LAURA E. CIMA, RN, MBA, CNAA, FACHE
Vice President, Nursing
Hackensack University Medical Center
Hackensack, New Jersey
Laura E. Cima has an extensive and successful career with current responsibility for the day to day management of Women’ Services, Outpatient and Inpatient Dialysis, the Ambulatory Clinics as well as the Mobile ICU, Dispatching Center and the Ambulance Program. She has been involved in developing programs such as the Comprehensive Wound Center, Urology Center, and the Osteoporosis Screening Center. Constantly evaluating and monitoring national trends, Ms. Cima has coordinated the process of developing medical surgical units into specialty services including the Department of Enterostomal Therapy and Wound Specialists and the Department of Bariatric Surgery. In a relatively short period of time, the comprehensive Bariatric program was noted as number one in the country from a volume and quality perspective.
Ms. Cima envisioned and coordinated the creation of the Department of Clinical Informatics and took an active role in the acquisition of the Magnet Award in 1995. Ms. Cima’s leadership position in the medical center has ensured the continued development of a professional environment and the advancement of nursing practice required to maintain the Magnet designation for twelve years. She is also a member of the Executive Leadership staff, participating in strategic planning for the medical center, negotiating resources, policy development and approval and always advocating for the profession of nursing. Ms. Cima’s expertise has been recognized in the professional community on the national level as she has been appointed to the Nurse Advisory Council to the Joint Commission for two terms.
Ms. Cima has personally developed and implemented the Budget and Finance course for the New Manager Orientation Program at the medical center for the past five years. She actively participates in the education of healthcare professionals beyond her role at the medical center. Laura has served graduate students at New Jersey City University and Seton Hall University as adjunct professor, mentor and Fellowship Preceptor always stressing the importance of being involved in your professional organizations. She has been designated a coach for Healthcare Advisory Board participants in their two year management fellowship program and was instrumental in bringing graduate education from the Seton Hall campus to the medical center facility, enabling many of her colleagues to begin a masters program that would otherwise not have been feasible.
Ms. Cima has authored numerous articles for publication and has spoken of topics relevant to the advancement of professional nursing. She has designed and conducted research projects on recruitment and retention of the professional nurse which has led to implementation of initiatives contributing to high retention and low turnover. Ms. Cima is a role model for nursing leadership. She is recognized for fairness, generosity and a collaborative spirit. She leads by example inspiring confidence and respect communicating high expectations, and continually creating a motivating environment.