Atrium Health Nursing
At Atrium Health, now part of Advocate Health, our work is more than a job; it’s a calling. And humanity is at the center of everything we do.
We are an organization committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Our nurses care for individuals, families and the community by providing support, treatment, counseling and health education where they are needed. We strive to be the first and best choice for nursing care and practice as part of our overall mission to improve health, elevate hope and advance healing – for all.
Our people — teammates, patients and community members alike — come first. Our vision is to be the national leader in health, learning and community. And because of this:
- We create spaces where all belong.
- We work as one team to make great things happen.
- We earn trust in all we do.
- We innovate for a better today and tomorrow.
- We strive for excellence – always.
What propels us forward is not only the goal of being a national leader but also championing compassion, embodying empathy and harnessing hope for all our patients. To achieve this, we start with building a diverse team that’s engaged, supported and valued.
Awards and Recognitions
- For four years in a row, Atrium Health has been recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for New Grads.
- The Atrium Health New Graduate Nurse Residency Program is accredited as a Practice Transition Program by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation in Practice Transition Programs.
- The American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) recognized Atrium Health with its notable Prism Award in 2022 for advancing diversity and inclusion efforts within the nursing profession, health care organization or community.
Ready to find your calling? Choose nursing at Atrium Health
Meet Our Chief Nurse
Janice Walker, DHA, MBA-HCM, BSN, RN, NEA-BC
Senior Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer - Advocate Health Southeast Region
Janice Walker is the Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for the Southeast Region of Advocate Health and is responsible for providing strategic leadership for all nursing and other designated patient care functions and services for Atrium Health, which comprises the entirety of Advocate Health’s Southeast Region. Janice joined Advocate Health in 2024. Her previous experience includes nursing and operational roles at Baylor Scott & White Health (BSW) and Texas Health Presbyterian in Texas, Freeman Neosho Hospital in Missouri, Slidell Memorial Hospital in Louisiana and National Park Medical Center (Tenet) in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Janice holds a doctorate degree in Health Care Administration focused on executive female health care leadership traits and is a Johnson & Johnson Wharton Fellow. Janice is a national speaker on topics such as transformational nursing leadership traits, service bundle care to increase patient satisfaction and driving quality through accreditation programs to promote care of at-risk population patients. Janice’s work has been published on driving to zero patient harm, tactics for strong candidate-centric nursing recruitment and retention, workplace violence, interdisciplinary team dialogue, driving service scores through such programs as open visitation, hard-wiring service and patient advocacy service councils.
Professional Practice
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Magnet Designation
The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program® distinguishes health care organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence. Magnet is the highest honor for professional nursing practice that engages, involves and benefits the entire organization and the patients it serves.
Atrium Health currently has two Magnet recognized hospitals with several others on the journey to designation.
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- Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center*– Magnet Designated (2013, 2018, 2023)
*including its outpatient clinics, as well as Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital, Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute and Atrium Health Mercy - Atrium Health Carolinas Rehabilitation – Magnet Journey
- Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center – Magnet Designated (2005, 2009, 2015, 2020)
- Atrium Health Lincoln – Magnet Journey
- Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center*– Magnet Designated (2013, 2018, 2023)
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Pathway to Excellence Designation
The American Nurses Credentialing Center Pathway to Excellence® Program is the premier designation for healthy work environments and recognizes health care organizations that demonstrate a commitment to establishing the foundation of a healthy workplace for nurses.
Atrium Health Cabarrus – Pathway to Excellence Designated (2024)
Atrium Health Navicent Peach – Pathway to Excellence Designated (2024)
Atrium Health Union, including Atrium Health Anson, Atrium Health Union West and Atrium Health Waxhaw freestanding emergency department - Pathway to Excellence Designated (2024)
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Professional Practice Model
Nurses from across the Southeast region designed and voted on the Professional Practice Model to represent nursing at Atrium Health. It’s part of fostering a culture of nursing excellence.
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Shared Governance Model
Shared Governance in the Southeast is a comprehensive and aligned regional model supporting the work of 19,000 nurses in the Southeast region. The four overarching principles are: partnership, equity, ownership and accountability. Each site, market and region will have councils working together to elevate the voice and shared decision-making of nursing at each level of practice at Atrium Health. We do this adhering to the broader philosophy and guiding principles of Advocate Health.
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New Graduate Registered Nurse Program
New graduate registered nurses at Atrium Health begin their careers with a supportive transition-to-practice experience that combines learning, clinical application and peer support. Led by a team of dedicated nurse educators, the program provides a solid foundation for clinical decision-making, interdisciplinary teamwork and communication and future career development.
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Advanced Practice Nursing
The Center for Advanced Practice (CAP) is an innovative advanced practice provider program initiated by Atrium Health. The program will give Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) robust, curriculum-based clinical training that will result in more confident, successful APPs.
Atrium Health Nursing Fund
Know a nurse who has touched your life or the lives of your loved ones in a meaningful way? Recognize outstanding nurses at Atrium Health by making them stars! Make a gift in honor of a nurse or nursing unit by contributing to the Atrium Health Nursing Fund, which supports nursing programs across the Great Charlotte region.
Our annual report contains operational news, community events, nurse highlights and more.
First Best Nurse Podcast
Nurses see the good, the bad and the ugly of all things medical. In this podcast, which is for and about nurses, we discuss a wide variety of topics, all nursing related. If you're curious about nursing, or are a nurse looking to find a podcast tailored to you, First Best Nurse Podcast is for you. You can listen here!