Looking back and moving forward with the Chief Nurse Executive
“What comes to mind when you hear the number 10?” asked Susan Hernandez, D.N.P., M.B.A., RN, Vice President and Health System Chief Nurse Executive at UT Southwestern.
Dr. Hernandez posed the question at her annual State of Nursing address during National Nurses Week, when she had gathered the UTSW nursing community to reflect on the past year, recognize progress, and look ahead to the future of nursing across the Health System.
She encouraged the audience to consider what that number can represent – a symbol of excellence, a milestone, or the progress that builds over time. Dr. Hernandez reminded everyone that in 2025, 10 is more than just a number for UT Southwestern. This year marks a decade since the opening of William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital (CUH), inspiring this year’s overarching theme: “The Power of 10.”
Throughout the presentation, Dr. Hernandez shared how nursing at UT Southwestern has evolved. Clinical outcomes have improved significantly in both the inpatient and ambulatory settings, including a 40% reduction in mortality that has resulted in more than 1,300 lives saved. Recent Press Ganey data reflects these strides, with CUH ranking in the top 97% nationally for both patient experience and likelihood of recommending the hospital. More nurses are advancing their education, with a growing number of nurses with master’s and doctoral degrees now practicing throughout the clinical enterprise. Research efforts are also expanding, and teams are more connected and engaged than ever.
“We have grown by leaps and bounds together,” Dr. Hernandez said. “And you are part of something that is so impressive and powerful. This is a team that continues to raise the bar.”
She spoke about the trust that patients place in UT Southwestern, noting that people recommend UTSW because they have confidence in the care they receive. She credited that trust in part to the clarity and consistency of the nursing mission and the strong results produced by focused, value-driven teams.
“Recognition follows,” Dr. Hernandez said. “It follows the execution of what we value, what we have learned, and how we incorporate that into the way we care for others.”
Drawing from the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) National Nurses Week theme “Care, Lead, Inspire – Repeat,” Dr. Hernandez emphasized that these values are lived out across the organization every day, from patient care to peer support to mentoring the next generation of nurses. She invited the audience to reflect on what they could do in 10 seconds, 10 minutes, 10 months, or 10 years. Whether it’s a kind gesture, a teaching moment, or time spent guiding a nurse through the first year of their career, every act has an impact. And when added together, those moments become something more: a reflection of how far nursing has come and what can be built over time. At UT Southwestern, the power of 10 is more than a theme. It is a reminder of what is possible when people lead with purpose.