If you think superheroes only wear capes, think again. Some are nursing legends with a can-do attitude, an unshakable belief in teamwork, and a secret power to make things happen. Meet Bethany Robertson, Clinical Executive at Wolters Kluwer, Health Learning Research and Practice. Since 1989, she’s been harnessing her superpowers of energy, vision, and people-power.
Robertson’s Superhero Name? The Activator
And trust us: once she’s on the case, no idea is too big, and no project too complicated.
I bring energy, vision, and people to ideas/projects to achieve an outcome, she saysand it’s not just talk. Whether she’s helping an academic medical center solve a complex training challenge or building bridges across healthcare organizations worldwide, Robertson’s influence is felt far beyond hospital walls.
From Junior Volunteer to Global Nurse Leader
Robertson’s nursing story started before her first day of nursing school.
Her parents worked in healthcare, and Robertson spent her childhood immersed in hospital talk around the dinner table and volunteering at local hospitals.
I was a junior volunteer and received an award for volunteering the most hours one year! she recalls.
When she entered nursing school, Robertson knew her path: she was drawn to midwifery and its continuous, full-circle care model.
I loved the idea of being part of all the different care experiences, she says.
Today, Robertson doesn’t provide hands-on patient care, but don’t let that fool you.
In my clinical executive role, globally, I support academic and healthcare organizations as they seek solutions to solve challenges they are experiencing, she explains. Instead of supporting patients, I am supporting the infrastructure and organizations that support those providing direct care.
It’s nursing on a macro scaleand it’s just as personal and powerful.
The Power of Presenceand Tough Love
Ask Robertson what makes a great nurse, and she’ll tell you it’s more than clinical skill: it’s presence, endurance, and the ability to meet people at their most vulnerable.
Every moment of being a nurse is powerful because you can help others in need, she says.
Whether helping a post-op patient heal or supporting a healthcare team through organizational change, Robertson never forgets that healing isn’t always just physical.
Sometimes [patients’] physical ailments are not the true source of their pain, she says. As a nurse, you need to listen in a way beyond hearing them describe their location and the character of their pain.
Robertson’s nursing instincts still shine outside of work, especially her tough love side.
We know when something is really an emergency and do not easily get pulled into hysteria or drama, she jokes. (Everyone needs a nurse in the familyespecially during a crisis!)
Robertson’s Secret Power? Being a Master Connector
If Robertson has a signature move, it’s her ability to connect people, ideas, and solutions.
My super skill is being a connector/bridge builder, she says. I often work across diverse teams and professions in a way that brings them together.
That, and a serious ability to power through tough days with a can-do attitude and a recharge strategy that’s as grounded as it gets: spending time in nature.
I marvel at nature and how it all works together, reminding me there is a greater plan and this knowledge brings me peace and calm, she says.
A Message to Every Nurse: Remember Your Why
As a mentor to the next generation, Robertson has powerful advice: Remember why you chose to be a nurse. Try to craft your day so you can do those things that bring joy to work, which can sometimes be challenging. If you are not joyful in what you are doing, it may be time to make a change. Last time I checked, nurses can do anything and are hired to do everything, so there are no limits to what you can do!
Her hope for the future of nursing? Diversity, inclusion, and endless possibility.
I see people entering the profession with diverse professional and cultural backgrounds, and it excites me to think about the impact they can have on the profession and industry, she says. I am hopeful the generation of nurses before them embraces their diversity and leverages their talents.
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