Areas of Expertise
Suzanne Cleere is amazed by the connections between her personal and professional
life. As a bedside nurse she knew the value of connecting with her patients and their
families, and kept them as the lodestone of her work. "It's so important to focus on the
patient and family, not just the tasks," she says, "the people are what it's all about."
As a hospital executive, she recognized the value in drawing connections across the health
care system. She strove to keep all departments working together, eliminating silos. This
applied to both big and small hospitals—she doesn't think the size of the organization
matters, but creating a team mentality does. Her ability to connect with the staff is vital—even just being familiar with how people work makes for a more effective leader.
Fostering connections at work and creating teams has always energized Suzanne.
Maintaining the focus on the patient provides a constant reminder of who and why
caregivers serve, and Suzanne believes that being cognizant of who we are in that service
requires a connection with self and others. Work-life balance is critical, and caregivers,
with their devotion to their patients and work, are particularly prone to ignoring their
own needs. "You need balance in your mind, body, and spirit to keep going strong day
after day," Suzanne says. "When you stay grounded in all aspects of your life, you can
maintain the creative energy the work demands."
Every connection Suzanne makes is built on a strong foundation of scholarship and
caring theory. She has Master's degrees in nursing and business administration, and is
nearing completion of her DNP program, where her capstone project will explore
"Reflective practice: A mechanism to improve relationship with self, and improve and
enhance relationships with patient and peers." All of the academic background is
connected to real-world experience: she's been a leader at every level, from 20-person
nursing teams to VP and CNO. In every organization she's been a force for positive
change, leading by example.
Suzanne is a certified Caritas Coach through the Watson Caring Science Institute,
certified in Executive Nursing Practice by the American Organization of Nurse
Executives, and is actively involved in a number of local, state, and national organizations
that are focused on leading the way on the future of nursing. She lives outside of Detroit.
Areas of Focus:
- Client Management
- Role Clarity and Work Alignment
- Re-Igniting the Spirit of Caring
- Leading an Empowered Organization
E-mail Suzanne Cleere
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