Theresa Trivette ’10

GWU Master of Science in Nursing helped alumna achieve career goals

“The instructors were always available and always supportive. They encouraged and guided along the way. They kept you motivated and the coursework made you challenge yourself.”

Theresa Trivette, a 2010 alumna of Gardner-Webb University, is chief nursing officer of Florida Hospital Tampa. Her responsibilities at the 536-bed hospital focus on providing quality nursing and meeting patients’ needs. “For nursing, this means creating an environment where nurses have educational opportunities that help build on the professional development of our nursing corps,” she explained. “For our patients, my role ensures we are bringing the best practices to the hospital that would ensure high quality care. For patient outcomes, my role is to ensure our clinical teams deliver on the promise that we give the right care every time to every patient.”

Trivette began her nursing career in emergency and trauma services. After nine years in the field, she desired to have a greater influence on the quality of her profession. The first step to pursuing her goal was earning her Master of Science in Nursing from GWU. She enrolled in the online program, because it allowed her to work full time and complete assignments on her own schedule.

“The self-directed learning really helped me dig deep into areas that were of interest to me and build my own knowledge,” Trivette observed. “We had certain assignments, but I could learn more about topics that interested me. The instructors were always available and always supportive. They encouraged and guided along the way. They kept you motivated and the coursework made you challenge yourself.”

The curriculum prepared her to continue her educational journey, earning her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the Medical University of South Carolina where she graduated with top honors. Her first administrative position was director of Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement at Wake Forest Baptist Health in North Carolina. She also served as associate vice president of Quality, Evidence-Based Care and Health Information Management at Tidelands Health in South Carolina.

She currently serves on the board of examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s highest recognition awarded to organizations for performance excellence. She is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and American Organization of Nurse Executives. “I’ve always been service oriented and wanted to help people,” Trivette acknowledged. “I want to inspire other nurses to do their very best.”