Misty Robertson, School of Nursing alum, recently stepped into the role of CEO of Blue Mountain Hospital District in John Day, Oregon.
“My experience at Boise State has been essential to my career success, both in nursing and in executive healthcare leadership, and I will forever be a loyal Bronco,” Robertson said. “I have really valued all of my experiences at Boise State, but believe that achieving my Doctor of Nursing Practice has really prepared me to lead at the level that I am today and beyond.”
Previously, Robertson worked as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer at St. Luke’s Nampa Medical Center and Fruitland Medical Center. While in that role, she partnered with Boise State’s School of Nursing on a “really valuable” learning experience that she hopes to apply in her new role.
“We were able to collaborate and develop a new model for nursing student clinical experiences,” she said. “It also benefitted the hospital students and future nurses were able to spend time there, gaining exposure to the culture and potential opportunities. A similar approach may benefit the rural healthcare organization that I will be leading.”
Robertson is excited to tackle challenges around workforce and leadership development opportunities in her new position, since “in the rural setting it can be especially challenging to recruit caregivers and healthcare professionals,” she said.
“I am also excited to apply some of my experience as an adjunct faculty in the [College of Business and Economics] to think about creative ways to offer leadership development opportunities in the rural environment where there may be fewer onsite resources available.”
Robertson is an adjunct instructor in the School of Nursing and the College of Business and Economics’ Online MBA program. She graduated with her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from Boise State in 2021.
From DNP to CEO
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program is “very translatable” to general healthcare operations and executive leadership positions, Robertson said.
“Having the ability to design and implement systems of care, for example, is an important skill in the rural setting where necessary structure may be lacking, be less formal, or may need to be revised to meet the changing times,” she said.
Robertson also credits Boise State with developing her perspective of the importance of growing interprofessional relationships.
“Top quality healthcare relies on teamwork and integration with the entire patient care team, as well as finance, administrative, quality professionals, etc.,” she said. “I had the opportunity to learn, research, and practice this perspective on the necessity of interprofessional relationships at Boise State.”