RN for Life: A Healthcare Pathways Series

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Welcome to the College of Health Professions (CHP) A Healthcare Pathway Series, where we take a deep dive into the careers, experiences, and inspiring advice from Pace University College of Health Professions Advisory Board members and key figures in healthcare.

Meet Cathy Manley-Cullen, MS, BSN, RN, NEA-BC '96. Recently retired after a 40+ year long career, Cathy has had a great impact on hundreds of nurses, both as the current chair of the Pace University College of Health Professions (CHP) Advisory Board and as the former chief nursing officer (CNO) for Northwell Health-Northern Westchester Hospital Center, and within numerous other roles.

I couldn't have imagined when I first decided on nursing as a profession, that it would offer so many different opportunities as it has.

Cathy had never planned on becoming a CNO, though her career goals were always focused on leadership. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the College of New Rochelle, Cathy started her leadership journey by earning her Master of Science in Nursing from CHP’s Lienhard School of Nursing (LSN). Obtaining professional certifications as an Emergency Nurse, Flight Nurse, and Nursing Leader, were also important to advancing her professional development.

“A leadership position isn't necessarily for everyone, but if you do enjoy envisioning and improving the quality of care that can be delivered, creating new healthcare delivery models, collaborating with many different disciplines, and focusing on strategy and efficiency, then leadership just might be for you,” Cathy explained. Leadership can take form in many ways and result in many different career paths. Prior to becoming the CNO for Northern Westchester Hospital Center, Cathy held roles such as, chief operating officer at Westchester Medical Center, vice president of Patient Care Services and Nursing for NYU Langone, director of nursing for NYU's Emergency Department and Observation Service, and chief flight nurse for the regional STAT Flight program.

Cathy shared that there are many paths that a nurse can follow with their career. For those looking to be more hands-on with patients, there is the direct clinical care route; you can work in a hospital, outpatient setting, provide care through a Telehealth platform, and provide care for all ages across the healthcare spectrum.

Outside of direct clinical work, nurses can become educators, conduct research, and work within different operational roles in a variety of healthcare settings. Other pathways include becoming a transformational leader, serving as an elected official, or roles where you can influence healthcare policy, manage finances, and direct healthcare policy.

The direction Cathy took with her career led her down an administrative pathway. Typically, when moving from clinical into more admin-focused positions, direct patient care decreases, but the overall impact on patients remains. A CNO’s responsibilities include ensuring patient safety, monitoring resource procurements and allocations, and improving nursing policies by creating a healthy environment for nurses to work within.

Moving to the administrative side of healthcare gave Cathy a new understanding of the importance of engaging in policy discussions, especially those that directly impact patient care and nursing practice.

"I’m not sure that when I was involved in direct patient care, I was as informed as I should have been regarding healthcare policy,” explained Cathy. “When I transitioned into various administrative positions, having access to information and participating in discussions led me to think more critically about policy issues and develop a passion for advocacy.”

Mentorship was another resource for Cathy that positively impacted her career. Having access and creating relationships with multiple mentors created a collaborative space for sharing knowledge and perspectives.

I was fortunate enough to have many [mentors]. One in particular taught me a lot about hospital operations and finance outside of patient care services, which gave me a better understanding of how all the different departments and services in healthcare are intertwined.

Since her retirement, Cathy has continued to mentor nursing colleagues and students alike, inspired by those who helped her along her own path. She is the regional president of the New York Organization of Nursing Leaders, and through this role is able to share her experiences with established and emerging nursing leaders.

“One of the benefits of being an active member of the CHP advisory board is having access to students who are in need of a mentor as they begin their professional journey.” Additionally, she has continued to serve the public and the nursing profession by remaining active through different advocacy and participation efforts, like her work on political action committees, to ensure that nursing agendas get attention from elected officials.

Supporting nurses and those who provide direct patient care is one of the most rewarding opportunities I have had in my career.