Dr. Maria Raines, DNP, APRN, ACNS-BC, CENP
VP & Chief Nursing Officer
University of Minnesota Medical Center & Masonic Children’s Hospital
How long have you been with MOLN?
I have been with MOLN since this past Spring; I had been a member in the past for many years and decided to rejoin MOLN this past year and I am so glad I did.
Do you have a favorite MOLN memory so far?
Definitely the fall conference in Duluth! The variety of topics at the conference definitely challenged me to think about leadership differently, inspired me to look at my leadership “bank” and engagement and helped me to refuel as a nurse and as a leader. I got to see so many colleagues, friends and make new connections….and who doesn’t love Duluth in the fall with the beautiful colors?
How do you cope with the demanding aspects of your career?
I think the last 15 years of being a Nurse Executive and definitely the lessons learned of leading and running multiple hospitals through Covid helped me put a lot of things into perspective. First, I am always thinking about 3 different plans ahead of time in case the current plan our team is working on doesn’t give us the results we need. Second, I believe in the power of team and that gifts and talents that we all bring to the table to contribute and succeed- “True teamwork is like the wind; you can’t always see it, but you can feel its strength”. Finally, I use self- reflection to look at ways that I can become a better leader- Goal is always to be at least 1% better everyday!
Who inspires you?
As I look at some of the nurses who have shaped nursing history and practice, Florence Nightingale, Clara Barton, Dorothea Dix, Mary Eliza Mahoney, and Hazel Johnson-Brown, these are women who where trailblazers, who were not afraid to stand up for what they saw as right and needed for excellence in patient care, and who persevered through challenges to lead- Their stories remind me as a healthcare professional that nursing is not only about clinical skills but also about leadership, advocacy, and innovation. That is where I get my inspiration to do what is right every day, to lean in when things get tough and to persevere in my own way through the challenges of this time.
What is something that not many people know about you?
? I am a first generation immigrant to the US and my immediate family moved to Florida when I was a teenager. Although my dad spoke some English, my brother and I did not speak much English when we moved here and started school. It was pretty challenging first 2 years after moving here and learning both a new language and a new culture while being away from our family in Colombia. We have since become American citizens and I am proud to be able to have dual citizenship to bot the US and Colombia.
