Kim Hitchings is a shared governance and Magnet designation expert who serves as the manager of the Center for Professional Excellence at Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, PA.

Professional Role

Kim S. Hitchings, MSN, RN, NEA-BC manages the Center for Professional Excellence at Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA. In this role, she works closely with the senior vice president of Patient Care Services and other managers in a staff-assistive capacity to coordinate specific programs and assist with designated special projects. In particular, Kim facilitated the implementation of a shared governance model throughout the organization and continues to assure its ongoing maturation. Additionally, she has served as the primary investigator or team member for multiple nursing and interdisciplinary research studies, inclusive of shared decision-making and other programmatic/administrative and clinical topics.

Beyond her shared governance work, Kim serves as director for the Network’s Friends of Nursing Program, a philanthropic foundation established for the recognition and promotion of nursing. For 10 years, she coordinated all clinical services quality assurance and improvement activities. She currently serves as the Magnet Program director. In this capacity, she authored the original and redesignation Magnet applications and standard compliance evidence, coordinated the associated site visits, and on an ongoing basis authors all Magnet interim monitoring reports.

Education and Credentials

Kim earned a diploma from the Reading Hospital School of Nursing, Reading, PA, a baccalaureate degree in nursing from Cedar Crest College, Allentown, PA, and a masters degree in nursing administration from Villanova University, Villanova, PA. The American Nurses Credentialing Center has board-certified her as a nurse executive, advanced (NEA-BC).

Career and Expertise

Over the course of more than 40 years as a professional nurse, Kim has held roles as a medical surgical and critical care staff nurse, clinical educator, nursing education director, consultant in staff development, and manager for professional development and outcome studies. She maintains membership in Sigma Theta Tau International, the American Nurses Association, and the Pennsylvania Nurses Association.

Throughout her career, she has published extensively in professional texts and journals and has completed multiple paper and poster presentations at regional, national, and international meetings. Her expertise spans many areas, including shared governance, staff development, performance improvement, precepting and mentorship, Magnet Hospital designation, patient-centered care, and project management.