We all have interesting stories to share about our journey in nursing. I recently spoke with Dr. Angela Patterson, the Chief Nurse Practitioner Officer of CVS MinuteClinic and Vice President of CVS Health. Dr. Patterson knew from a young age that she wanted to be a nurse. Her career has evolved through the years, with transitions from medical/surgical nursing to later becoming a family practice nurse practitioner and co-owning a family medical practice, to her current role at CVS, as well as chairing the board for a charter high school for underprivileged high school students who wish to go into nursing. Wow!

Dr. Patterson has great advice for nurses to get involved with board membership. She describes resources such as the Nurses on Boards Coalition, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action. She also reminds us that, as nurses, we have inherent skills, qualities, and traits for board membership:

• Nurses have firsthand knowledge of views and concerns of patients and families.
• Nurses know how to achieve high quality care.
• Nurses can offer innovative solutions to improve safety and quality.
• Nurses understand the need for collaboration across professions and settings.
• Nurses are great listeners and ask questions to better understand.
• Nurses respect a wide range of professional roles and skills, helping us work as effective team members.

By planning, being intentional, seeking ongoing education, remaining passionate, and networking, we can be better prepared for board membership. As the keepers of our patients’ stories, we need to take our seats at the table. Please listen to our full conversation here.



I hope you all enjoyed this conversation – thank you, Dr. Patterson!

About Angela Patterson
Angela Patterson DNP, FNP-BC, NEA-BC is an advanced practice registered nurse, Vice President at CVS Health, and Chief Nurse Practitioner Officer of CVS MinuteClinic. In this role, she is responsible for providing clinical and professional practice governance for the more than 3,100 nurse practitioners and physician assistants who staff the organization’s more than 1,100 retail medical clinics located across 33 states and the District of Columbia. Read more…