As I look back over my 12 years as CEO of Kirby Bates Associates (KBA) I am honored to carry on an exciting nursing leadership legacy. The creativity, talent and determination of Nursing Leaders and the vision of the important role a Nursing led consulting firm can bring to healthcare have made KBA a respected leader in Nursing Excellence consulting.
KBA was founded as Bates & Associates in 1988 by two nurse entrepreneurs. The legacy of being a nursing led company continued through 2003 when I acquired the company and changed the name to Kirby Bates Associates to honor the past and set the stage for the future. That foundation of being a nursing led company continues today.
The primary focus of Bates & Associates was Executive Search for Nurse Directors and Managers, as well as some CNO positions. Valuing quality leadership, successful nursing leaders felt their perspective and experience helped identify nursing talent and supported organizations in developing successful nursing leadership teams.
I have enjoyed a career focused on supporting innovations and excellence in nursing leadership and nursing practice. I am proud to have contributed at a national and international level to the growth in nursing practice knowledge and leadership through the leadership roles I have held in healthcare and professional organizations, publications and an array of other professional activities .
When I took the reins and formed KBA, I had three primary goals:
To elevate the level of Executive Search to predominantly CNO and Director level searches.
To offer a continuum of nursing leadership services, including Search, Interim Management, Nursing Leadership Coaching and Consulting, with a focus on long term client relationships and helping clients with the multiple challenges of developing and sustaining strong Nursing organizations.
To ultimately contribute to quality nursing and patient care through superior nursing leadership.
Building exceptional healthcare teams one leader at a time
I am proud of the contributions KBA has made to nursing and healthcare leadership all around the country. We have demonstrated the value that a Nursing led consulting firm plays in helping healthcare organizations transform the way healthcare is delivered through exceptional leadership teams. Our experience brings value and ROI for our clients.
As we continue to be a leader in Nursing and Healthcare Leadership Transformation, I look forward to the KBA team being a vital partner in leading innovation, clinical leadership excellence, and value in a patient centered healthcare environment across the continuum of care.
