Nurse’s experience and focus drive positive outcomes for pediatric patients

Elizabeth Johnson cites two simple reasons for being totally immersed in everything related to clinical excellence at Advocate Children’s Hospital: “It ensures patients get the best outcomes. And it makes me a better nurse.”

Whether on the job as a pediatric intensive care nurse on the Oak Lawn campus, at the table as the first Shared Governance Practice Committee Chair, or soon as a Ph.D. student at Loyola University Chicago, Johnson is focused and determined.

Now eight years into her nursing career, Johnson credits her experience, caring for both adult and pediatric patients, for opening her eyes to the impact of nursing practice on the patient. Leadership and her peers are incredibly impressed by Johnson’s passion for action, calling her a “driving force” for change.

“Our ultimate goal is to eliminate all variation in nursing practice at the bedside,” Johnson said. “If we’re utilizing evidence-based practices, patient outcomes should be consistent no matter which team member is providing care.”

From her very first research study looking at nurse autonomy and physician-nurse collaboration in the pediatric intensive care unit, to implementing multiple evidence-based quality improvement initiatives to improve patient outcomes, Johnson is constantly learning.

That learning has an impact, not only on the children she serves, but also on the nursing practice environment. Respected by peers for exceptional clinical skills, Johnson sets high expectations for herself, as well as others. She’s praised for integrating complicated content into usable information that helps elevate nursing knowledge and practice.

“It’s vital that nurses feel empowered to lead practice improvement efforts,” Johnson said. “By doing so, we can make a difference for so many kids and families, as well as in the nursing profession.”

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