Gena Christensen: clinical excellence and the desire to make a difference

When Gena Christensen thinks of why she chose to work in healthcare, she reflects on hanging out at the hospital with her grandpa. He was a surgeon. 

“I would sit in the nurse's break room and wait for him to do rounds,” Gena said. “When the nurses weren't busy, they used to talk to me, give me treats, and were people I looked up to.”

Now as Intermountain Health's executive clinical director of the acute and ambulatory medical specialties clinical program, Gena seeks to continue a tradition of delivering safe, best-in-quality care - especially for nurses.

“From a young age I decided I wanted to be like them when I grew up,” she said. “My grandpa also spoke highly of nurses and the important role they play with the patients.”

Clinical excellence is an Intermountain value that resonates deeply with Gena. She said it captures the fundamental principles of nursing practice and our commitment to our patients' well-being.

“As a nurse leader, I am invested in cultivating a culture of clinical excellence within our organization. This involves setting and maintaining high standards of care, continuously evaluating our practices, and adopting and spreading evidence-based approaches to drive positive patient outcomes," she said. “This value reflects my dedication to upholding the highest standards of excellence as a healthcare professional.”

To Gena, the only pre-requisite to becoming a nurse leader is a nursing license and a desire to make a difference. 

“I would encourage anyone who has that desire get into nursing leadership,” she said. 

It was difficult for Gena to make the transition from bedside nurse to nurse leader. She loved the individual interactions with patients and the immediate knowledge that she had helped make a difference. 

“I realized as a nurse leader, I can still make that difference with patients but on a bigger scale,” she said.

Gena suggests nurse leaders make a difference for a whole population of patients by creating a culture of excellence and implementing evidence-based practice. She said we can also make a rewarding difference in caregivers' lives by creating a culture of safety, recognition and team collaboration.

For 26 years at Intermountain, Gena is grateful to have worked with so many great people in so many different areas whose values align closely with her own. These values, she says, emphasize clinical excellence, caregiver well-being, and a patient-centered approach.

“These are important to me,” Gena said. “As a nurse leader, I feel supported when I put the patient's and caregiver's needs first. I believe that Intermountain has a strong commitment to delivering exceptional care, fosters personal and professional development and has invested in me and my success.”

When Gena isn't leading, she's drawing.

“I love to do pencil drawings and have just started to venture out into painting. It is a great way for me to relax and use the more creative side of my brain.” she said.

Gena also enjoys restoring antique furniture.

“Endless sanding can be therapeutic,” she said.

While Gena has lived across the globe (her favorite place was Nairobi, Kenya), home is now in Mount Sterling, Utah, with a husband who makes her laugh, two kids who make her proud, and four grandkids who bring her joy.