Greenwich Hospital CNO Appointed to International Best Practices Task Force

Anna Cerra, DPN, RN, to provide expertise in hospital administration, as well as developing strategies to enhance nurse resiliency.

Anna Cerra, DPN, RN, senior vice president and chief nursing officer (CNO) of Greenwich Hospital, Greenwich, Connecticut, has been appointed to one of 12 positions on the CICIAMS Pan American International Nurse Consulting Team on Best Practices, a committee of Catholic nurses who advise 150 Catholic hospitals around the world on evidence-based best practices.

CICIAMS, translated, is the International Catholic Committee of Nurses and Medico-Social Assistants and is headquartered in Vatican City.

Cerra, Greenwich CNO for four years, was chosen because of her post-doctorate work at Case Western Reserve University, which drew from her experience with the COVID-19 pandemic and focused on developing strategies to enhance resiliency, which involved interviewing 10 Italian nurse leaders from several Catholic hospitals in Rome, according to a press release.

"As a leader, it is vital to implement strategies that foster resiliency and well-being," says Cerra, who is fluent in Italian. "Healthcare's evolving landscape will continue to call for nurse leaders to be resilient and lead by example."

Her area of expertise on the panel is hospital administration based on her 22 years in administrative management and nursing at Greenwich Hospital, which is part of the Yale New Haven Health System.

Cerra is "an extraordinary nurse executive," says Diane Kelly, DNP, RN, Greenwich Hospital president.

"Her practice is clearly driven by her heart and mind bringing out the best in those she leads, which in turn benefits the patients who have trusted us with their care," she says.

Cerra is the right nurse to lead on the international panel, says Beth Beckman, DNSc, chief nursing executive for Yale New Haven Health.

"[Cerra offers] the perfect complement of leadership shills and art to provide best-in-class care," she says. "She has full command of how to generate excellence, even in the most challenging of times."

"She also brings the art of connecting with people through programs that perpetuate care using spirituality and Caritas Caring principles," Beckman says. "She will bring her many talents to the international nursing forum to elevate and enhance nursing's impact on healthcare outcomes."

Cerra calls her appointment to the task force "an extraordinary opportunity," with the chance to reach beyond Greenwich Hospital to help nurses.

"The inclusion of spiritual care and staff resiliency are essential in all our nursing efforts," she says. "As a member of this expert panel, we are able to help resolve issues being addressed globally."