Sandra Swanson

Sandra Swanson, RN, MS

Administrative Director, Women's and Children's Health Services

Why did you choose to leave bedside caring?
I wanted to use my leadership and administrative skills to impact care for a broader group of patients. I also wanted to work to create an atmosphere that supports nurses in their work, even though there is so much change going on in the health-care environment.

What do you like most about your job?
Helping improve the care and services we provide for our patients and mentoring staff and managers to develop their leadership abilities.

How many years have you been working at LUHS?
Since 1983

Where did you attend nursing school?

BSN - Indiana University School of Nursing
Master of Science in Organization Development (MSOD) - Loyola University Chicago
Practice Nursing - Riley Children’s Hospital (IN), Cheyenne Memorial Hospital (NE), Loyola University Medical Center

Practice nursing -- Loyola, Duke University Medical Center, (NC), Alexandria Hospital, (VA), Boston University Medical Center, (MA), Faulkner Hospital, (MA) Auburn Hospital, (MA), Tufts New England Medical Center, (MA)

How do your nursing skills help in your administrative role?
First, the nursing process of assessment, diagnosis, intervention, evaluation is an excellent problem-solving model for administrative problems as well as patient problems. Second, my experience as a nurse in different hospitals and departments has provided me exposure to so many different disciplines within the health-care system that I have a good appreciation for the different cultures within health care and also the complexities of health care.

Did you receive any additional training or mentoring to help you succeed as an
administrator?
I have had several mentors in my career, both nurses and other leaders who have taught me a lot about myself and helped develop my skills. Some of these people have been my supervisors and my physician partners. I would say the largest contribution to my learning has come from the people whom I have had the privilege to work with as staff. They have taught me an incredible amount about what I have done well and what I can still do much better.