Robin Hack is Director of Nursing II—Clinical Education, Life Support Education and Emergency Resuscitative Services. She joined Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist in 1978 and is responsible for operations and strategic direction for the Wake Forest Baptist Market for nursing education, professional development and many other areas. She also serves on Nursing Professional Development Integration teams with nursing leaders from the Advocate Midwest and Southeast Regions to discover synergies, best practice opportunities and more to standardize and optimize business practices.
What does Women’s History Month mean to you?
Women’s History Month is an opportunity to pause, reflect, remember and recognize women who have made an impact with their lives. Many in history were instrumental in easing women’s suffering related to racial equality, educational rights, equal rights and care for mankind.
From history, a few notable women come to mind. As a nurse, I think of Clara Barton who risked her life during the Civil War to care for wounded soldiers and founded the American Red Cross. As a nurse and mother, I think of Mother Teresa who founded “The Missionaries of Charity,” focused on caring for those without caregivers, as well as her being a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her accomplishments in working to ease human suffering.
We hear about women’s accomplishments via history and today’s news, yet countless women serve behind the scenes impacting the lives of others every day. Every woman has the opportunity to impact the lives of others, and many do just that. Without my mother, my girlfriends and my nursing teammates, I would not be who I am today. It may be the encouraging words of one woman planted as a seed in your mind that makes the difference to you taking a leap of faith to strive for what you think may be impossible. My family would often use the quote from the English writer John Heywood: “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
Women’s History Month celebrates and reflects on the contributions of women to United States history. Who is a leader that inspires you and why?
I am inspired by the many quotes from Maya Angelou. This one in particular resonates with me: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Also, Dr. Pam Cipriano has been an inspiration to me professionally for many years. I served as nursing leader for Nursing Informatics at Wake Forest Baptist for 20 years and had the pleasure of meeting her at a HIMSS conference. She is personable, professional, extremely intelligent and dedicated to improving working conditions, quality and services in the nursing environment. These are also my passions–improving working conditions, quality and services in nursing.
At Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, we create a space where ALL Belong. How do you see Wake Forest Baptist fostering an environment where ALL Belong?
I love our Atrium Health Culture Commitments and strive to exemplify them in my interactions. I see Wake Forest Baptist fostering an environment where ALL belong visible within many departments. Talent Acquisition reaches out to area schools to share the wonderful employment opportunities for ALL here. Human Resources Onboarding recently implemented a New Teammate Orientation program, which has been successful in welcoming and connecting new teammates. Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion department offers multiple programs and groups for increased belonging and awareness for ALL. Inpatient Nursing hires international nurses and works closely with them regarding housing, local amenities, etc. to ease their transitions. I am intentional to ensure representation on committee meetings are inclusive of various roles, ethnicities, genders and work experience.