CNO / VP Patient Care Services
Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas
Dallas, TX
Dr. Cole Edmonson, DNP, RN, FACHE, NEA-BC has a career spanning two decades with roles including direct care nurse, supervisor, manager, director, associate chief nursing office, and his current position of chief nursing officer / vice president at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. He is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and Nursing Executive Advanced-Board Certified by ANCC. He completed his BSN and MSN at Oklahoma University College of Nursing and his Doctor of Nursing Practice at Texas Christian University.
He is a contributor to the literature, locally and nationally in the area of leadership, succession planning, research, moral courage, nurse bullying, and Magnet. His most recent contributions to the literature over the last year, included four articles the most recent being two articles, one on moral courage in nurse leaders (a topic previously unexplored in the literature) and the second on balancing the interest of hospitals and academic researchers. He coauthored a career pathway development system for a large for-profit healthcare company in the US focusing developing educators, leaders, and expert clinicians. Edmonson is a speaker in the academic and professional settings, locally and nationally on topics ranging from Magnet, research, leadership, succession planning, moral courage, nurse bullying, customer service, and the IOM future of nursing. He is the creator of www.STOPBULLYINGNURSES.com, where he provides a comprehensive site and links to resources, blogs, stories of both bullying and heroes, and campaigns for an end to this problem in nursing.
Edmonson is a true nursing advocate who believes, espouses, and actively works to create leaders at the bedside and empower them to lead. He creates environments where nurses are valued, respected, have integrity of practice, and clearly demonstrate their contributions at levels. He has lead two organizations to Magnet Re-designation in the DFW area, one being the first to accomplish this in the area, and the second being the 4th to be re-designation in Dallas. Edmonson was also a founding member of a national nursing research network for a for-profit hospital company of over 150 hospitals nationwide. Currently he is a co-investigator on a study on genomics in nursing practice. He is a mentor to staff nurses and both emerging and experienced leaders in healthcare, with his influence being felt outside of nursing. He was the primary architect of the “Just” Culture created in a large facility in Dallas and continues that role as the Safe Choices (Just Culture) Champion in his current facility.
Edmonson partners closely with academia serving as adjunct faculty for UTA and TWU nursing schools masters programs. He is very involved in his community and profession. He is the vice-president of the DFW Great 100 Nurses Inc., which is a voluntary organization that has recognized 2100 nurses over the last 21 years for their contributions in the community, of which he was selected in 2003 as a recipient. He dedicates his time to serving on local boards of colleges and universities to help shape the future and propel the profession of nursing forward. He was selected for the Texas Team, Advancing Practice Team Co-lead and a member of the executive committee. The Texas Team is the Action Coalition with RWJF responsible for moving forward the Institute of Medicines recommendations on the future of nursing. He is President-elect for the Texas Organization of Nurse Executives and the president of the North Texas chapter. He serves as a member of the AONE Foundation Committee for AONE. He has been recognized for his leadership as the TNA District 4 nurse of the year, the winner of the Nurseweek Excellence Awards – Leadership Category, DMagazine Nursing Excellence Award in Leadership, and the Nursing Management Magazine Visionary Nurse Leader of the year.