Dr. Thompson, chief nursing executive and senior vice president of patient care services for Phoenix Children’s, focuses on enhancing quality care and the patient experience at the hospital. She recently played a pivotal role in opening Phoenix Children’s Hospital–Arrowhead Campus, a new 175,000-square-foot facility that will serve up to 72,000 patients annually. Dr. Thompson also spearheaded the clinical nurse attending program, which places experienced nurse leaders in supervisory roles to intervene early in patient care, reducing serious safety events and enhancing clinical outcomes. Committed to addressing the nationwide nursing shortage, she helped launch an educational partnership with Arizona State University to provide hands-on pediatric training, significantly lowering turnover rates among new nurses. Dr. Thompson’s efforts also include extending Phoenix Children’s nurse residency program to 18 months, emphasizing robust curriculum and innovative training methods like virtual reality to better prepare nurses for real-world healthcare challenges.
