by Site Staff
December 20, 2005
Carol Maietta has spent four years as chief learning officer of the North Broward Hospital District, the fifth-largest public health care system in the United States. Her positive work ethic and implementation of innovative programs have led to numerous successes for the health system.
Before working as CLO, she was director of leadership and staff development, responsible for implementing a series of strategic staff and leadership development programs. Her current position as CLO involves planning for workforce succession, leadership development and university affiliations, as well as connecting all efforts to the corporate and regional strategic plans.
With industry concerns about nationwide shortages of nurses, high vacancy rates for key positions, low morale for employees and an aging workforce, Maietta has developed more than 40 initiatives that guarantee a strong workforce for the future. One in particular, the Online Refresher Nursing Program, uses a Web course setting to help nurses to transition comfortably back into their old positions. Another, “Spend a Day With a Nurse,” allows high-school students to be exposed to different units and offered scholarship information.
Maietta has also collaborated with the Broward County Chambers of Commerce in their national and international advertising campaign to highlight South Florida as a desirable place to start a career. Her efforts to increase evening, night and weekend clinical space has helped to increase the number of interns within the hospital as well.
As a result of these many initiatives, she has helped decrease the hospital’s vacancy rate from 15 percent to 5 percent. (Florida’s average rate is 9.9 percent.) This led to a reduction in agency dollars by 26 percent in 2004. These programs also have contributed to the addition of nearly 200 nurses and 200 other possible future management leaders. This positive impact has affected attendance in the Leadership Academy, mentoring program and workforce planning developments.