News and Information

December 21, 2017

Harrison Medical Center’s Jeanell Rasmussen Honored with March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Award

Tacoma, WA - CHI Franciscan Health, a premier health care provider in the Pacific Northwest, is pleased to announce that Harrison Medical Center’s Jeanell Rasmussen, RN, MA, MN, MSN, FACHE, CENP, received the Nurse of the Year Award for Nursing Administration and Leadership at the annual March of Dimes - Washington Nurse of the Year Awards on November 17 at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. Ms. Rasmussen, who has served as Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Harrison Medical Center since August 2013, was recognized and honored for her outstanding contributions in healthcare.

“On behalf of our entire community at Harrison Medical Center, it is my honor to congratulate Jeanell Rasmussen for being selected to receive the 2017 March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Award for Nursing Administration and Leadership,” said David Schultz, Market President for the Peninsula Region at CHI Franciscan Health. “This remarkable accolade is a testament to the exemplary leadership Jeanell displays in her daily work, ensuring that our nursing staff have the tools and support necessary for continual professional advancement and delivery of high-quality and compassionate care to each of our patients.”

Ms. Rasmussen was nominated by Cynthia Smith, RN, BA, MSN, AOCN Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist at Harrison Medical Center, under the nursing administration and leadership category. In her nomination, Ms. Smith highlighted Jeanell’s leadership, affirming that it has significantly contributed to Harrison Medical Center’s progress toward the 2019 goal of American Nurses Credentialing Center's Pathway to Excellence® Program designation, which recognizes positive practice environments where nurses excel throughout the United States.

“Jeanell has a visionary approach in every aspect of her work,” said Cynthia Smith. “She views staff as our greatest asset and empowers each of us by providing us with the resources necessary to achieve our goals. Jeanell has been a change-agent across our hospital, creating and maintaining a positive work environment that allows nurses to flourish. When staff are inspired by a transformational leader such as Jeanell, their motivation to seek and to deliver outstanding care is enhanced.”

Rasmussen has practiced as a registered nurse in various inpatient and outpatient settings. Prior to her current role at Harrison Medical Center, she was a certified Infection Control Practitioner, a Quality and Risk Director, and then a Chief Nursing Officer for Providence. Jeanell received her Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University and Masters in Nursing from the University of Washington. She is an American College of Healthcare Executives Fellow, certified in Healthcare Management (FACHE) and Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) with professional memberships in AONE, NWONE and Sigma Theta Tau.

“I’m honored to be recognized as this year’s March of Dimes - Washington Nurse of the Year for Nursing Administration and Leadership,” said Jeanell Rasmussen. “I value the opportunity to lead our amazing nursing team and would like to recognize the individual and team work that drives and supports the excellent patient care they provide.”

Each year, thousands of nurses across the United States are nominated for the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Award across a wide-range of regions. This year, March of Dimes presented awards to nurses across various regions in the following 15 categories: Advocacy for Patients; Clinical Care; Community Health and Public Health; Distinguished Nurse of the Year; Hospice, Home Health & Palliative Care; Legend of Nursing; Education; Emergency; Front Line Leader; Nursing Administration and Leadership; Pediatric; Research Advancement; Rising Star; Surgical/Procedural; and Women’s Health. To learn more about the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Awards, please visit nurseoftheyear.marchofdimes.org.

CHI Franciscan Health

CHI Franciscan Health is a nonprofit health system based in Tacoma, Washington with $2.6 billion in net revenue and a team of nearly 12,000 doctors, nurses and staff that provide expert, compassionate medical care at eight acute care hospitals and approximately 200 primary and specialty care clinics in Pierce, King and Kitsap counties. This includes St. Anthony Hospital, Gig Harbor; St. Clare Hospital, Lakewood; St. Elizabeth Hospital, Enumclaw; St. Francis Hospital, Federal Way; St. Joseph Medical Center, Tacoma; Harrison Medical Center, Bremerton and Silverdale; Highline Medical Center, Burien; and Regional Hospital, Burien. Started in 1891 by the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, today CHI Franciscan Health is one of the largest health systems in Washington state. The system spans more than 1,100 acute care beds, a credentialed medical staff of more than 1,500 including more than 800 employed physicians providing specialties in cardiovascular care, cancer care, orthopedics and sports medicine, neurosciences and women’s care. CHI Franciscan’s mission focuses on creating healthier communities, including caring for the poor and underserved. In 2015, the organization provided $141 million in community benefit, including $10 million in charity care.