Area of expertise: leadership
David Marshall is Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive at Cedars-Sinai, a leading medical center and a growing health system in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Marshall has more than 30 years of professional nursing experience and 20 years of experience as an executive nurse leader in academic medical centers. Prior to joining Cedars-Sinai, Dr. Marshall was System Chief Nursing and Patient Care Services Executive at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Texas, where he began his nursing career in a year-long nurse residency program. He has served on the boards of professional organizations at the local, state, and national levels. Dr. Marshall's areas of expertise include clinical operations, innovation, leadership development, and performance improvement.
Questions:
1. What are the significant professional milestones in your career journey?
DM: Through my development from staff nurse to executive nurse leader, there have been several milestones in the areas of education, experience, and service that have allowed me to continuously improve myself, my employment settings, and the profession of nursing.
The educational milestones I have achieved are part of my belief in lifelong learning and continuing competence. They include my initial education as a nurse with the Bachelor of Science in Nursing I obtained at The University of Texas. I began my nursing career in a 1-year long nurse residency program. Both my undergraduate nursing program and the nurse residency provided a strong foundation for my nursing career. I subsequently obtained a Master of Science in Nursing, with a focus on nursing administration at The University of Texas Medical Branch. I took a career detour and obtained a Doctor of Jurisprudence at South Texas College of Law and practiced law for 3 years. While practicing law, I also worked weekends as a nurse. My last educational milestone was obtaining my Doctor of Nursing Practice at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.
I have advanced the practice of nursing in my employment settings by focusing on creating a culture that encourages innovation and inquiry. One innovation in practice emerged from a unique relationship with engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and their Little Devices Lab. Through an internal grant and matching funds supplied by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through MakerNurse, the first MakerSpace in a hospital in the United States was opened at The University of Texas Medical Branch to encourage creativity, ingenuity, and inquiry among nurses. This provided nurses a convenient space to share their ideas to make their patients safer and more comfortable or themselves more efficient.
Active engagement in professional organizations began early in my career. My experiences ignited a passion for lifelong contribution. I have been privileged to serve the profession through elected and appointed office in a variety of professional organizations at the state and national levels. My roles in these organizations have been dedicated to advocacy and advancing education, leadership, and practice. I am a proud fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the American Organization for Nursing Leadership.
2. How have you seen the specialty of NPD grow/evolve/change during your career?
DM: Throughout my career, I have seen the importance of the role of the nurse specializing in NPD in the development of both individuals and organizations. The role has evolved from one focused on preparing nurses to practice in specific environments through in-service and orientation to one that guides change management and supports strategic initiatives. NPD specialists play a key role in linking well-developed missions, visions, and strategic plans to daily work and gaining buy-in from frontline staff.
3. From your perspective, what do you see as significant trends or gaps in nursing practice that NPD could address?
DM: In the current pandemic environment, NPD specialists have played a key role in translating the latest developments to those on the front line. Other than responding to the pandemic, improving professional practice and professional practice environments has never been more important. Prior to the pandemic to the front line, the pace of change in knowledge and technology required more agility than ever before and highlighted the need to bring evolving knowledge to the practice of nursing. There is a renewed focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in health care. NPD specialists can play a key role in equipping nurses in identifying and addressing healthcare disparities.
4. What insights can you share related to the value of NPD in healthcare organizations now and in the future?
DM: The specialty of NPD is important to professional development of individuals throughout their career in nursing, and it is also important in furthering organizational strategic initiatives. As care shifts to areas outside the acute care setting, NPD specialists will need to assist in preparing individuals to practice in those nonacute care settings. As we contemplate necessary changes in the care delivery models in the acute care setting, NPD practitioners will play a very important role in envisioning the future and managing change.
5. What advice do you have for NPD practitioners in the context of today's health care and learning environments?
DM: The options for professional development are ever-expanding. Content delivery methods are continuously evolving (e.g., artificial intelligence, gamification, and simulation). NPD specialists should innovate in these areas to support nursing professionals as they develop their practice and to assist in improving patient outcomes and the work environment.