UT Southwestern’s Christi Nguyen, D.N.P., RN, NEA-BC, CENP, FACHE, Assistant Vice President and Associate Chief Nursing Officer of Nursing Excellence, has been named by the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) to its 2024 Class of Fellows.

Dr. Nguyen is among 221 nursing leaders recognized this year by the AAN for their substantial impact on health care, representing 37 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and 14 countries. The Fellows will be inducted Nov. 2 at the Academy’s annual Health Policy Conference in Washington, D.C.

Founded in 1973, the AAN has more than 3,000 Fellows. They represent nursing’s most accomplished leaders in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia.

“With exceptional subject matter expertise, each new Fellow will be vital to achieve the Academy’s mission of improving health and achieving health equity by impacting policy through nursing leadership, innovation, and science,” said Academy President Linda D. Scott, Ph.D., RN, NEA-BC, FNAP, FAAN. “Induction into the Academy represents the highest honor in nursing.”

This year, Dr. Nguyen is celebrating her 30th anniversary as a nurse, a career she aspired to since elementary school. Always enthusiastic about broadening her skill set through education and new experiences, she is intent on finding innovative ways to contribute to the well-being of patients.

She began working in oncology, moved on to geriatrics, both in an inpatient and home health care setting, and then bariatrics before turning her focus to wound care. Her years of study and practice in the specialty culminated with Dr. Nguyen realizing a career goal of building a wound care clinic from the ground up.

Prior to arriving at UTSW, she accepted a position where she served as Administrative Director of Medical-Surgical Nursing and later as Executive Director, overseeing nine nursing units. She and her team worked diligently to enhance patient and employee engagement scores, to standardize processes within their service line, and to improve that health system’s patient education and safety programs and outcomes.

In June 2022, she joined UT Southwestern as Assistant Vice President and Associate Chief Nursing Officer of Nursing Excellence. Dr. Nguyen said she came to UTSW because of the exceptional nursing program and its innovation, as well as the amazing opportunity to work with Susan Hernandez, D.N.P., M.B.A., RN, Associate Vice President and Health System Chief Nurse Executive at UTSW.

Since that time, Dr. Nguyen has helped standardize UT Southwestern’s Clinical Ladder Program and led its nursing team to its second Accreditation with Distinction for its Practice Transition Program from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She also started a nomination committee to help recogize nurses for their achievements, which has resulted in increased employee satisfaction, engagement, and appreciation. In addition, she was honored with a 2024 D Magazine Excellence in Nursing Award in the Leadership category.

Learn more about Dr. Nguyen in the Q&A below.

Why I chose nursing: At a young age, I spent a lot of time with the school nurse in addition to attending health fairs with my mom. At the health fairs, I was amazed by the care the nurses provided to the community. I chose to become a nurse because I wanted to make an impact on other people’s lives by giving compassionate care.

My job entails: As the Associate Chief Nursing Officer, I have the privilege of overseeing nursing clinical education and professional development, the Practice Transition Program, Magnet, nursing research, and professional practice.

My most significant career accomplishment at UTSW: I am proud to have played a part in getting our Practice Transition Program its second Accreditation with Distinction from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, as well as increasing the number of rewards and recognitions for our nurses.

What I love about UTSW: UT Southwestern strives for excellence and innovation. I love our culture at UTSW and how we are supported with plentiful opportunities for growth and development.

How I feel about being named a Fellow: I am very humbled and honored to join this prestigious group of nurses.

Plans under the fellowship: As a Fellow, I will continue to advocate for and advance nursing policies and practices.