Heather Hacker
May 2025
Heather
Hacker
,
MSN, RN, CPEN
Emergency Department
Cone Health Annie Penn Hospital
Reidsville
,
NC
United States
With a clear vision and an infectious enthusiasm, she unites staff around shared goals, empowering each team member to grow professionally while always keeping patient outcomes at the forefront.
Heather is a true embodiment of extraordinary leadership, consistently role-modeling the values of trust, compassion, professionalism, and iCare. Her unwavering dedication to both her team and patients has transformed our work environment into one of mutual respect, continuous learning, and excellence in patient care. One of Heather’s greatest strengths is her ability to inspire and motivate.
With a clear vision and an infectious enthusiasm, she unites staff around shared goals, empowering each team member to grow professionally while always keeping patient outcomes at the forefront. Her leadership has directly contributed to improved staff morale, stronger teamwork, and enhanced patient care quality.
This is evident through employee feedback, improved patient care metrics like LWCC, and improved stroke response times. She has also served as a preceptor and mentor to several staff members pursuing higher degrees. Beyond motivation, Heather has made a lasting impact by actively promoting and enhancing the image of nursing.
Through strategic initiatives, she has successfully improved peak census staffing by reducing incremental worked time and canceled meal deductions, ensuring our team is supported and well-resourced. Her commitment to recruitment and retention has resulted in a decreased vacancy rate, fostering a stable and dedicated workforce. Heather is an advocate for flexible scheduling, recognizing the importance of work-life balance and staff well-being. Her accessibility and unwavering support—day or night—demonstrate a leadership style rooted in genuine care and commitment.
Most notably, she is a fierce advocate for staff safety, always ensuring that the well-being of her team is a top priority. She serves on the Workplace Violence Committee and has led initiatives in bridging the gaps between the hospital, campus police, and local law enforcement agencies.
Heather also serves as a strong advocate for improving behavioral health needs in Rockingham County. She serves on the Rockingham County Behavioral Health Prevention, Early Intervention, and Harm Reduction Committee. Heather also identified a gap in the awareness of services in Rockingham County and created a comprehensive list to be disseminated. Her extraordinary leadership has not only strengthened our unit but has also elevated the profession of nursing within our organization and beyond.
With a clear vision and an infectious enthusiasm, she unites staff around shared goals, empowering each team member to grow professionally while always keeping patient outcomes at the forefront. Her leadership has directly contributed to improved staff morale, stronger teamwork, and enhanced patient care quality.
This is evident through employee feedback, improved patient care metrics like LWCC, and improved stroke response times. She has also served as a preceptor and mentor to several staff members pursuing higher degrees. Beyond motivation, Heather has made a lasting impact by actively promoting and enhancing the image of nursing.
Through strategic initiatives, she has successfully improved peak census staffing by reducing incremental worked time and canceled meal deductions, ensuring our team is supported and well-resourced. Her commitment to recruitment and retention has resulted in a decreased vacancy rate, fostering a stable and dedicated workforce. Heather is an advocate for flexible scheduling, recognizing the importance of work-life balance and staff well-being. Her accessibility and unwavering support—day or night—demonstrate a leadership style rooted in genuine care and commitment.
Most notably, she is a fierce advocate for staff safety, always ensuring that the well-being of her team is a top priority. She serves on the Workplace Violence Committee and has led initiatives in bridging the gaps between the hospital, campus police, and local law enforcement agencies.
Heather also serves as a strong advocate for improving behavioral health needs in Rockingham County. She serves on the Rockingham County Behavioral Health Prevention, Early Intervention, and Harm Reduction Committee. Heather also identified a gap in the awareness of services in Rockingham County and created a comprehensive list to be disseminated. Her extraordinary leadership has not only strengthened our unit but has also elevated the profession of nursing within our organization and beyond.