Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation® Champion Spotlight Series: Ochsner Health
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Creating a culture where nurses feel valued, supported, and empowered to lead change
Creating and carrying out nurse well-being initiatives is not a new practice for Ochsner Health. For years, Ochsner has served as a prime example of how a well-executed strategy can change the culture for nurses.
Ochsner serves patients in Louisiana and Mississippi and employs nearly 13,000 nurses. The organization partnered with ANA's Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation® (HNHN) in 2017. They were recognized before and during the COVID-19 pandemic for their well-being initiatives. Since then, Ochsner's nursing leadership has established a new strategic vision focusing on the voice, purpose, and future of their nurses.
"Our approach to workforce well-being and healthy nurses is about more than reducing burnout," says Maria Nix, MSN, BSN, RN, a clinical nurse educator at Ochsner. "We strive to create a workplace where nurses feel valued and fulfilled in their work."
Ochsner’s focus on workforce well-being is aligned with its mission to inspire healthier lives and stronger communities. The organization takes a systemwide approach to implement individual-focused resources for caregivers, as well as organization and team-based initiatives. These efforts have been working.
In 2025, key performance metrics measured by the Mini Z Survey — a self-assessment tool measuring burnout — showed decreased stress and burnout in Ochsner nurses compared to previous years. The survey also revealed improved job satisfaction and an increased sense of being valued.
Executing the "Voice, Purpose, Future" Nursing Strategy
The Voice, Purpose, Future Strategy started in 2024 and spans a total of 3 years. Each year is assigned a specific theme that guides new initiatives and is woven into existing programs whenever appropriate. Ochsner is currently in the second year of the strategy, created under the leadership of Tiffany Murdock, DNP, MSN, MBA, BSN, RN, senior vice president and system chief nursing officer.
"Well-being is not just about taking time to relax or step away," Tiffany says. "It's also about being heard, identifying your purpose, and envisioning your future. This strategy is designed to accomplish all of that."
Voice
In 2024, the goal was to understand the "voice" of Ochsner nurses — learn what they value and what well-being looks like from their perspective. To engage nurses in conversation, Tiffany and the nursing strategy team created an ongoing, structured rounding cadence. They interact with nurses across 46 campuses in the Gulf South.
"We are really intentional with the questions we ask," Tiffany says. "Asking, 'How do we make you happy?' is less effective than asking 'How can we help you?' from a purpose-filled standpoint of nursing. We want to know what an improved quality of care and workplace environment looks like to our nurses."
Executive leadership keeps a continuous dialogue with nursing team members through:
- Annual reports
- "Inside Ochsner" messaging
- Integration councils
- Quarterly townhalls
- Volunteer events
Purpose
2025 initiatives have focused on reconnecting nurses with why they chose this profession. To drive the point of "purpose" home, Ochsner introduced regional nursing service projects that get nurses outside the hospital walls and into their community.
"We support the Food Is Medicine Coalition during service days — a program that is special to me," Tiffany says. "I participate alongside our nurses and share my purpose for doing this service work. We work together as a team, and it reminds us why we do what we do — that it's for our communities and not just for ourselves."
Future
In 2026, the Ochsner nursing strategy will focus on providing nurses with the tools, education, and leadership development opportunities they need to accomplish their career and wellness goals.
"The ‘Future’ portion of the strategy is a lot about innovation," Tiffany says. "It's about how we embrace innovation, technology, and different care models to ensure we are relevant in how we take care of our patients. How do we capitalize on virtual nursing? How does AI work within our space? What should our nursing schools be teaching? As a nurse, what is your role in all of this?"
Taking Every Opportunity to Empower Nurses
To reach as many nurses as possible, the nursing team takes several different approaches and offers many types of initiatives focused both on the individual and the team.
Ochsner offers system-wide wellness resources, such as the Eat Fit program, Wellness Hub, and a robust Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The nursing strategy builds upon those offerings and empowers nurses to achieve well-being in 4 distinct ways:
- Elevating the voice of nurses
- Incorporating well-being into training and development
- Creating a culture of care
- Equipping nurses to lead change
Raising awareness of Ochsner’s supportive resources and empowering leaders to share them continues to be a priority. Ochsner is taking steps to make sure nurses know what resources are available and how to leverage them through Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation and other external organizations.
Embracing Progress
Ochsner's nursing strategy team created a 3-year strategy because they know that change takes time — much like healing. But they are pleased to see wellness growing among their nursing staff.
"As nurses, we get into this profession because of our mission, our passion to heal, and our desire to be present with people," Maria says. "It warms my heart to see us moving in the right direction — that our nurses feel more valued and that our efforts to take care of our nurses are making a difference."
How does your organization make you feel valued? Share with us in our discussion.
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Blog Champion Spotlight
11/18/2025 12:40pm CST
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