Interview With Larissa Africa, MBA, BSN, RN

Larissa Africa is the President of Versant Healthcare Competency Solutions™. a privately held company whose mission to fundamentally transform health care outcomes by developing workforces’ ability provide safe, efficient, and competency-based care. The New Graduate Nurse Residency™ (VNGNR) originated in 1999 at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Over past 2 decades, over 25,000 nurses have completed VNGNR. has expanded work into programs that transition experienced new specialty areas practice. A recent collaborative venture between Emory University MedLink Georgia led implementation Advanced Practice Registered Fellowship nurse practitioners. ROS: You an interesting career path now serving as president Versant—tell our readers about your journey. LA: I feel fortunate found nursing (or maybe me). started my was one first graduates pediatric RN residency program eventually evolved Being fueled desire pay it forward use skills make difference. My time bedside helped me realized incredible potential for workforce initiatives. wanted be part this innovation, so applied curriculum coordinator position program. From these early beginnings graduate manager, several leadership positions within currently serve president. How do you view leadership, what key success? For me, there are 3 “Cs” leadership: competence, compassion, courage. Leadership one’s competently guide team towards shared outcome, demonstrate compassion support others their own success story courage right thing even face adversity or difficult situations. like word competency way – it’s “god term” carries lot weight but often without clear definition. critical distill many general models attributes personal style approach. What types professional experiences been integral development? Three were development, each taught essential lesson very on:1.Finding Voice: During course undergrad, professor said “I believe capacity become strong effective leader, quiet I’m afraid will go unnoticed.” hearing someone believes enough propel grow. This experience on constant reminder leaders must find voice, lead share vision with others.2.Ignore Naysayers: When position, manager “If hiring won’t hire you. too don’t experience.” inexperienced. new. had much learn, yet knew could learn from others. learned listen well, watch, observe traits aligned values. also not can respond, understanding. great help see strengths fullest.3. lessons during pandemic? In response community needs, we able rapidly adapt changing environment. We quickly responded need organizations prepare practice areas. Many partner redeployed staff meet needs patients. customized system allow validate clinical competencies they might necessarily performed while. anticipate want more agile future, cross-training than area may norm. Internally, easy. always virtual organization. function environment successfully. skills, attitudes, behaviors needed virtually already culture. Our encouraged best practices knowledge working adapted education training clients. moved in-person video format, available, been, via videoconferencing questions. recognized clients inundated, managing crisis. although miss being person. enormous amount data, think differently how present outcomes. changed COVID-19, its implications future? COVID-19 made challenging levels. saw schools restrictions placed rotations. constraints simulation standardized across different states, brings challenge hospitals on-boarding nurses. identify all gaps (if any) due changes practicums. identifying those early, remediate efficiently, performance ensure they’re safe. future impact COVID hard predict. likely exodus witnessing retiring earlier. “brain drain” discussing come sooner later. data collected Versant, starting reporting intent leave, only organization, profession. change possibly troubling trend seen before. More ever, treat broader development strategy. Despite challenges, continue follow Competency-Based Model adjustments. They providing classes using resources supplied Versant. Competencies validated non-COVID units absorbing NGNs continually them possible. importance giving support, Key debriefing topics include stress, fatigue, grief management, self-care. generational cohort workforce—Generation Z (born 1997-2012). some unique things learning generation? tuned demographics when analyzing data—both quantitative qualitative. differences cohort. current NGRNs meaningful feedback organization improve compared prior NGRNs. Qualitative accompanied objective facts why making recommendations. indicate seeking unit performance. “open door” communication policies guidance opportunities transparent reasons considering leaving Of course, keep mind just entering workforce. It time, undoubtedly generation time. generous commitment funding research. decision? has, since inception, outcomes-focused. 20 years ago, Dr. Pauline Beecroft looked 14 Forces Magnetism exemplar asked replicate results? obsessively collect, analyze, report out broad range process outcome data. Because focus empirical outcomes, justified confidence articulate, implement, achieve, measure results. academic researchers who studied benefit having access multi-year, longitudinal databases. Consequently, founded Center Advancement Nursing™ 2010. Inviting other organizations, researchers, scientists conversation allows us vision. aims create disseminate thoughts evidence demonstrating link (directly indirectly) patient improvement training, professional, sustainable organizations. advice would emerging leader interested corporate such yours? First foremost, permit yourself then every step career. Seize opportunity comes way. Be integrator ideas, practices, wherever them. chose obtain MBA, because player world, believed perspective improving through Network participant. Find where coming it. There little difference “corporate’ track if stays fundamental requirement: sustainable, efficient patients, employees, society.NameLarissa AfricaHometownLas Vegas, NevadaCurrent JobPresident, SolutionsEducationBSN - Mount St. Mary’s UniversityMBA (Healthcare Administration) PhoenixFirst Job NursingPatient Care Services Aide AngelesBeing Gives Me Opportunity to:Mentor empower generationsMost People know I:Immigrated United States Philippines 12 old.The soap opera “Dallas” frame reference imagined American life time.Favorite Leader Book:Discover Your True North Bill GeorgeOne Thing Learn:Speak Spanish fluentlyOne Word Describe Me:Determined Name Hometown Las Nevada Current President, Solutions Education BSN MBA Phoenix Nursing Patient Angeles to: Mentor generations Most I: Immigrated old. Favorite Book: Discover George One Learn: Speak fluently Me: Determined Editor-in-Chief Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Adjunct Professor Marian K. Shaughnessy Academy, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. She reached [email protected] .