Karen Reilly

Karen Reilly, DNP, MBA, RN, nurse director for the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CCU)/Medical Cardiology inpatient units, has been named associate chief nurse of Cardiovascular, Thoracic and Surgical Acute and Critical Care Nursing Services, effective Jan. 25.

Reilly’s career at BWH spans 23 years and has included such roles as nurse-in-charge in the Medical Cardiology Intermediate Care Unit for 14 years and most recently as nurse director of Shapiro 9/10 for the past nine years. Reilly also served as nurse manager of Tower 12ABCD and the Cardioversion Program.

As nurse director, Reilly led staff on hospital-wide initiatives including the planning and opening of the Shapiro Cardiovascular Center. Her skilled leadership has helped her teams achieve prestigious awards, including the American Association of Critical Care Nurses Silver Beacon Award in 2013 and 2014. Reilly has been chair or co-chair of multiple Department of Nursing and hospital committees, including the Nursing Coordinating Committee and the Emergency Response Committee, which have led to improvements in patient care. Her research explored the impact of reflective practice on the nursing practice environment.

Reilly received her BSN from Saint Anselm College, her MBA in health care from UMass Boston and her DNP from Simmons College. Mary Lou Etheredge MS, RN, PMHCNS-BC, has been serving in the interim role of associate chief nurse.