Audrey A. Simmons

Wellspan Health: Director of Inpatient Operations and Services

• Oversaw a 118-bed Inpatient Behavioral Health stand-alone hospital, containing a Child, Adolescent, Adult, and extended Acute Unit with an average of 95% occupancy.
• Lead and coached four multi-disciplinary teams with a total of 17 direct reports, overseeing over 240 employees.
• Collaborated with five emergency rooms in five different counties.
• Drove a successful 27-65 State Survey in 2019, 2020, and 2021, and a successful Joint Commission Survey in 2022.

Hospital Corporation of America, The Medical Center of Aurora: Director of Nursing

• Lead and coached a total of 127 Nursing FTEs with nine direct reports within an 80-bed Behavioral Health and Wellness Center that included an Electroconvulsive Treatment Program, Outpatient Services Department, three inpatient units (i.e., Adult Inpatient, Geropsych Inpatient, and Adolescent Inpatient).
• Led a multi-departmental team to renovate a space, create and coach a team, and successfully open the Electroconvulsive Treatment Program.
• Opened a 20-bed adolescent unit
• Built and maintained professional relationships from previous facilities of employment, resulting in key business partnerships in the community.
• Collaborated with the education department to streamline the Behavioral Health orientation process for onboarding staff.
• Championed a culture change that has sustained and resulted in employee participation rates of 81% and higher.
• Successfully mentored new managers into the HCA system, further solidifying a culture of excellence and accountability.
• Drove a successful 27-65 State Survey in 2016, 2017, and 2018, and Joint Commission Survey in 2017.
• Was personally mentored by and directly reported to the Chief Operating Officer of Behavioral Health Services for the Division Service Line, Cindy Meyer.

Denver Health: Nursing Program Manager

• Managed the nursing department of Denver CARES, which is a 100-bed, non-medical, and clinically managed treatment facility, whose mission is to provide assessment, education, motivational counseling, residential treatment, and safe detoxification for public inebriates.
• Developed educational opportunities for the nurses and behavioral health technicians, regarding professional communication, leadership skills, and clinical skills, through personal coaching, in-services, and role-modeling, all while aligning each growth measure with the mission and vision of Denver Health Medical Center.

Denver Health Nurse Educator:

• Championed a successful 27-65 State Survey in 2012, 2013, and 2014 and a successful Joint Commission Survey in 2014.
• Curated and maintained orientation programs and educational opportunities for all novice and experienced staff within all Behavioral Health departments including the inpatient adult unit, the adolescent unit, the ACUTE eating disorder unit, and the psychiatric emergency department.
• Provided leadership and coaching for the team and unit with constant collaboration between all inpatient unit managers and charge nurses and acted as interim manager routinely for the Adolescent Unit.
• Engaged in departmental leadership activities and acted as the liaison for behavioral health departments.
• Demonstrated an understanding of assessment findings as they related to disease process and continuum of care and related these findings to the multidisciplinary team.
• Evaluated practice in relation to professional standards, statutes, regulations, hospital and departmental policies, and standards of care, and upheld strict, continuing requirements of regulatory agencies.
• Worked at the bedside with patients to maintain psychiatric and medical nursing skills and to fill any holes in the schedule, as needed.
• Investigated new standards and processes of care through evidence-based practice and research within the mental health field.

Eating Recovery Center: Lead Charge Nurse/Nurse Manager:

• Managed a 24-bed acute inpatient eating disorder unit leading and coaching over 40 full time employees.
• Participated in daily treatment planning and patient care coordination.
• Collaborated with multiple departments to move the Partial Hospitalization Program from the downtown location to a suburbia location resulting in the doubling of capacity to treatment patients.
• Provided education to staff members and encouraged evidence-based practice by presenting new concepts after attending conferences.

APNA Council for Mental Health Advocacy Advisory Panel:

• Advisory Panel Member on the Steering Committee
• Providing input on strategy and completing specific tasks, surveys, or reviewing resources

Spirit of Nursing Award Nominee recognized for exceptional service, strong work ethic, being a role model, advocating for quality and safety for clients and colleagues alike.

Clinical Nurse Educator of the Year:  Educator of the year is an award given to a hospital educator based on the nominations written by colleagues who deem this individual a role model, educator and great coach.  Educators are devoted to teaching and coaching nurses who work in healthcare facilities. Teaching and coaching nurses about the skills and knowledge needed to provide evidence based, patient centered care. In addition, educators are often responsible for preparing teams for outside agency surveys, state surveys, yearly competencies, and onboarding all new staff. Educators who are nominated for this award are respected nurses with exceptional organizational and  leadership skills.

Five-time Star Award Recipient acknowledged for innovation, collaboration, leadership, patient safety and staff development. A star award honors staff members who have shown extraordinary initiative to solving a specific problem and made an extra effort to help someone while demonstrating Denver Health’s values.