From the Desk of Chief Nursing Officer Angie Feurer, DNP, RN, NEA-BC

Dear GBMC Nursing Team,

It has been a while since our last newsletter, and so much has happened within our nursing community. First and foremost, I want to take a moment to recognize the incredible work you do each day. Your dedication, compassion, and expertise continue to be the foundation of the care we provide at GBMC.

Over the past few months, we have celebrated many of you through our Compassionate Caregiver Awards, Women of Impact Awards, and nominations for the upcoming Art of Nursing Awards. These representation of our nursing staff as part of the awards is a testament to the extraordinary impact you have on GBMC and all those we serve. I encourage you all to take a moment to congratulate your colleagues—and to continue nominating those who go above and beyond in their care and leadership for recognitions as opportunities arise.

We are also thrilled to announce the return of our annual Nurses Night, a special evening to celebrate and show appreciation for our nurses and nursing techs during Nurses Week. Please save the date: Wednesday, May 7, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at BC Brewing. We look forward to coming together for a night of fun, appreciation, and well-deserved recognition. More details to come!

Another important update is the upcoming retirement of our President and CEO, Dr. John B. Chessare, on June 30. His leadership has left a lasting impact on GBMC, and we are committed to ensuring a smooth and thoughtful transition. A diverse and experienced search committee is actively leading the effort to find his successor, with representation from our Board of Directors, physicians, and community members. GBMC has partnered with WittKieffer, a nationally recognized executive search firm, to identify candidates who align with our mission and values. This process is being approached with great care, and we will keep you updated as it progresses.

Finally, I want to take a moment to address a deeply important issue: workplace violence in healthcare. The recent tragedy at UPMC in York was a heartbreaking reminder of the risks we face. We have made enhancements to security at GBMC—including increased security presence, additional panic buttons, a new visitor management system, and upgraded cameras—but we know there is still more work to be done. That is why we have established a Workplace Violence Governance Committee, bringing together leadership from HR, Operations, Quality & Safety, and Emergency Preparedness to drive meaningful change.

I also want to acknowledge the larger movement advocating for nurse safety. The SAVE Act, which would make violence against healthcare workers a federal offense, is stalled in the Senate, but we are actively pushing for legislative change. In June, I will be in Washington, D.C., alongside AONL, advocating for stronger protections for our profession. Your voices matter, and I encourage you to report incidents so we can continue to fight for the resources and protections you deserve.

Thank you for all that you do. I am incredibly proud to work alongside each of you.

With gratitude,

Angie Feurer, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services
Chief Nursing Officer, GBMC