Joel D. Ray: Pioneering Change in Healthcare Leadership as Chief Clinical Advisor at Laudio
In the rapidly evolving landscape of healthcare, the role of nurse managers has transformed dramatically. Once viewed primarily as charge nurses, these professionals now operate as the CEOs of multi-million-dollar departments, shouldering responsibilities that extend far beyond clinical care. At the forefront of this evolution is Joel D. Ray, Colonel (Ret.), USAF, NC, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, who serves as the Chief Clinical Advisor at Laudio. With over 40 years of nursing and health system management experience, Ray is uniquely positioned to influence the future of healthcare leadership.
The Evolution of Nurse Managers
As a seasoned Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) with more than two decades of experience, Ray has witnessed firsthand the transformation of the nurse manager role. Today, these leaders are tasked with ensuring clinical quality, patient satisfaction, financial performance, employee engagement, and operational efficiency. They are the linchpins of hospitals, guiding teams that often exceed 100 individuals—larger than many small businesses in the U.S. Despite their critical role, the tools and processes available to support nurse managers have lagged behind, treating them more like task managers than the strategic leaders they are.
Navigating Workforce Expectations
In addition to the challenges posed by inadequate tools, nurse managers are also grappling with shifting workforce expectations. Research from Gallup indicates that newer generations of employees are less attached to organizations and more inclined to view their workplace relationships as consumer-like. They seek managers who act as coaches rather than traditional bosses, emphasizing the need for relationship-based leadership. Ray asserts that this approach not only enhances employee engagement but also fosters manager resilience. High-performing teams contribute to the resilience of their leaders, creating a virtuous cycle that drives both manager and team performance forward.
The Importance of Relational Leadership
For teams to excel, it is essential that managers invest time in understanding their employees as individuals. This requires a level of relational leadership that is often hindered by administrative burdens. Ray emphasizes the need for healthcare leaders to integrate technology that allows managers to focus on relationship-building rather than being bogged down by routine tasks. By harnessing technology, nurse managers can create a supportive environment that nurtures employee engagement and satisfaction.
Investing in High-Tech Solutions for High-Touch Leadership
While it may seem counterintuitive, Ray advocates for healthcare organizations to invest in high-tech solutions that support high-touch leadership. Emerging AI-powered technologies and large language models can help incorporate leadership best practices into everyday workflows, allowing managers to automate mundane tasks and focus on what truly matters: their teams and patients. By streamlining administrative processes, technology can create the space needed for managers to engage meaningfully with their staff.
Streamlining Nurse Managers’ Workflows
To enhance manager resilience, it is crucial to focus on the primary workflows that define their daily leadership activities. Technology should aid in integrating leadership best practices into these workflows, enabling managers to prioritize what truly matters. For instance, employee rounding and engagement can be transformed through technology that moves check-ins from outdated HR systems to managers’ desktops, facilitating seamless follow-ups and real-time feedback.
Employee Engagement and Culture Building
One of the key areas where technology can make a significant impact is in employee engagement. By utilizing customizable surveys and analytics, nurse managers can capture employee sentiment and identify trends, allowing for timely interventions that foster a positive workplace culture. This proactive approach to engagement is far superior to relying on annual surveys, which often leave managers scrambling to address issues long after they arise.
Time and Attendance Management
Time and attendance management is another area where nurse managers often struggle. The cumbersome process of merging scheduling systems and personnel records can be overwhelming. Ray advocates for the use of large language models to streamline this process, linking data points and providing actionable recommendations that promote accountability and equity. By alleviating the administrative burden, managers can focus on meaningful conversations with their employees, addressing issues that impact engagement and productivity.
Personal and Professional Development
With large spans of control, nurse managers face the daunting task of overseeing the personal and professional growth of each team member. Technology can play a pivotal role in this area by providing a comprehensive view of employee performance and development opportunities. By automating the evaluation process and facilitating meaningful recognition, managers can elevate employee engagement and commitment to the organization.
Enhancing Patient Rounding
Leader patient rounding is a recognized best practice that can significantly improve clinical outcomes and patient experiences. However, many organizations lack the technology to support consistent rounding practices. Ray emphasizes the need for integrated systems that facilitate easy tracking of patient movements and concerns, allowing managers to address issues promptly and celebrate team successes.
The Path Forward for Healthcare Leaders
As the backbone of hospital operations, nurse managers require robust support to thrive in their roles. Ray advocates for a paradigm shift in how healthcare organizations approach managerial support. By adopting high-tech solutions that streamline administrative tasks and enhance workflows, organizations can empower nurse managers to focus on their teams and patients.
The future of healthcare hinges on the well-being of nurse managers. By investing in technology that supports high-touch leadership, organizations can foster a more engaged, satisfied, and high-performing workforce. It is time to equip nurse leaders with the tools they need to lead with excellence, transforming them from task managers into the strategic leaders they are meant to be.
About Joel D. Ray
Joel D. Ray, Colonel (Ret.), USAF, NC, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, serves as the Chief Clinical Advisor at Laudio. With a wealth of experience in nursing and health system management, including his previous role as Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at UNC Rex, Ray is dedicated to advancing the field of healthcare leadership. His extensive background, including 26 years in the United States Air Force Nurse Corps, positions him as a thought leader in the ongoing evolution of nursing management and patient care.