Meet Toni Haddox, RN, our new VP of professional development and practice excellence

Since joining the enterprise nursing leadership team at Intermountain Health in July, Toni Haddox, VP of professional development and practice excellence is settling into her role where she will lead the development, management, and implementation of Intermountain’s nursing professional practice, professional development, nursing education, training programs, and clinical nursing research.

We recently spoke with Toni to learn more about her vision and what attracted her to join the Intermountain nursing team.

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Q: Can you share why you became a nurse, and what kept you energized throughout your career?

I can’t narrow it down to one thing; but for me the nursing profession is an art and a science in one. And I’ve always loved science. My introduction to Florence Nightingale played a role. The impact she has had on nursing, and still has on modern nursing, inspired me to want to make an impact on patient lives. I started my nursing career in direct patient care within Labor & Delivery — talk about making an impact! While I haven’t achieved Florence Nightingale status, I have many patients that I still remember vividly, and I always hope I touched their lives as much as they touched mine.

Now that my nursing career has evolved into a nursing leadership role, I see my responsibility changing from direct patient care to nurse care. Being a nurse advocate to ensure frontline nurses are practicing in a culture and environment that supports their practice and well-being has a domino effect on how patients are cared for. Seeing empowered and engaged nurses at all levels, who are thriving in their environment, keeps me energized. ?

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Q:?What attracted you to join Intermountain Health?

I wasn’t looking for a new role when I found Intermountain Health. I was very happy in my previous role. I had a solid program that was almost on autopilot with a team that was running the program almost independently. But meeting the team at Intermountain, especially Mandy Richards, made me realize I was ready for more. I loved Mandy’s vision for nursing at Intermountain Health and how the Intermountain values aligned with my own. “We are better together” resonated with me. I was also aware of the excellent clinical outcomes reputation Intermountain has, and it made it feel like a perfect next step for me to share my expertise and support the organization’s vision.

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Q:?In your past work, you successfully acquired Magnet designation for all hospitals systemwide. Can you share why Magnet is so important?

The Magnet Journey helps organizations ensure they are fostering a culture of engagement and empowerment of nurses at all levels and in all settings. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet? Recognition Program is the highest international award for nursing. But not just nursing, Magnet recognizes the value of interprofessional collaboration and how essential it is in providing excellent patient and operational outcomes. My role will be to help tell their story. I want the ANCC Magnet? Recognition Program and the Magnet Appraisers to see what I’ve already seen in such a short time.

The program ensures that healthcare organizations create and sustain a culture of empowerment for all members of the healthcare team. Magnet beginnings is rooted from a study in the early 1980’s that looked at why hospitals with low turnover were retaining their nurses. During one of the worst nursing shortages, the American Academy of Nurses chose to not look at why nurses were leaving the profession but looked at what these hospitals were doing to retain and attract their nurses, hence the term “Magnet.”

Hospitals applying for Magnet aren’t just required to show these structures, but they must prove they exist by providing evidence of sustained improvement in patient and operational outcomes. In my short time here, I’ve already seen so much that shows the hospitals within Intermountain are already performing within Magnet definitions. I find that in most hospitals working to achieve Magnet, nurses view themselves as just trying to do their best to provide excellent care to their patients. They think what they are doing is “‘ordinary.” My goal is to show them they are extraordinary. What they do for their patients only exists in about 10% of all hospitals across the world. ???

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Q:?What advice you would give bedside nurses who want to grow?

Get involved in unit decision-making structures. Be a part of finding a solution to the practices or programs. It’s easy to get complacent and just accept “it’s what we’ve always done.” But don’t. If it doesn’t make sense to you, ask, “but why?” I spend a lot of time asking why. What we’re doing in nursing practice has to make sense, and if it doesn’t, then get involved in reviewing literature to find out if there is a better or easier way to provide the care.

Also, don't be afraid to accept new challenges or assignments when a leader or a peer is asking you to do something more — even when you’re terrified that you can’t do it. That person is asking for you to be a part of something for a reason. They see your ability and potential, so trust them. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. We all need help in our roles. No matter what they are, we need input and guidance from people who have more experience. It’s how we grow, and when they mentor you, this helps them grow.

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Q:?What is the best part of your job?

I love being a part of a team that’s invested in proving patient care and also the nursing environment. Nursing is an art and a science. and for it to grow, we must be engaged and involved talking to direct care nurses about the care they provide. I love to see them light up when talking about work they’ve done to improve something either for their patients or their peers.

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Q:?Can you tell us what you love to do outside of work?

I love spending time with my family. We have a one-year-old granddaughter and another on the way. We love Texas football and watch every game. We also love the beach. We’ve always done beach vacations and never snow vacations, so I’m excited to learn to ski this year!

I’m also a self-taught quilter and look forward to working on some new projects for my granddaughters once the dust settles after moving across county.