ANA Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation® Spotlight: Christopher Lee, MBA, BSN, RN-BC
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Nurse leads workplace well-being advocacy through the Professional Governance Model
Taking care of family has always been a top priority for #healthynurse Christopher Lee. While he was growing up, he noticed his grandparents were getting older. He felt a desire to care for them as they aged.
“I was raised with the idea that we value and take care of our family members throughout life,” he says.
Christopher’s caring spirit led him to the field of nursing. “I realized that nurses, being hands-on caregivers, truly connect with their patients in such a meaningful way,” he says. “That human connection is what drew me into nursing.”
Finding Fulfillment in Patient Care
In 2017, Christopher started his career in the UCLA Health Residency Program. He was immediately drawn to medical-surgical nursing because he had more opportunities to engage with patients. “I found the work to be quite profound,” he says. “We would talk about their fears, frustrations, or anxieties about being in the hospital. We would discuss their lives and goals. Connecting on such a deep level and building a relationship based on trust was very fulfilling.”
Christopher saw the positive impact compassion and connection had on his patients. “When we give that energy and attention to our patients, and they see we truly care, it transforms their outcomes,” he says.
It wasn’t long before Christopher realized the same energy, compassion, and attention he poured into patient care could also transform nursing for the better.
Caring for His Nursing Family
Christopher understood the important role nurses play in health care. He also saw the need to support and empower nurses to advocate for themselves and their patients. When the opportunity arose to care for his nursing family, Christopher jumped into action.
“A big part of my nursing journey has been to help drive positive change through structural empowerment,” he says. “Since 2018, I have participated in and chaired nursing councils that focus on ways to support the work nurses do. Systems and structures that support us, the caregivers, allow us to do our best — and be our best.”
The Impact of Professional Governance on Nursing Empowerment
According to Christopher, professional governance is key to empowering nurses. It’s driven by a set of bylaws that operate under a structure of multilevel councils. This system enables nurses to collaboratively contribute to decisions about their practice, patient care, development, and work environment.
“Professional governance gives us the opportunity to transform our work environment to support both our professional development and our workplace well-being,” he says. “As we nurses take care of ourselves, in turn, we can take better care of our patients.”
When UCLA adopted the Professional Governance Model in 2018, Christopher was among the first nurses to get involved. “My unit director encouraged me to join one of the councils,” he says. “I’m grateful for that because it’s been a great journey.”
The Professional Governance Model
At UCLA, the professional governance system operates under a structure of councils. Each council has a different focus within the areas of leadership, clinical practice, science, and transfer of knowledge. (UCLA Health Nursing Department - https://mednet.uclahealth.org/nursing/professional-governance/)
Christopher started his advocacy journey as a council member, then moved on to chair multiple councils.
“Overall, these councils empower nurses to drive change using their clinical expertise, in partnership with nursing leaders,” he says. “This enables collaboration across different levels of the organization. Unit nurses share ideas with executive leaders, and everyone has a voice.”
Pioneering Nurse Inclusion and Well-Being
In 2020, Christopher was a part of his organization’s response to the need for more diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“Through the efforts of bedside nurses, we were able to create our own health equity, diversity, and inclusion council, called Unity in Diversity (UID), which I now chair,” he says.
According to Christopher, UID reflects the realization that an individual’s workplace wellness and well-being also includes their identity. “It’s being able to show up to work as your true self and also supporting the identities of the colleagues and patients around you.”
In May of 2022, the council hosted its inaugural Unity and Kindness Day. It is also collaborating with health care performance improvement company Press Ganey to survey patients on their experience related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the care they receive.
Addressing Nurse Wellness
Stemming from his participation in professional governance, Christopher focuses energy on several aspects of nurse wellness: physical health, mental health, and workplace violence prevention.
Physical wellness
For Christopher, exercise has always been a priority for his health and well-being. When his aunt, a marathon enthusiast, passed away a year ago, he took up running to honor her memory.
“My aunt really encouraged me to pursue my career path and live a full life,” he says. “In November 2024, I ran for charity in the New York City Marathon to carry on her legacy. Running has become a symbol of honoring my health each day and modeling self-care for my patients.”
Mental wellness
In 2024, Christopher collaborated on the creation of a peer-to-peer support program to nurture mental health in nurses.
“Nurses experience stress and witness traumatic events while caring for others,” he says. “It’s part of the job. But what people don’t realize is nurses need attention, too. Our peer support initiative offers care and resources when nurses need help.”
Preventing workplace violence
During COVID-19, Christopher says his unit noticed an uptick in violence and aggression toward health care workers. “Nurses particularly didn’t feel safe at work,” he says.
To combat the issue, Christopher and his colleagues worked with nursing leadership to create innovative solutions.
“We made visual signs to indicate to one another when a patient required a tailored approach,” he says. “Nurses were empowered to speak up when they felt unsafe so the organization could act. And we prioritized checking in with one another on a daily basis.”
Significant Improvements in Nurse Well-being
According to Christopher, advocating for workplace wellness led to measurable change in not only his unit, but throughout the organization. “The effort of one small group resulted in improvements across 4 different hospitals,” he says. “That’s empowerment.”
Christopher Lee, BSN, RN-BC, is a clinical nurse for UCLA Health.
Have you found ways to create positive change in your organization? Share your #healthynurse journey with us in the comments.
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Blog #healthynurse Spotlight
04/28/2025 10:56am CDT
The #healthynurse Spotlight is a shout out to nurses who are making changes in their lives to improve their health and wellness. You can too! Read their stories for inspiration here.
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