Lavern A. Browne
Richmond VAMC
Richmond
1
Certification
37
years of professional experience
Dynamic Nurse Manager with a proven track record of transforming unit culture, improving clinical outcomes, and strengthening workforce stability. Recognized for exceptional leadership in staff engagement, patient experience, operational efficiency, and high reliability organizational practices. Demonstrated ability to optimize staffing models, elevate quality metrics, and lead multidisciplinary initiatives that enhance safety, access to care, and Veteran satisfaction.
Work History
Nurse Manager, Unit 2F
14 Years 10 Months- Facilitated multiple Code Lavender sessions to support emotional wellness and resilience for nurse leaders and unit staff, strengthening a culture of compassion.
- Established monthly birthday celebrations to improve team morale, increase staff engagement, and reinforce a supportive work culture.
- Conducted 100% of scheduled staff meetings, embedding AES review, staffing methodology, and whistleblower protection as standing agenda items.
- Achieved a 6-week AccuStaff schedule posting lead time, exceeding the 4-week goal and improving staff satisfaction and predictability.
- Reduced annual sick leave usage from 11.16 to 4.99 FTE, reflecting improvements in morale, wellness, and attendance culture.
- Decreased unit vacancy rate from 50% to 28%, far exceeding the 40% target and strengthening staffing stability.
- Completed 100% staffing methodology and efficiency reviews with documented improvement plans.
- Successfully eliminated the 11:30 shift through full evaluation and CIWC submission, optimizing workforce utilization and transitioning multiple staff to improved schedules.
- Converted all indirect care roles (excluding NM and ANM) to direct care positions, maximizing bedside resources.
- Maintained target HPPD and improved alignment of staffing resources to patient needs.
- Expanded unit capacity from 26 to 30 surgical beds, improving Veteran access to care.
- Achieved 97% compliance with whiteboard communication and 100% compliance with intentional rounding, improving transparency and patient engagement.
- Exceeded pain management targets, improving PRN effectiveness from 92% goal to over 99%.
- Improved pressure injury assessment compliance from 82% baseline to 96.91%, exceeding standards and supporting prevention.
- Led multidisciplinary efforts to implement a nurse driven heparin nomogram in non-ICU settings; improved dose adjustment timeliness and validated EMR workflows for hospital wide expansion.
- Maintained 100% attendance at the 0745 Nursing Safety Huddle and ensured full unit participation in safety board utilization.
- Completed RCAs on falls and a mislabeled specimen, strengthening root cause mitigation and preventive systems.
- Promoted daily whistleblower protection advisement with full integration into meetings, huddles, and unit postings.
- Served as Perioperative Leader, presenting customer experience metrics and selecting an RN leader to guide service excellence initiatives.
- Co-chaired the Nurse Manager Shared Governance Committee, strengthening decision making and staff empowerment pathways.
- Contributed to the hospital’s achievement of a 5star facility rating, reflecting exceptional organizational performance.
- Performance Highlights
- 100% staff meetings completed
- Whiteboard compliance: 97%
- Intentional rounding: 100%
- Vacancy reduction: 50% → 28%
- Sick leave improved: 11.16 → 4.99 FTE
- Pain management: 99%
- Pressure injury assessment: 96.91%
- Surgical beds increased: 26 → 30
- Workload & Operational Scope
- 30-bed surgical unit
- 1,737 annual admissions
- Average Daily Census: 20
- WDOC: 6,080
- Length of stay: 2.93
- NHPPD: Met target
- Responsible for 24/7 operations, staffing, quality outcomes, and Veteran experience for a high acuity surgical population
Clinical Nurse II
2 Years 9 Months- Functioned as charge nurse and coordinated recovery of post-operative renal transplant, vascular repair, and reconstruction patients.
- Improved patient recovery workflows through structured handoff processes.
Nursing Educator / Adjunct Faculty
1 Year 7 Months- Designed adult-learning curricula and strengthened clinical judgment using evidence-based teaching methods.
Assistant Manager, Vascular Services
6 Years 9 Months- Directed daily operations and quality improvement initiatives across ICU, telemetry, and perioperative units.
- Implemented orientation and competency programs improving team performance and retention.
Intensive Care Unit Staff Nurse
3 Years 10 Months- Served as charge nurse for critically ill and post-operative patients.
Staff Nurse
4 Years- Provided care in a vascular telemetry medical-surgical unit and supervised patient flow.
Staff Nurse
1 Year 6 Months- Served in resource pool supporting critical care and telemetry units.
Licensed Practical Nurse
3 Years 9 MonthsLicensed Practical Nurse
1 Year 4 MonthsEducation
MHA
- Magna Cum Laude
- GPA: 3.8
BSN
- Magna Cum Laude
- GPA: 3.75
Diploma
Skills
Servant leadership and staff empowerment
Strategic staffing and workforce planning
Patient experience enhancement
High reliability operations (HRO)
Change management and process improvement
Interdisciplinary collaboration
Regulatory compliance and safety culture
Affiliations
Society of Vascular Nursing — Member
Certification
- RN — Virginia (Compact License)
- ANCC Cardiac Vascular Nurse Certification
- ANCC Nurse Executive Certification
- Basic Life Support (current)
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (current)
Timeline
Nurse Manager, Unit 2F
Richmond VAMC
10.2011 - CurrentRead More
Nursing Educator / Adjunct Faculty
Old Dominion University
05.2009 - 12.2010Read More
Clinical Nurse II
Sentara Health Systems
01.2009 - 10.2011Read More
Assistant Manager, Vascular Services
Sentara Health Systems
03.2002 - 12.2008Read More
Intensive Care Unit Staff Nurse
Sentara Health Systems
05.1998 - 03.2002Read More
Staff Nurse
Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center
09.1996 - 03.1998Read More
Staff Nurse
Sentara Health Systems
05.1994 - 05.1998Read More
Licensed Practical Nurse
Sentara Health Systems
08.1990 - 05.1994Read More
Licensed Practical Nurse
Saint Thomas Hospital
04.1989 - 08.1990Read More
Norfolk State University
BSN
Read More
Strayer University
MHA
Read More
Elizabeth Seton College
Diploma
Read More
PUBLICATION
Alarm Fatigue — The Joint Commission, The Source (March 2018)