Silver Spring, MD — The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) today announced the appointment of Loressa Cole, DNP, MBA, RN, FACHE, NEA-BC, as its new chief officer/executive vice president. As the leader of ANCC's full portfolio of credentialing programs, she will guide the organization to fulfill its strategic vision of nursing excellence, quality care and improved patient outcomes.
Dr. Cole is an accomplished health care leader who brings more than 30 years of nursing and management experience, most recently as the chief nursing executive for LewisGale Regional Health System located in Salem, Virginia, where she directed system-wide clinical operations, partnering with other C-suite leaders on strategic and tactical planning and execution. Previously, she served as chief nursing officer at LewisGale Montgomery Hospital in Blacksburg, Virginia, where she led the hospital to achieve its initial Magnet Recognition® in 2009 and its redesignation in 2013. Dr. Cole began her career as a staff registered nurse and administrative nursing supervisor.
Additionally, ANCC also announced the appointment of Jeffrey N. Doucette, DNP, RN, FACHE, NEA-BC, CENP, LNHA, as vice president of the Magnet Recognition and Pathway to Excellence® Programs. He is responsible for vision, governance and operations of the Magnet Recognition Program®, the Pathway to Excellence Program and any future credentialing programs recognizing nursing excellence at the organization, department or unit level.
Dr. Doucette is currently regional vice president of clinical services and chief nursing officer at Bon Secours Hampton Roads Health System in Suffolk, Virginia. Prior to that, he served from 2011 to 2016 as vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Mary Immaculate Hospital and St. Francis Nursing Care Center in Newport News, Virginia. He brings extensive experience in executive nursing practice, academia and professional nursing organizations to the role. While at Mary Immaculate Hospital, he led the team in achieving initial Pathway to Excellence designation and redesignation. The hospital was further recognized as the 2013 Pathway Award® winner. He has been awarded an Executive Nurse Fellowship by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Dr. Cole will join the organization on Oct. 24 and Dr. Doucette will begin his new role on Dec. 5.
"We are pleased to welcome Dr. Cole and Dr. Doucette to ANCC and look forward to them leveraging their leadership skills and passion for excellence in nursing to fulfill our mission and vision," said ANCC President Patricia Reid Ponte, DNSc, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN.
"This is an exciting time for the American Nurses Association (ANA) Enterprise as we move forward with a focus on greater collaboration and synergy among ANCC, ANA and the American Nurses Foundation," said ANA Enterprise CEO Marla J. Weston, PhD, RN, FAAN. "Each of these new leaders embraces the belief that by working together, we will be better able to serve nurses and have a greater impact on health care through ANCC's credentialing programs."
Dr. Cole is active in many professional nursing organizations, including the Virginia Nurses Association, where she served as president from 2012 until 2014. She is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives, the Virginia Organization of Nurse Executives and the American College of Healthcare Executives. She has presented at a wide range of conferences, including the 2011 and 2012 ANCC National Magnet Conference®.
Dr. Cole earned her doctorate in nursing practice at Case Western Reserve University, her master's in business administration at Averett University and her bachelor of science in nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is ANCC board-certified as a Nurse Executive, Advanced and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Dr. Doucette is active in many professional associations including the Virginia Nurses Association, where he currently serves as vice president. He has published in many professional journals and has presented at numerous conferences, including the Pathway to Excellence Conference® and ANCC National Magnet Conference. He holds a doctorate of nursing practice from Old Dominion University, a master's of science in health care administration and a bachelor's of science in nursing from Marymount University. He is ANCC board-certified as a Nurse Executive, Advanced and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Additionally, he is a licensed nursing home administrator.
The mission of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association (ANA), is to promote excellence in nursing and health care globally through credentialing programs. ANCC's internationally renowned credentialing programs certify and recognize individual nurses in specialty practice areas. ANCC recognizes health care organizations that promote nursing excellence and quality patient outcomes while providing safe, positive work environments. In addition, ANCC accredits health care organizations that provide and approve continuing nursing education. ANCC is the only nurse credentialing organization to successfully achieve ISO 9001:2008 certification in the design, development and delivery of global credentialing services and support products for nurses and health care organizations.