Published: July 18, 2008 11:16 pm            

Mercy names UCO grad chief nursing officer

EDMOND — Mercy Health Center has named Linda Fanning, as the hospital’s chief nursing officer.

As a director of nursing at Mercy since 2003, Fanning played a big role in leading Mercy to Magnet status in 2005 — the first hospital in Oklahoma to receive the gold standard in nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Prior to her stint as nursing director at Mercy, Fanning served as director of nursing at Deaconess Hospital.

For 13 years, Fanning worked as a floor nurse at Mercy and other metro hospitals — from ICU to rehab, and oncology to home care. Born into an extended family of nurses, Fanning knew at a young age that she would be a nurse. In 1979, only five years after Mercy opened its new hospital on Memorial Road, Fanning worked as a nurse tech, then came on as a team leader in 1981, opening a brand-new ortho/neuro unit.

“Nursing is rewarding in a way I can’t even define,” said Fanning, who has served as Mercy’s interim chief nursing officer since February. “I am honored to lead our team of nurses and I strongly believe in all nurses having a voice in how we better care for our patients. They are at the bedside every day, ensuring our loved ones get the very best care.”

Fanning received her bachelor’s in nursing from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1980, later completing a master’s in nursing administration at the University of Oklahoma in 1998. Fanning, who grew up in Ponca City, has lived in Oklahoma City since 1980 with her husband Tom. She has two grown sons, and in her spare time enjoys trail biking, yoga, traveling and gardening.

“Linda has served as interim CNO for many months and besides her evident experience, compassionate spirit and strong leadership, she is a great fit for Mercy because she already embraces the Mercy values,” said Jeff Johnston, Mercy’s chief operating officer. “She will lead our team of nurses to make the Mercy difference every day.”

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.