A Message from the Vice President of Patient Care Services/Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)

I am Terri Halloran, PhD, RN, NE-BC, Vice President of Patient Care Services/Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) at Memorial. I have been in this role since November 2016, transferring from Barnes Jewish Hospital (BJH) because I wanted to part of the Memorial Hospital focus on continuously improving the quality of care for our patients, families, and community. Our nurses are very knowledgeable and are treated as valued, equal members of the health care team, often partnering with our physician colleagues on evidenced-based practice initiatives. We work as partners with all disciplines to provide the best in relationship-based care in a warm and compassionate environment for our co-workers, patients, and families.

As a member of the hospital’s executive staff, I believe it is extremely important for me to be visible to our nursing team and to gain an understanding of the challenges they face daily. To accomplish this goal, I make regular rounds, attend staff meetings, and occasionally shadow in patient care units to hear concerns and answer questions from our team members. I also join my fellow executive team members in “town hall” staff meetings to ensure an environment where all employees are heard and supported in improving care to our patients and families.

Our hospital has been awarded the prestigious Magnet^® designation for excellence in nursing, initially in 2008 and re-designated in 2013, 2018, and 2022. This honor was achieved through our nursing team’s commitment and pursuit of the highest professional nursing standards. It is also a reflection of the stimulating and supportive practice environment we provide for our nursing staff, and the quality care we provide to our patients and families.

We are unique in that we are a two-campus hospital, one in Belleville and the other in Shiloh.  We see coordination and transitions of care as a key competency of our nursing staff. Nurses at Memorial are an essential part of the decision-making process as demonstrated through their leadership and participation in our Unit-Based Leadership Teams and Professional Governance model. These are both interdisciplinary structures that govern the unit, unit-type, and hospital-wide practice environments. Our hospital-wide Nursing Services Professional Governance Councils focus on Quality & Nursing Practice, Professional Development, Research/Evidence-Based Practice, and Recruitment & Retention. We also participate in many BJC HealthCare system quality initiatives and councils such as the System Collaborative Practice Council. We have also partnered with the Washington University School of Medicine to provide key physician services, such as pediatric hospitalists in our Emergency Department, neonatologists in our Level IIE Nursery, and intensivists in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This keeps us on the forefront of care and makes Memorial Hospital an exciting place to work. The opportunities for collaboration on Quality Improvement (QI) projects, research, and professional development are abundant.

Becoming a nurse at Memorial Hospital can be extremely rewarding. We have a fast-paced practice environment that is challenging and fulfilling. I truly love it here, and if you love nursing, you will too! Follow this link to find more information on how to join our team of professionals who support our mission of providing exceptional healthcare and compassionate service to our community.