Nursing Leadership and Governance
Nursing Executive Leadership
Terry McDonnell, DNP, ACNP-BC
Suni Elgar, MPH, BSN, RN, OCN
Shared Governance
Shared governance promotes patient safety and quality care through shared decision-making between nurse leaders and frontline nursing staff. Through multiple nursing and interdisciplinary councils, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center nurses at all levels are provided the opportunity to engage in their professional practice and collaborate to support an innovative and patient-centered approach to nursing care.
Advanced Practice RN/Professional Practice Coordinator Council
The Advanced Practice RN (APRN) and Professional Practice Coordinator (PCC) Council provides oversight of nursing research, practice and education across all Fred Hutch sites of care. The APRN/PPC Council is responsible for ensuring that RN, LPN, MA and NA-C practice is in alignment with regulatory requirements and Fred Hutch’s vision, values and strategic plan.
Clinical Practice Council
The Clinical Practice Council partners with local practice councils to integrate work and achieve progress in the areas of clinical practice, outcomes and research.
Nursing Shared Leadership Council
The Nursing Shared Leadership Council provides a framework for staff and management to collaborate on developing nursing care practices and making other decisions related to patient care.
Professional Development Council
The Professional Development Council promotes staff education, personal and professional growth, and recognition for RNs, LPNs, MAs and NA-Cs at Fred Hutch.
Organizational Recognition and Accreditation
Fred Hutch is proud to hold accreditation, membership and recognition from various agencies and organizations, which demonstrate our support of Fred Hutch nurses and commitment to providing exceptional and highly specialized oncology patient care.
Commission on Cancer (CoC) Accreditation
What it means to have accreditation: The Commission on Cancer is a consortium of professional organizations that aims to improve the survival rate and quality of life of cancer patients. CoC-accredited cancer programs establish standards that promote cancer prevention, research, education and monitoring of comprehensive quality care. Accredited programs focus on the entire spectrum of cancer, from prevention to end-of-life and survivorship care, with a significant focus on patient survival and quality of life.
Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) Accreditation
What it means to have accreditation: FACT accreditation elevates our position as a quality organization and informs patients, health insurance companies and governments that our organization is dedicated to excellence in patient care and laboratory practices.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Member Institution
What it means to be a Member Institution: NCCN Member Institutions pioneered the concept of the multidisciplinary team approach to patient care and lead the fight against cancer as they integrate programs in patient care, research and education. Programs at NCCN Member Institutions offer access to expert physicians, superior treatment and quality and safety initiatives that continuously improve the effectiveness and efficiency of cancer care.
Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC) Employer Recognition Award
In 2020, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (now Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center) was awarded the Employer Recognition Award from the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC) for providing ongoing support and recognition of oncology certified nurses.
Read Newswise Article
Recognition of Nurses
Fred Hutch honors our nurses' commitment to excellence in oncology nursing and day-to-day patient care.
DAISY Award
The story of the DAISY Award begins at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (now Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center). In 1999, J. Patrick Barnes, a twotime survivor of Hodgkin lymphoma, spent eight weeks with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center/University of Washington Medical Center/SCCA receiving treatment for idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, an autoimmune disorder. His nurses’ humility, kindness and compassion impressed Barnes’ family. After he died, they created the DAISY Award (Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem) to honor nurses.
Read more about the DAISY Award
National Nurses Week
National Nurses Week occurs annually from May 6–12. Each year at Fred Hutch, many exciting events are planned during this week to express support and appreciation for our nurses. We are proud of our nurses, who provide great attention and specialized care for patients and contribute their time outside of patient care to mentor and orient students and new nurses, conduct research and participate in quality improvement projects. National Nurses Week concludes on Florence Nightingale’s birthday with the commemoration and recognition of Fred Hutch nurses past and present.
Nursing Annual Reports
Our nurses are a fundamental part of the extraordinary care Fred Hutch provides. Through their commitment to keeping patients at the center of all they do, Fred Hutch nurses and specialists prove that by working together, we can tackle any challenge we face.
View Annual Reports