Becker’s Healthcare Podcast: Dr. David Marshall, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive at Cedars-Sinai

“Becker’s Healthcare Podcast” recently interviewed David Marshall, JD, DNP, RN, senior vice president and chief nursing executive at Cedars-Sinai, about his role and what motivates him as a leader.

Marshall told the podcast’s host Scott Becker that Cedars-Sinai’s 4,700 nurses and nearly 3,000 physicians have a reputation for excellence and providing the highest-quality patient care.

“Every day, we deal with spreadsheets and meetings and trying to navigate the virtual and in-person world and accreditation site visits and regulatory site visits,” Marshall told Becker. “But we’re really here because we have that commitment to human life and wellbeing. And that’s what keeps me motivated.”

He added that Cedars-Sinai encourages wellness as a priority for staff, telling Becker, “You can’t be a great nurse if you’re not taking care of yourself.”

The importance of wellness in helping nurses provide the best care also was the topic of a recent HealthLeaders interview with Melanie Barone, RN, MSN, associate nursing director; and Florida Pagador, RN, MSN. These Cedars-Sinai nurse investigators created Serenity Lounges at the medical center to give nurses a quiet place to relax and recharge, and they have done research to back up the lounges’ effectiveness.

“The lounges are important to the staff but also to the leadership team,” Barone told HealthLeaders. “It’s our way of putting our money where our mouth is and it’s telling our nurses, ‘We talked about wanting your wellness and we’re holding true to what we have been saying and we want you to use this.”

Serenity Lounges have massage chairs, aromatherapy oils and other soothing features and have improved nurse wellbeing, staff engagement and retention rates.

Click here to listen to the entire episode of “Becker’s Healthcare Podcast,” and click here to read the complete story in HealthLeaders.