Named 2021 Force for Change Winner for Nursing and Patient Care
June 7, 2021 - Nancy E. Holecek, MAS, BSN, RN, RWJBarnabas Health Senior Vice President for Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer, has received the 2021 Force for Change Award for Nursing and Patient Care from Leading Women Entrepreneurs (LWE), The Force for Change Awards honor New Jersey’s most innovative leaders of the next decade. In light of this unprecedented time, the Force for Change platform in 2021 recognizes those individuals who, through heroic efforts, made a significant and positive impact upon the lives of others during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Nancy has devoted her career to enhancing health care quality, education and professionalism and advancing the profession of nursing,” stated John F. Bonamo, MD. MS, FACOG, FACPE,
Executive Vice President and Chief Medical and Quality Officer, RWJBarnabas Health. “Her innovative models of nursing care have been recognized within the nursing profession and serve as an example for other health care systems.”
Ms. Holecek began her career at Saint Barnabas Medical Center as a Registered Nurse in critical care. In 1997, following several nursing leadership positions, with increasing responsibility, she assumed the CNO role, responsible for all nursing and related patient care services for the Barnabas Health system. She led the system’s nursing initiatives in strategic planning, fiscal decisions, patient satisfaction, care coordination, and quality. Her responsibilities grew to include the Northern Region effective 2016 when Barnabas Health and Robert Wood Johnson Health System joined to become RWJBarnabas Health. Her current responsibilities encompass the entire RWJBarnabas Health system.
Ms. Holecek’s support for the staff has led to her high credibility with nurses throughout the system who know her to be fair, especially when it comes to tough decision-making. She is a leader who follows through until a resolution is achieved. She has contributed to nursing competency throughout New Jersey by envisioning programs that instill responsibility and leadership. In addition, she has promoted the value of education for nurses as it relates to patient care, patient and experience, and utilizes the resources available to her to the fullest to achieve these goals.
Leading Women Entrepreneurs’ mission is to create a sustainable ongoing environment that brings leaders together and showcases their attributes and contributions. In the past decade, the organization has recognized over 600 outstanding women in business. In 2021, men, women, and companies are being honored as a Force for Change in various categories.
Linda Wellbrock, founder of FFC and LWE, says, “These honorees are amazing role models, representative of the increasing impact diverse leaders are making in the world of business. We are excited to celebrate men, women, and companies who, despite challenges, excel in innovation and advocacy and have helped to make New Jersey strong.”
The award winners will be honored virtually on November 8th, 2021.
Visit the website here: https://forceforchangenj.com/
ABOUT RWJBARNABAS HEALTH
RWJBarnabas Health is the most comprehensive academic health care system in New Jersey, with a service area covering nine counties with five million people. The system includes eleven acute care hospitals – Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, Community Medical Center in Toms River, Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset in Somerville, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton in Hamilton, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway in Rahway and Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, three acute care children’s hospitals and a leading pediatric rehabilitation hospital with a network of outpatient centers, a freestanding 100-bed behavioral health center, two trauma centers, a satellite emergency department, ambulatory care centers, geriatric centers, the state’s largest behavioral health network, comprehensive home care and hospice programs, fitness and wellness centers, retail pharmacy services, affiliated medical groups, multi-site imaging centers and an accountable care organization.
RWJBH is New Jersey’s largest private employer – with more than 35,000 employees, 9,000 physicians and 1,000 residents and interns – and routinely captures national awards for outstanding quality and safety. RWJBH, in partnership with Rutgers University, are creating New Jersey’s largest academic health care system. The collaboration aligns RWJBH with Rutgers’ education, research and clinical activities, including those at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey - the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center - and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.