Chief Nursing Officer with Stephens County Hospital 

Deb Block

30 plus years of nursing experience in the 
Maternal/Child service line. Past 20 years have been spent in management positions within the same service line. 
Transitioned to the CNO role in 2011 first as the interim and then as the permanent CNO for the facility. Remained in the role for 7 years during which we received two GHA patient safety awards, improved our CMS star rating from 4 to 5 stars, had two very successful TJC surveys with no findings for Nursing, obtained a Leap Frog safety score of "B" and obtained 4 stars for the Skilled Nursing Unit. Improved HCAHPS scores year over year to achieve results above the 85%tile top box. 

Remained as the CNO to help with the transition during a bankruptcy and sale to another healthcare 
entity. The local community continues to have a high quality organization available to meet their healthcare needs.

Recruited to serve in an interim Nurse Manager role for a regional high risk Perinatal Center is Albany, GA. Improved lost charges, recruited and filled vacant positions, decreased agency utilization, assumed payroll functions, assisted with staff scheduling, facilitated a charge nurse development retreat and mentored a future nurse leader. 

Returning to the Phoebe Health System as the Director for the Women and Children’s service line. The division includes Labor and Delivery, high risk antepartum unit, Mother-baby unit, Level III NICU, pediatrics and GYN/Women’s unit. As a regional center, we also participate with the Perinatal Grant program for Georgia.

Presently back in the executive nursing role as CNO for Stephens County Hospital. Working with a dynamic senior leadership and nurse leader team. Our goal is to continue serving the rural counties and communities around us 

Had the opportunity to work along side the Studer Group as a facility partner for 5 years. Familiar with Evidence-based Leadership principles, 

Specialties: Certification in Inpatient Obstetrics and Electronic Fetal Monitoring
Certified in Executive Nursing Practice through AONE
Member of AONE and AWHONN
Author of two articles published on the Key Nurse Leaders website