Four UnityPoint Health Nursing Leaders Named Becker’s ‘CNOs to Know’
Nov 13, 2024
UnityPoint Health is proud to announce four nursing leaders have been named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s “Chief Nursing Officers to Know” list for 2024.
Chief nursing officers (CNOs) are responsible for addressing nurse staffing challenges, managing budgets, and fostering growth opportunities for emerging nurses. They also play a leading role in shaping the future of nursing.
“It’s my honor to partner with UnityPoint Health CNO Sarah Brown in leading care delivery at UnityPoint Health, and we are extremely proud of all our nurse leaders recognized,” said UnityPoint Health Chief Medical Officer Gregory Johnson, MD. “it’s a privilege to have them lead our exceptional hospital nursing teams at UnityPoint Health.”
The UnityPoint Health nursing leaders recognized include:
Sarah Brown, MSN, RN, CAVRN, UnityPoint Health CNO (West Des Moines, Iowa)
As UnityPoint Health’s top nursing executive, Brown has played a pivotal role in developing a virtual nursing program that reimagines care delivery and supports staff retention post-pandemic. Under her guidance, UnityPoint Health became one of the first organizations nationwide to credential certified acute-care virtual registered nurses (CAVRN), showcasing the team’s capability to provide high-quality care in both physical and virtual settings.
Sherry Casali, RN, CNO and Vice President of Patient Care for UnityPoint Health – Meriter (Madison, Wis.)
Casali has nearly 35 years of nursing and leadership experience, including successfully managing the child and adolescent psychiatry and emergency services program. Under Casali’s leadership, UnityPoint Health – Meriter has maintained a 5-star quality rating from CMS for nine consecutive years. Her efforts in enhancing patient satisfaction and care quality led to UnityPoint Health – Meriter earning the “Outstanding Patient Experience” award from Healthgrades for three consecutive years from 2021-23.
Jane Denten, MSN, BSN, CNO for UnityPoint Health – Quad Cities (Rock Island, Ill.)
As CNO for UnityPoint Health – Quad Cities, Denten oversees nursing practice and leadership across UnityPoint Health’s Quad Cities area hospitals. With over 30 years of nursing experience, Denten leads service line growth and care standardization. She is focused on workforce development, strategic planning and advancing nursing careers through mentorship and residency programs.
Carmen Kleinsmith, MSN, RN, CNO of UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
Kleinsmith serves as the CNO of UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids, overseeing a board range of responsibilities that includes nursing practice, patient care delivery, research, performance improvement and pharmacy services. She also directly manages three key service lines: emergency services, the Women’s and Children’s Center, and acute adult and critical care. Kleinsmith began her journey as a nursing student and has advanced through various leadership roles, most notably contributing to St. Luke's hospital’s initial Magnet designation in 2009, and its subsequent re-designations in 2014, 2018 and 2023. Her leadership has been recognized with multiple accolades, including the Iowa Organization of Nurse Leaders “Outstanding Nurse Leader” award and the “100 Great Iowa Nurses” award.
The Becker's Hospital Review editorial team accepted nominations to compile this list. The full list features individual profiles of all CNOs.
Chief nursing officers (CNOs) are responsible for addressing nurse staffing challenges, managing budgets, and fostering growth opportunities for emerging nurses. They also play a leading role in shaping the future of nursing.
“It’s my honor to partner with UnityPoint Health CNO Sarah Brown in leading care delivery at UnityPoint Health, and we are extremely proud of all our nurse leaders recognized,” said UnityPoint Health Chief Medical Officer Gregory Johnson, MD. “it’s a privilege to have them lead our exceptional hospital nursing teams at UnityPoint Health.”
The UnityPoint Health nursing leaders recognized include:
Sarah Brown, MSN, RN, CAVRN, UnityPoint Health CNO (West Des Moines, Iowa)
As UnityPoint Health’s top nursing executive, Brown has played a pivotal role in developing a virtual nursing program that reimagines care delivery and supports staff retention post-pandemic. Under her guidance, UnityPoint Health became one of the first organizations nationwide to credential certified acute-care virtual registered nurses (CAVRN), showcasing the team’s capability to provide high-quality care in both physical and virtual settings.
Sherry Casali, RN, CNO and Vice President of Patient Care for UnityPoint Health – Meriter (Madison, Wis.)
Casali has nearly 35 years of nursing and leadership experience, including successfully managing the child and adolescent psychiatry and emergency services program. Under Casali’s leadership, UnityPoint Health – Meriter has maintained a 5-star quality rating from CMS for nine consecutive years. Her efforts in enhancing patient satisfaction and care quality led to UnityPoint Health – Meriter earning the “Outstanding Patient Experience” award from Healthgrades for three consecutive years from 2021-23.
Jane Denten, MSN, BSN, CNO for UnityPoint Health – Quad Cities (Rock Island, Ill.)
As CNO for UnityPoint Health – Quad Cities, Denten oversees nursing practice and leadership across UnityPoint Health’s Quad Cities area hospitals. With over 30 years of nursing experience, Denten leads service line growth and care standardization. She is focused on workforce development, strategic planning and advancing nursing careers through mentorship and residency programs.
Carmen Kleinsmith, MSN, RN, CNO of UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
Kleinsmith serves as the CNO of UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids, overseeing a board range of responsibilities that includes nursing practice, patient care delivery, research, performance improvement and pharmacy services. She also directly manages three key service lines: emergency services, the Women’s and Children’s Center, and acute adult and critical care. Kleinsmith began her journey as a nursing student and has advanced through various leadership roles, most notably contributing to St. Luke's hospital’s initial Magnet designation in 2009, and its subsequent re-designations in 2014, 2018 and 2023. Her leadership has been recognized with multiple accolades, including the Iowa Organization of Nurse Leaders “Outstanding Nurse Leader” award and the “100 Great Iowa Nurses” award.
The Becker's Hospital Review editorial team accepted nominations to compile this list. The full list features individual profiles of all CNOs.
