, Tampa General Hospital, January 15, 1993.

Author: "Improving Continuity of Care by Evaluation of Post-Discharge Patient Outcomes”  SCI Nursing,  9,  2,  June 1992.

Co-author: “Promoting Autonomy and professional practice: A program of clinical privileging”, Journal of Nursing Quality Assurance, 1991: 5 (3).

Presenter:  "Improving Patient Care by Evaluation of Post-Discharge Outcomes” Eighth Annual Conference of the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses, September 3-5, 1991, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Primary Author:"Improved Clinical Practice following HIV/AIDS Education",  Journal of Nursing Care Quality,  March / April 1990.

Speaker: "Understanding Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders", Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, June 1986

Courses Presented

Consultant: University of South Carolina School of Nursing - Program for Dept of Veterans Affairs Nursing Leadership Development.  Atlanta, Ga., March 2007.

Presenter: “Leading for Excellence”.  Leadership development program for hospital senior and middle managers.  Sponsored by the Winter Haven Hospital, Jan. – March 2006.

Consultant / Keynote Presenter:   “Listening and Learning from our Customers”, Caribbean Quality Management Meeting. Sponsored by Pan American Health Organization (WHO), Commonwealth of Dominica, November 17 - 21, 2002.

Presenter: “Measuring Customer Satisfaction” for Health Service Research and Development Conference, University of South Florida, Tampa, Fl.  November 7 - 8, 2002.

Presenter / Consultant: “CQI Train-the-Trainer”. Caribbean Quality Management Meeting.  Sponsored by Pan American Health Organization (WHO), Barbados, West Indies, October 10-14, 2001.

Guest Lecturer: “Our Quality Journey”--- Guest lecturer for the University of South Florida Colleges of Business and Engineering, Tampa, Fl., June 2000.

Faculty/presenter: “Time Management>” and “Quality as a Driving Force” --- Modules for PRIDE (Positive Results in Diversity Enhancement) Program, James A. Haley VA Hospital, 1999.

Presenter: "Designing a Quality Improvement Program to Monitor and Prevent Falls” for workshop: 'Research-Based Practice for Preventing Patient Falls'. St. Petersburg, FL., April 28 - 29, 1997.

Presenter: "Access to Care” for workshop: 'Outcome Measures to Enhance Clinical Performance in the DVA'.  Tampa, Fl., March 13 - 14, 1997.

Presenter:  "Measuring Processes of Care”, for workshop: "Outcome Measures to Enhance Clinical Performance in the DVA".  Tampa, Fl., March 13 - 14, 1997.

Faculty / Presenter:  "Role-Making vs. Role-Taking” Administrative skills for mid and first-level nursing managers,  May - Oct. 1987