Victoria George, RN, PhD, FAAN

george4Victoria George is president and CEO of VMG Consulting, a global consulting firm based in Milwaukee, WI and Denver, CO. Vicki is a nationally and internationally known speaker who has lectured extensively on creating the professional practice environment and shared leadership. Her passion for shared decision-making and shared governance implementation has provided the framework for her consulting services for the past 10 years. Examples of her international work includes collaboration with Dr. Tim Porter O’Grady on nursing and whole systems shared governance in Brazil, Dr. Kodera’s leadership exchange in Japan, Dr. Linda Aiken on the journey to nursing excellence in Russia, and Magnet education in Korea.

Vicki has been a chief nurse executive for over 23 years. While the regional VP/CNE for Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, she led the first hospital system to Magnet designation. Before her current role as CEO of VMG Consulting, she was the SVP/CNO for Catholic Health Initiatives, a 68-facility health system based in Denver, CO.

Vicki began her long association with the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Magnet program appraiser, then shifted her focus to assisting facilities and systems embarking on the journey to nursing excellence and Magnet designation. She expertly guides organizations in assessing their application readiness, identifying sources of evidence, and validating how well a process, practice, or program is developed, disseminated, and enculturated within the organization. She challenges nursing staff to transform their practice environment through shared governance, shared decision-making, peer review, evidence-based practice, and nursing research. She has assisted more than 58 organizations obtain Magnet recognition. Vicki is also a frequent instructor for ANCC’s popular Journey to Nursing Excellence and Magnet Designation, a two-day workshop and a national speaker at the Magnet National Conference.

Vicki earned a nursing diploma from Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing, a BSN from Salve Regina College in Newport, RI, a masters in nursing administration from Boston University, and a PhD in organizational leadership from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. A graduate of the Wharton School for Nurse Executives, and the Kellogg School for Executive Women, she is also a member of the American Academy of Nursing , American Organization of Nurse Executives , Wisconsin Organization of Nurse Executive , Sigma Theta Tau, American Nurses Association , Wisconsin Nurses Association (WNA) and American College of Health Care Executives.

ANCC’s Institute for Credentialing Innovation has released the long-awaited Guide for Establishing Shared Governance: A Starter’s Toolkit, by Vicki M. George, RN, PhD, FAAN, and Barbara Haag-Heitman, RN, PhD, PHCNS, BC, both members of the Forum’s Advisory Board. This toolkit, which includes the Index of Professional Nursing Governance and the Index of Professional Governance, will help nursing leaders understand the principles needed to implement shared governance. It presents practical guidelines and tools necessary to design or reinvent shared governance structures and processes. Visit ANCC’s marketplace for more information.