2024 APNA Award for Excellence in Leadership – RN

Gretchen Johnson, DNP, MSN, RN-BC

Nominated by Erin Macale, DNP, MSN-RN, CNL

“I didn’t see myself becoming a nurse or working in leadership,” Gretchen Johnson shares. “I graduated with a Human Services degree and imagined a career in social work. But, while working as a psych tech at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, my supervisor told me I would make a great PMH nurse. This comment changed the course of my career.”

After completing her nursing degree, Gretchen worked through a variety of PMH nursing roles at Pine Rest – from direct patient care at the bedside in pediatric and adult units, to Director of Nursing, and then Director of Education. Today, 24 years later, Gretchen leads Pine Rest as its Chief Nurse Executive – innovating mental health programs, driving education and enthusiasm for PMH nursing, and working to reduce mental health stigma.

Initially, Gretchen believed she could only make a real impact on patients at the bedside. She explains, “An interim leadership position came available and I cautiously accepted the role, but only because it was temporary. I knew I could quickly return to the floor.

But, I found myself pleasantly surprised at all I was able to accomplish, and the broader impact I could make in a leadership position.”

The interim Clinical Services Manager role became permanent, and over several years Gretchen managed two units and an adult partial hospitalization program (PHP) that was struggling. After assessing the offerings of the PHP, Gretchen worked to overhaul the program. Once the challenges were addressed, the PHP grew substantially and successfully – from around 10 patients at that time to an average of 40 patients today.

Later, Gretchen was alerted to the need for perinatal mental health services. She dove in to learn about the needs of this patient population and determine what they could build at Pine Rest to address the challenges of care. Five years later, Gretchen opened the new Pine Rest Mother and Baby Program. Patients came for treatment and support during the day and left to go home in the evenings – bringing their babies along with them. Gretchen says, “This allowed us to assess how Mom is doing, what other resources she might need, while observing and intervening in the moment. The program has been a success and has helped so many mothers over the past 12 years.”

In 2020, Gretchen was promoted to Chief Nurse Executive at Pine Rest and worked to form Nursing Grand Rounds – a quarterly program to help improve nursing education on mental health topics. “We created the program to reduce stigma and improve understanding of mental health topics among nurses – no matter where they work.” Pine Rest Nursing Grand Rounds sessions are built around experts presenting an identified case to discuss a wide variety of topics, including treating patients with a history of violence and addiction. The sessions are free, and all nurses can participate virtually or in-person to improve their education about mental health.

To attract more professionals to PMH nursing and reduce the cost barrier of nursing education, Gretchen formed collaborations with 12 nursing schools and launched the Pine Rest Academy for Nursing, which pays students up to $40,000 toward their nursing degree (Associates or Baccalaureate) while they work at Pine Rest during school and for two years following graduation. The program offers specialized training, while also providing mentoring to participating students. “I’m proud that we’ve helped 11 students graduate and become RNs, and 46 more are in the pipeline on their way through school,” Gretchen adds. “The Academy is helping address the shortage of workers in mental health by attracting more professionals to the field; improving nursing school attitudes toward PMH nursing; and helping Pine Rest attract and retain great PMH nursing talent.”

Gretchen’s next endeavor is to work further upstream to attract even more students to pursue careers in PMH nursing. She is now looking to develop externships that would allow high school students to shadow and learn about PMH nursing careers. To this end, Gretchen recently participated with nurses and recreational therapists from Pine Rest in Michigan Career Quest 2024, which allowed her team to talk with more than 8,000 students about future careers in PMH nursing and therapeutic recreation

Gretchen advises, “You never know when what you say or do will positively impact a patient, a student, or colleague for the rest of their lives. We have had nurses come from other fields and realize they would have worked in PMH nursing sooner if they knew about this career option earlier.”

However, Gretchen’s proudest certification was achieved in working with her golden retriever – Merry Puppins – to become a therapy dog. Merry now comes to work at Pine Rest every Tuesday to see patients, residents, and staff for pet therapy. Gretchen shares, “One day I brought Merry to an intensive care space, and a patient who was really struggling connected with Merry and began crying, and finally talking, because she was so happy. When you work in mental health, being a leader is challenging, so, this was one more way I found I could make a positive difference for staff and patients.”

In a PMH nursing leadership role, Gretchen is living her purpose – expanding awareness of and opportunities for careers in PMH nursing, ensuring PMH nurses are supported and have the resources to be successful in their work, and developing new programs that positively impact patient care.