Few registered nurses can take a patient’s vitals, deliver quality
care then restructure a broad swath of a hospital’s operations to
improve wait times while lowering costs. Then again, not every R.N. is
Donald Wenzler, who became MCMC’s new Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)
on March 26, 2018.
During his 38-year career, the nursing veteran has excelled at merging
the clinical aspects of the job with the strategic mindset of a business
leader. Not surprising, since Wenzler touts an MBA alongside a Doctorate
of Nursing degree in executive clinical leadership.
“Donald has a history of effortlessly merging the strategic mind
of a top-notch manager with a nurse’s singular focus on care. MCMC’s
patients will benefit greatly from his experience and innovative ideas.
Our compassionate, highly-qualified team of nurses will have a creative
leader striving to make their outstanding work even better,” stated
MCMC President and CEO Dennis Knox.
Wenzler most recently served as Appraiser for the American Nurses Credentialing
Center’s international Magnet Recognition Program. He also worked
at Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster, Calif. There, the board-certified
Advanced Nurse Executive Wenzler helped lower waiting times, and introduced
patient-focused initiatives targeting everything from fall prevention
to readmission prevention focused on congestive heart failure and chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease.
MCMC’s staff will also benefit from Wenzler’s management experience
and leadership. His career includes 18 years serving as a CNO at various
hospitals and medical centers around the country, where he introduced
innovative cost-saving measures which increased quality and efficiency
while freeing up funds to help expand or improve care.
“Nurses plays a pivotal role in patient-centered care at MCMC,”
Wenzler said. “Due to their frequent interactions with patients,
nurses are perfectly positioned to advocate for the needs and desires
of patients and their families. I’m excited to work with MCMC staff
to enhance safe and reliable care, improve patient outcomes and leverage
our Planetree certification to create positive experiences for those we
are privileged to serve.”
He’s currently a member of Sigma Theta Tau’s International
Honor Society of Nursing, the American Organization of Nurse Executives
and the American Nurses Association.
Wenzler can also carry a tune; he’s been an active member of choirs
in many of the cities he’s called home — from St. Louis to
Corpus Christi.
Wenzler has a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Drexel University and
a Master of Business Administration from the University of Saint Thomas.
He succeeds Liesl Peterson, who served as interim CNO.