Pennsylvania Nurse, Front Page 2017 Issue 3

PSNA Member Highlight Tamra Minton, MSN, MBA, RN Vice President Patient Care & CNO UPMC East Tamra, please tell our readers about yourself: I was born and raised in West Virginia and now have a home in Penn Town- ship. I started my nursing career in 1981 after graduating with a BSN from Alderson-Broaddus University in Philippi, WV. My fi rst positions included trauma-surgical ICU and the emergency department. I always knew that I wanted to move into a leadership position. After six years as a staff nurse, I accepted a position as a house supervisor. This led to becoming an ICU nurse director. After 14 years in acute nursing, I moved to home health and hospice where I opened a hospital-based home health/infusion company. After realizing that I needed to learn more about business, I went back to school and earned my MBA from Waynesburg University. In 2003, I returned to acute care in the hospital as director of care manage- ment. Shortly after returning, I became the vice president of patient care and chief nurse offi cer. In 2007, I complet- ed my MSN at Waynesburg University. Until then, my career had been based in West Virginia. I learned that UPMC was building a hospital in Monroeville, PA. I saw this as a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of new hospital. It was an opportunity to build a brand new team committed to patient care. In 2011, I became the CNO and VP of patient care at UPMC East in Monro- eville. It has been an amazing opportunity to be in Pennsylvania, meet new colleagues, and continue my nursing career. Why did you become a nurse? My mother worked for a surgeon from age 18 until her retirement. Although she always wanted to be a nurse, she couldn’t afford college. She was my inspiration to become a candy striper and continue into nursing. I am passionate about patients and advocating for the best quality patient care for our communities. Do you have a story that you would like to share that deeply impacted your career? When I was in high school, my grandmother had a stroke that resulted in aphasia. She was an amazing woman who loved sharing stories with her children and grandchildren. However, she lost the ability to do what she loved. I would watch her struggle for words as tears came to her eyes. I couldn’t imagine how diffi cult it was for her. Therefore, I have a special place in my heart for victims of stroke. Issue 3 2017 Pennsylvania Nurse 18

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