Getting to Know Linda Lawson
Introducing the interim chief nursing officer at UF Health Jacksonville.
In May, Linda Lawson, DBA, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, stepped into the role of interim chief nursing officer at UF Health Jacksonville, following the retirement of Patrice Jones, DNP, RN, NE-BC, who served as vice president and chief nursing officer for more than a decade. Lawson holds a doctorate of business administration and a master’s of science in nursing. She is aboard-certified nurse executive with extensive experience leading operations and complex projects within health care settings. Lawson brings nearly 30 years of diverse experience in health care to this new role.
The foundation
Prior to being named interim CNO, Lawson was the associate vice president of nursing at UF Health North for six years, but her history in nursing and at UF Health began long before that.
Lawson graduated from the University of North Florida in the early 1990s and started her career as a registered nurse, following in her mother’s footsteps, who was an infection prevention nurse at UF Health when it was called University Hospital. During this initial part of her career, she gained experience in various units, including the cardiac step-down unit, perioperative recovery room, labor and delivery, and intensive care units. She was also an advocate for implementing the 12-hour nursing shift that we know today.
Lawson’s talent and hard work was quickly recognized by her peers and supervisors. She rapidly advanced in her career, becoming a nurse manager at the new labor and delivery unit at Baptist Beaches and eventually accepting a promotion to role of director.
Despite her tenacious spirit to advance her career, family is first in Lawson’s book. When her son Brett was diagnosed with a brain tumor at a young age, Lawson took a leave of absence to care for him. Thankfully, treatments were successful and Brett recovered with no recurring issues. Years later, Brett joined the medical profession, becoming a doctor. Today, he works as the medical director at UF Health Family Medicine – Callahan.
Prior to being named interim CNO, Lawson was the associate vice president of nursing at UF Health North for six years.
Joining the UF Health Family
In 2004, several years after Lawson reentered the workforce, she applied for a position at UF Health Jacksonville, which was then known as Shands Hospital. During her time at UF Health, she quickly advanced into nursing management, where she accomplished goals such as the initiation of the Magnet Unit Council structure alongside the CNO at that time. In 2011, UF Health Jacksonville received its first Magnet designation, which Lawson led as nursing division director.
“One of my proudest moments was overseeing UF Health Jacksonville’s initial Magnet designation,” Lawson said. “It was a long journey and I was so proud of our nursing staff for accomplishing this incredible goal.”
Between 2012-2014, Lawson left UF Health to further grow her career and served as CNO at South Georgia Medical Center. However, Lawson’s heart and passion remained in Jacksonville and she sought to return to UF Health. In August 2014, Lawson returned to UF Health as a division director.
In 2017, Lawson accepted the role of associate vice president of nursing at UF Health North. While in this role, Lawson continued to excel by building a collaborative nursing team and engaging in the highest hospital standards for our patients. She also played a major role in the successful opening of the first inpatient care tower at UF Health North and led her teams to maintain high levels of patient satisfaction.
One major accomplishment Lawson is proud of during her time at UF Health North was her initiative to improve and change the culture of nursing surrounding taking breaks. She facilitated a “restorative break” research study. While promoting the components of the study, Linda encouraged the staff to take a quick break from their unit to help improve their overall mental and physical well-being. Lawson published, “On the Restorative Break, Understanding the Role of Breakroom Design on Nurse Engagement and Satisfaction” in Workplace Health & Safety in March 2023.
Linda celebrates with the UF Health Jacksonville nursing team for Nurses Week 2023.
Moving forward with a plan
As Lawson steps into her new role as interim CNO, she aims to rally the nursing staff and be a visible leader they can trust and rely on. As we move forward from the past few years, Lawson wants the nursing teams to know they are appreciated and supported.
One of her main goals will be filling open positions throughout the nursing units and focusing on quality. Lawson also wants to support new nurses and ensure they have the resources and training they need to succeed in their new roles, as well as understand the goals and needs of more seasoned nurses.
When Lawson isn’t working hard at UF Health, she is a proud Gator and season ticket holder to the University of Florida football games. She also enjoys relaxing at the beach. Lawson and her husband, Danny, have been married for almost 37 years and are proud to share that they were recently promoted to grandparents after their son, Brett, and his wife, Brittany, welcomed their daughter Brooke.
Lawson wants to leave nurses with this quote of encouragement:
“Start by doing what is necessary; then do what is possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” – Saint Francis of Assisi
Linda with her granddaughter, Brooke
