On episode 528 of The Nurse Keith Show nursing and healthcare career podcast, in recognition of World Mental Health Day, Keith interviews Kristen Gilmore, the Program Manager for Nurse Well-Being at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.
In the course of their conversation, Keith discusses with Kristen her experience as a leader whose sole responsibility is to foster an environment and culture where the mental health of nurses is truly a top priority.
The program that Kristen oversees is funded by a generous endowment supported by a $7 million grant made possible through the stewardship of Jefferson’s Board of Trustees. This program could serve as a blueprint for healthcare institutions looking for an example of how to move beyond platitudes and lip service towards meaningful interventions with nurses’ best interests in mind.
Kristen is a registered nurse at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and serves as the inaugural Program Manager for Nurse Well-Being, supporting the Jefferson Bucks, Frankford, Einstein Montgomery, and Torresdale campuses. Prior to this role, she held multiple nursing leadership positions and provided direct care in emergency medicine, where she developed a deep commitment to clinician well-being.
A graduate of Holy Family University and Walden University, Kristen has consistently championed the well-being of both her colleagues and the nursing profession as a whole. She currently serves as President of the
Philadelphia Chapter of the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) and chairs the ENA’s National Wellness Committee.
A Certified SMART (Stress Management and Resiliency Training) Practitioner, Kristen delivers evidence-based well-being education across the Jefferson Health System. Her speaking engagements include presentations for the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing, the Emergency Nurses Association, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of AACN, the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
Kristen also co-authored a recent article in the Journal of Emergency Nursing examining the impact of gratitude in the workplace. Kristen has also featured her well-being work in healthcare on multiple podcasts.
Connect with Kristen Gilmore and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital:
- Kristen.Gilmore@Jefferson.edu
- Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Contact Nurse Keith about holistic career coaching to elevate your nursing and healthcare career at NurseKeith.com. Keith also offers services as a motivational and keynote speaker and freelance nurse writer. You can always find Keith on LinkedIn.
Are you looking for a novel way to empower your career and move forward in life? Keith’s wife, Shada McKenzie, is a gifted astrologer, reader of the tarot, and teacher and mentor who combines ancient and modern techniques to provide valuable insights into your motivations, aspirations, and life trajectory, and she offers listeners of The Nurse Keith Show a 10% discount on their first consultation. Contact Shada at TheCircelandtheDot.com or shada@thecircleandthedot.com.