Kathie Krause, MSN, R.N., has been named chief nursing officer of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
Krause, who began her nursing career at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) in 1984, will return in her new role in January. She has served as chief nursing officer and vice president of Patient Care at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis for seven years.
“We are thrilled to have Kathie return to Vanderbilt, where she will be a strong advocate for patient- and family-centered care,” said Marilyn Dubree, MSN, R.N., executive chief nursing officer for VUMC.
“She is a tremendous leader who deeply understands our organization and our values and will bring Children’s Hospital to the next level of excellence.”
Krause received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Kent State University and her Master of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. She worked at Vanderbilt for seven years, and then held progressive nursing positions at Huntsville Hospital and Huntsville Hospital for Women and Children in Alabama before her appointment at Le Bonheur.
She said she is honored to return to Vanderbilt, where she will be closer to family and part of an academic environment.
“My main focus will be on patient care and supporting the nursing staff as well as other disciplines that serve the patients,” Krause said.
She started at Vanderbilt as a staff nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where she helped implement technological breakthroughs that greatly improved outcomes for infants.
She was part of the original team that established extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a method of long-term lung and/or heart support for patients with severe pulmonary and/or cardiac failure.
After graduating from VUSN, she became certified as neonatal nurse practitioner, a field about which she remains passionate.
“Kathie has a strong background as a leader in pediatric nursing, from her role as a staff nurse to senior administrator,” said Luke Gregory, chief executive officer of Children’s Hospital.
“Her proven leadership will support our growing network of locations and programs.”
Patient- and family-centric care will be among her main focuses.
“Gone are the days when parents were visitors,” Krause said. “They’re partners in the care of their children and we need to do everything we can to bring them in as an active member of the care team.”
