D
Deb Block
Chief Nursing Officer with Stephens County Hospital
Toccoa, GA, US
About
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
Ask me about
Work experience
- December 2021 – present
Stephen's County Hospital
Chief Nursing Officer - August 2018 – December 2021
Phoebe Putney Health System
Director, Women's and Children's Services - April 2018 – June 2018
Effingham Health System
Chief Nursing Officer - October 2017 – March 2018
Phoebe Putney Health System
Interim Nurse Manager for Labor and Delivery - October 2017 – March 2018
Aureus Medical Group
Interim Nurse Manger - October 2011 – September 2017
Oconee Regional Medical Center
Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer - November 2007 – April 2013
Oconee Regional Medical Center
OB Nurse Manager - February 1997 – November 2007
Northwest Medical Center, Margate, Florida
Director, Women's and Children's Services - November 1994 – November 1996
West Florida Regional Medical Center, Pensacola, Florida
Director, Women's and Children's Services
Education
- 2016 – 2019
Western Governors University
Master's degree, Nursing Administration - 2016 – 2017
Western Governors University
Bachelor's degree, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse - 2005 – 2007
Almeda University
Master's degree, Health/Health Care Administration/Management - 1978 – 1980
The University of Memphis
AD, Nursing - 1972 – 1976
Florida Technological University
BA, English - 1970 – 1972
Maynard Evans High School
high school diploma, Academics