Catherine Giasson
February 2025
Catherine
Giasson
,
DNP, MHA, RN, NE-BC, CPHQ
Patient Care Services
VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System
Leeds
,
MA
United States
One of the most monumental ways that Dr. Giasson has had a positive impact on our facility since her arrival was during the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of the Incident Command Team at VA CWM, Dr. Giasson pushed for strict precaution efforts and daily testing of employees before entering the unit for their shifts in the Community Living Center. As a result of her great attention to detail in ensuring our Veterans’ health, VA CWM was the only facility to remain Covid-free among our residents on the CLC from 2020-2022.
I would like to nominate Catherine Giasson DNP, MHA, RN, NE-BC, CPHQ, for the prestigious DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Giasson began her career 36 years ago as a Nursing Assistant at the VA Boston Healthcare System. Realizing she had found her calling, Dr. Giasson committed herself to her professional development and higher education. Throughout her 36 years in the VA, Dr. Giasson has served in a wide variety of impactful roles including as a staff nurse in long-term care, sub-acute medicine, and acute Mental Health. Dr. Giasson served as the Nurse Manager of the Acute Mental Health and Long-Term Mental Health units for a total of 8 years. Dr. Giasson ended her tenure at the Boston VA as the Chief of Education, where she collaborated with the other VISN Chiefs of Education to standardize Employee Orientation to facilitate ease of transfer among VISN facilities. Dr. Giasson accepted the Inpatient Nurse Executive role at the VA of Central Western Massachusetts Health Care System (VA CWM) in 2019. Her key accomplishments during that time frame include serving as the Acting ADPCS, developing a new nursing position to support the nursing orientation program, and collaborating with CAC to develop CPRS (electronic medical record) to create a nursing note template regarding organ donation notification to meet Joint Commission Action Plan requirements. Outside of her VA role, Dr. Giasson has served as an Adjunct Mental Health Clinical Instructor through the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute for Health Professionals from 2012 to 2019. Dr. Giasson now serves as the Associate Director of Patient Care Services (ADPCS) as of June 2022.
As the Associate Director for Patient Care Services (ADPCS) of the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System (VA CWM), Dr. Giasson has overall accountability for providing leadership, direction, and administration of day-to-day operations associated with all direct patient care activities. This includes clinical education, professional development of staff, and continuous improvement projects within the nursing service to meet the needs and expectations of the over 28,000 unique Veterans served by VA Central Western MA. Dr. Catherine Giasson has advocated for the Nursing staff at VA Central Western MA to improve communication within the nursing staff following a recent All Employee Survey (AES) that identified the frontline staff felt that there was a communication barrier between Nursing Leadership and frontline staff, noting that there were perceived silos in the service lines. To combat this, Dr. Giasson has championed a new nursing committee structure and established a Quarterly Nursing Town Hall to directly communicate with all nursing staff. In addition to the Quarterly Nursing Town Hall, Dr. Giasson developed and implemented a tiered huddle system and leadership rounding to promote High-Reliability Organization principles to ensure patient and staff safety. There is also a Nursing Newsletter dedicated to disseminating critical information and recognition of nursing accomplishments. These efforts are coupled with frequent updates to the Nursing SharePoint, where additional resources are housed for all nursing staff to access.
Organizational goals and objectives are at the forefront of Dr. Giasson’s long-term plans for the VA of Central Western MA nursing staff. This year has been the start of many new initiatives to help the nursing staff develop a healthy work-life balance and further propel our efforts into greatness. One of these new ventures is collaborating with Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation, the first in the VISN to do so. This gives our nursing staff an outlet to become part of a larger group whose aim is to be active and make healthy choices for our bodies. If we remain healthy and happy, it allows us to take the best care of our Veterans possible. A second venture we initiated this year, with guidance from Dr. Giasson, is the beginning of our Pathways to Excellence journey to achieve the ultimate goal of becoming a Pathways Designated Healthcare System at VA Central Western Massachusetts. To further support this journey, Dr. Giasson and other staff are attending the upcoming ANCC Magnet / Pathways to Excellence Conference in October 2024.
The continuation of extraordinary care for our Veterans is at the forefront of Dr. Giasson’s nursing practice. An example of this would be succession planning as a priority for the inpatient units to ensure continuity of care for our Veterans. The four inpatient units that care for Veterans twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, did not have Assistant Nurse Managers. This gap in leadership leaves a potential hole in care and knowledge should one of the Nurse Managers leave the facility. Dr. Giasson wrote a proposal and advocated for these positions to be approved and recruited during a tough hiring climate. In addition to succession planning, Dr. Giasson sees the importance of mentoring the Nurse Managers along with their Assistant Nurse Managers, who, hopefully, one day, will be leaders as well. This is accomplished by Quarterly Nurse Manager meetings, where education takes place about identified areas of need. This meeting is arranged by the Nurse Manager Committee, which is led by the Nurse Managers who can self-identify gaps in education and seek out additional training. Dr. Giasson places the highest value on mentorship, educational advancement, and professional development and will take the time to meet with not only her direct reports but also with any nursing personnel who reach out to her for guidance and support.
Dr. Giasson also practices what she preaches, as she holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions, a dual Master of Science in Nursing and Health Administration from the University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, all of which she obtained while working for the Veterans Health Administration. She is board-certified as a Nurse Executive by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Dr. Giasson recently obtained a Certified Professional in Health Care Quality (CPHQ) certification in September 2022. Earning the CPHQ credential validates her professional standing as a nurse with a documented level of knowledge related to organizational leadership, health data analytics, performance and process improvement, and patient safety. Her dedication to the principles and practice of healthcare quality enhances her nursing practice and demonstrates that she knows how to manage and advance healthcare quality and safety. Her presentations in this area include acting as a panel presenter on Improving Care for the Veteran Population for the American Nurses Association Membership assembly in June 2024. In addition to her duties at VA Central Western MA, Dr. Giasson is also a member of multiple Nursing Organizations, including but not limited to the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, the American Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) Honor Society of Nursing, and the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention. Dr. Giasson is a staunch advocate of VA Nursing as evidenced by her incredible work in support of the Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA). Over the last 13 years, Dr. Giasson has served in a variety of impactful roles, including Director of NOVA, Membership Secretary, and is currently the President of NOVA. Her advocacy efforts have taken her throughout the United States, including frequent trips to Washington, DC to push for congressional action to improve upon the VA’s ability to care for our nation’s Veterans.
One of the most monumental ways that Dr. Giasson has had a positive impact on our facility since her arrival was during the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of the Incident Command Team at VA CWM, Dr. Giasson pushed for strict precaution efforts and daily testing of employees before entering the unit for their shifts in the Community Living Center. As a result of her great attention to detail in ensuring our Veterans’ health, VA CWM was the only facility to remain Covid-free among our residents on the CLC from 2020-2022. I would now like to highlight just a few outstanding accomplishments Dr. Giasson has achieved for VA Central Western MA. over just this last year. During Fiscal Year 2024, under Dr. Giasson’s leadership, our Community Living Center (CLC) has improved its quality rating from one to four stars. Dr. Giasson was instrumental in standing up an RCI program, which was quickly identified as a best practice in VISN 1, resulting in over $1M in savings in just 5 months. With Dr. Giasson as the ADPCS, our Bed Days of Care (BDOC) have increased by 45%, which allows our Long-Term Care Unit census to remain at a higher rate. The inpatient wards have increased their Average Daily Census (ADC) by 27%, leading to more than a quarter more Veterans receiving the care they deserve. Dr. Giasson has also advocated for and participated in retention initiatives, which have reduced turnover in Nursing by 4%. These facts are a testament to the effect Dr. Giasson has had on the development of our Healthcare System and the vast improvements that have been made since she arrived at VA Central Western MA.
A Nurse Executive who truly leads by example, Dr. Giasson is the epitome of a dedicated employee of the Federal Government. Daily, she is the first to arrive in her building and is often the last person to depart for the evening. Constantly on call, Dr. Giasson is known to work through the weekend and even come to the Inpatient Wards on off-tours to see the nursing staff and provide support when a need is identified. Dr. Giasson is called upon by the Director and other members of the Leadership team for advice on various matters. Having a true high-level view, Dr. Giasson thinks about decisions before she makes them and weighs the possible consequences for the organization. Widely respected by her peers and colleagues, Dr. Giasson is very invested in the growth and development of the Nursing staff and the VA in its entirety. For these reasons, she is the ideal candidate for the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award.
As the Associate Director for Patient Care Services (ADPCS) of the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System (VA CWM), Dr. Giasson has overall accountability for providing leadership, direction, and administration of day-to-day operations associated with all direct patient care activities. This includes clinical education, professional development of staff, and continuous improvement projects within the nursing service to meet the needs and expectations of the over 28,000 unique Veterans served by VA Central Western MA. Dr. Catherine Giasson has advocated for the Nursing staff at VA Central Western MA to improve communication within the nursing staff following a recent All Employee Survey (AES) that identified the frontline staff felt that there was a communication barrier between Nursing Leadership and frontline staff, noting that there were perceived silos in the service lines. To combat this, Dr. Giasson has championed a new nursing committee structure and established a Quarterly Nursing Town Hall to directly communicate with all nursing staff. In addition to the Quarterly Nursing Town Hall, Dr. Giasson developed and implemented a tiered huddle system and leadership rounding to promote High-Reliability Organization principles to ensure patient and staff safety. There is also a Nursing Newsletter dedicated to disseminating critical information and recognition of nursing accomplishments. These efforts are coupled with frequent updates to the Nursing SharePoint, where additional resources are housed for all nursing staff to access.
Organizational goals and objectives are at the forefront of Dr. Giasson’s long-term plans for the VA of Central Western MA nursing staff. This year has been the start of many new initiatives to help the nursing staff develop a healthy work-life balance and further propel our efforts into greatness. One of these new ventures is collaborating with Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation, the first in the VISN to do so. This gives our nursing staff an outlet to become part of a larger group whose aim is to be active and make healthy choices for our bodies. If we remain healthy and happy, it allows us to take the best care of our Veterans possible. A second venture we initiated this year, with guidance from Dr. Giasson, is the beginning of our Pathways to Excellence journey to achieve the ultimate goal of becoming a Pathways Designated Healthcare System at VA Central Western Massachusetts. To further support this journey, Dr. Giasson and other staff are attending the upcoming ANCC Magnet / Pathways to Excellence Conference in October 2024.
The continuation of extraordinary care for our Veterans is at the forefront of Dr. Giasson’s nursing practice. An example of this would be succession planning as a priority for the inpatient units to ensure continuity of care for our Veterans. The four inpatient units that care for Veterans twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, did not have Assistant Nurse Managers. This gap in leadership leaves a potential hole in care and knowledge should one of the Nurse Managers leave the facility. Dr. Giasson wrote a proposal and advocated for these positions to be approved and recruited during a tough hiring climate. In addition to succession planning, Dr. Giasson sees the importance of mentoring the Nurse Managers along with their Assistant Nurse Managers, who, hopefully, one day, will be leaders as well. This is accomplished by Quarterly Nurse Manager meetings, where education takes place about identified areas of need. This meeting is arranged by the Nurse Manager Committee, which is led by the Nurse Managers who can self-identify gaps in education and seek out additional training. Dr. Giasson places the highest value on mentorship, educational advancement, and professional development and will take the time to meet with not only her direct reports but also with any nursing personnel who reach out to her for guidance and support.
Dr. Giasson also practices what she preaches, as she holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions, a dual Master of Science in Nursing and Health Administration from the University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, all of which she obtained while working for the Veterans Health Administration. She is board-certified as a Nurse Executive by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Dr. Giasson recently obtained a Certified Professional in Health Care Quality (CPHQ) certification in September 2022. Earning the CPHQ credential validates her professional standing as a nurse with a documented level of knowledge related to organizational leadership, health data analytics, performance and process improvement, and patient safety. Her dedication to the principles and practice of healthcare quality enhances her nursing practice and demonstrates that she knows how to manage and advance healthcare quality and safety. Her presentations in this area include acting as a panel presenter on Improving Care for the Veteran Population for the American Nurses Association Membership assembly in June 2024. In addition to her duties at VA Central Western MA, Dr. Giasson is also a member of multiple Nursing Organizations, including but not limited to the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, the American Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) Honor Society of Nursing, and the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention. Dr. Giasson is a staunch advocate of VA Nursing as evidenced by her incredible work in support of the Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA). Over the last 13 years, Dr. Giasson has served in a variety of impactful roles, including Director of NOVA, Membership Secretary, and is currently the President of NOVA. Her advocacy efforts have taken her throughout the United States, including frequent trips to Washington, DC to push for congressional action to improve upon the VA’s ability to care for our nation’s Veterans.
One of the most monumental ways that Dr. Giasson has had a positive impact on our facility since her arrival was during the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of the Incident Command Team at VA CWM, Dr. Giasson pushed for strict precaution efforts and daily testing of employees before entering the unit for their shifts in the Community Living Center. As a result of her great attention to detail in ensuring our Veterans’ health, VA CWM was the only facility to remain Covid-free among our residents on the CLC from 2020-2022. I would now like to highlight just a few outstanding accomplishments Dr. Giasson has achieved for VA Central Western MA. over just this last year. During Fiscal Year 2024, under Dr. Giasson’s leadership, our Community Living Center (CLC) has improved its quality rating from one to four stars. Dr. Giasson was instrumental in standing up an RCI program, which was quickly identified as a best practice in VISN 1, resulting in over $1M in savings in just 5 months. With Dr. Giasson as the ADPCS, our Bed Days of Care (BDOC) have increased by 45%, which allows our Long-Term Care Unit census to remain at a higher rate. The inpatient wards have increased their Average Daily Census (ADC) by 27%, leading to more than a quarter more Veterans receiving the care they deserve. Dr. Giasson has also advocated for and participated in retention initiatives, which have reduced turnover in Nursing by 4%. These facts are a testament to the effect Dr. Giasson has had on the development of our Healthcare System and the vast improvements that have been made since she arrived at VA Central Western MA.
A Nurse Executive who truly leads by example, Dr. Giasson is the epitome of a dedicated employee of the Federal Government. Daily, she is the first to arrive in her building and is often the last person to depart for the evening. Constantly on call, Dr. Giasson is known to work through the weekend and even come to the Inpatient Wards on off-tours to see the nursing staff and provide support when a need is identified. Dr. Giasson is called upon by the Director and other members of the Leadership team for advice on various matters. Having a true high-level view, Dr. Giasson thinks about decisions before she makes them and weighs the possible consequences for the organization. Widely respected by her peers and colleagues, Dr. Giasson is very invested in the growth and development of the Nursing staff and the VA in its entirety. For these reasons, she is the ideal candidate for the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award.