University of Virginia Health System

Cantrell Appoints First Associate Vice President for Nursing at U.Va. Health System

Nursing care has always been an integral part of health care delivery, but now, with nurses being such valuable members of the health care team, this new position recognizes their increased importance, Cantrell said. I am pleased that Ms. Bond is willing to expand her responsibilities as chief of nursing to advise me on the expanded scope of our clinical nursing and other health care professional activities.

This appointment is in addition to Bond's role as the Medical Center's chief nursing officer/chief health care professional. As associate vice president for nursing, her responsibilities and influence now extend throughout the entire University of Virginia Health System and she serves on the Health Systems Senior Staff. In her new role, Bond is responsible for the licensure and credentialing of all health care professionals, as well as the standards of practice for health care professionals throughout the U.Va. Health System.

Since joining U.Va. in 1967 as a clinical instructor in medical-surgical nursing, Bond has served in a broad range of clinical, educational and administrative positions, including assistant director of recruitment and retention for the Division of Nursing, administrator at Blue Ridge Hospital, clinical assistant professor of behavioral medicine and psychiatry and patient care services administrator for the Psychiatry Service Center.

Bond, who has a B.S.N. from Cornell University and a M.S.N. from U.Va. School of Nursing, is a member of the American Nurses Association and Virginia Nurses Association. She also served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Mental Health Association.

This new position is a wonderful recognition for the entire nursing and health care professional staff at U.Va., and gives me an opportunity to bring the concerns and issues of the nursing staff to the vice president and his senior staff, Bond said.

The biggest challenge we face in the next few years will be retention of our wonderful staff as we face a national shortage of qualified nurses. One way to keep good nursing staff is to work to bring about a positive change in the organizational culture, so that all members of the health care team are valued and supported.

May 28, 1998