PeaceHealth names Michelle James, BSN, RN as senior vice president for patient care services and chief nursing officer

James is an experienced nurse executive with an extensive career at Providence St. Joseph Health. Her nursing journey includes a diverse portfolio of clinical roles – from nursing homes to critical care units, from critical access hospitals to quaternary care referral centers. She has held VP of operations roles as well as senior nursing leader roles at both the regional and system levels for Providence. Her most recent accountability leading the Providence St. Joseph Nursing Institute gave her an opportunity to oversee nursing practice innovation across more than 50 hospitals and that experience positions her well to bring an abundance of ideas and transformative energy to PeaceHealth.

“I am excited for this chance to use my skills and talent in an organization that embraces change, supports the vision of nursing excellence and embodies the faith traditions of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace,” said James. “I am grateful to join a team that sees leadership as service to the frontline caregivers.”

James earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Washington Governors University and her master’s degrees in Management and Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She has been active in the Washington Center for Nursing and the Catholic Healthcare Association. She serves on the nursing advisory boards for multiple nursing schools and universities in the Pacific Northwest. She has twice been awarded the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year award and has received the PRIDE lifetime service award.

James joins a PeaceHealth nursing leadership team that already has talented and proven leaders guiding nursing practice at facilities across the system, and together this team will work to build sustainable nursing models for the future.

James will be based at PeaceHealth’s system office in Vancouver, Washington. She will officially join the organization on Monday, Sept. 12

About PeaceHealth:  PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a not-for-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. PeaceHealth has approximately 16,000 caregivers, a medical group practice with more than 900 providers and 10 medical centers serving both urban and rural communities throughout the Northwest. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. The Sisters shared expertise and transferred wisdom from one medical center to another, always finding the best way to serve the unmet need for healthcare in their communities. Today, PeaceHealth is the legacy of the founding Sisters and continues with a spirit of respect, stewardship, collaboration and social justice in fulfilling its Mission. Visit us online at peacehealth.org