Meet the 2017 Nursing Leadership Fellows

Swedish Covenant Hospital introduced a Nurse Leadership Fellows program in 2017 to provide an opportunity for nurses to strengthen and improve their leadership skills. The 9-12 month leadership program consists of a variety of experiential learning activities for nurses who aspire to achieve a higher level of leadership within Swedish Covenant Hospital.Two nursing fellows were selected at the beginning of 2017 to participate in the program. Fellows benefit from coaching, an individual project, regular meetings with nursing leadership, development of presentations skills, and additional education opportunities by attending the national Nursing Magnet Conference.The 2017 Nursing Fellows are Eva Peroulas, manager, family birthing and women’s health and Angela Alpasan, staff nurse on AP5. Read on to learn more about our 2017 Fellows.What do you hope to gain/achieve from the program?Eva: I would like to participate in data collection and research study that will help increase quality women safety initiatives.Angela: I am hoping to expand my knowledge about leadership skills and learn about the organization's functions. I want to learn more about evidence-based research and learn how to apply it on my unit. I hope to gain confidence as a leader and to become a change agent in my unit.What has been your experience so far?Eva: I have been working at Swedish Covenant Hospital for the last 17 years. I started off as a staff nurse and charge nurse in the Family Birthing Center. I became the system analyst for our documentation system and then the clinical educator. Currently I am the manager of the Family Birthing Center and recently became the manager of the Women’s Health Center. Throughout my career Swedish Covenant Hospital has supported my decisions to return to school through the tuition reimbursement program and the flexibility with my schedule, nursing scholarships and now the fellowship program. I am blessed to work in such a nurturing organization.Angela: I attended a 4-week course called "Crucial Conversations ". I really enjoyed this class as it taught me techniques when having conversation or confrontation. I am also working on my project on decreasing preventable interruption during medication administration. I have started to do some literature review on the topic. My supervisor Ruth Orozco also teaches me about financial budget for our unit and for the hospital.How will this impact your career?Eva: I am hoping to strengthen my leadership skills and facilitate my professional growth by working with organizational leaders with different backgrounds and different leadership styles.Angela: This program will enhance my leadership skills as a charge nurse. I feel that this program will help me better understand what I will do in the future for my nursing career.To learn more about supporting nursing education at Swedish Covenant Hospital, click here contact the Foundation at foundation@swedishcovenant.org or 773-293-5121.