NOBC Letter from Leadership – Lisa Sundean

Care is, perhaps, the most fundamental fiduciary duty for board governance leaders in healthcare. Exercising sound judgment in decision-making based on expert knowledge and staying abreast of current political and regulatory circumstances, the duty to care aligns with nurses’ ethical obligation to care. Without care for others, the fiduciary duties of loyalty and obedience are moot.

The mission of nonprofit healthcare organizations is always focused on serving people in communities. As a board leader for nonprofit healthcare, professional, and civic organizations for over 25 years, care for those being served is my guiding beacon for boardroom discussions, deliberations, and decision-making.

I am honored to exercise the duty to care in advocacy to keep a hospital within access of its neediest population, in leadership to meet quality and safety standards, in promotion of access to nursing education and workforce development, in guiding board succession planning toward diverse perspectives, and in support of financial decisions to safeguard staffing levels.

During this month of giving thanks, I am grateful for the privilege to exercise my professional ethics through the board governance fiduciary duty to care. As the research leader with NOBC, I am grateful to engage care-full and innovative nurse researchers to advance governance leadership science with the mission to improve health in communities.

Lisa J. Sundean, PhD, MHA, RN, FAAN

Associate Professor and Director

Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies

Fairfield University

Research Leader for the Nurses on Boards Coalition