In her own words: Carla Adams, NNMC chief nursing officer

Northern Nevada Business Weekly: Tell us about the hospital.

Carla Adams: Northern Nevada Medical Center is an acute care hospital licensed for 108 inpatient beds. The hospital was founded as Sparks Family Hospital in 1983, and changed its name in 1994 to better reflect a growing regional presence. Although the hospital is widely known for its 15-Minute ER Guarantee and all-private rooms, NNMC provides a number of services including orthopaedic surgery, heart care, stroke care, wound care, mammography and imaging, as well as inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation and geropsychiatric services. The Northern Nevada Medical Group also provides physicians specializing in family medicine, internal medicine, sports medicine and neurology.

NNBW: What role do you play?

Adams: As the chief nursing officer I have accountability and oversight of patient care provided at NNMC. We view the patient as our guest, and we are dedicated to delivering the best healthcare to each and every individual we serve.

NNBW: How did you get into this profession?

Adams: I was 15 years old when I was impressed by the nursing profession and knew I wanted be a nurse. I was in a horse accident where I ended up in an ICU with a collapsed lung, two broken collar bones, two cervical fractures, five broken ribs and a concussion. This allowed me to watch nurses in action first hand. I admired the kindness and professionalism of these individuals who probably had no idea of the impression they were making on a young girl.

NNBW: What are some of the skills and abilities necessary for someone to succeed in this job?

Adams: I believe that integrity, compassion and love of people are essential values for a good/great nurse. Nurses must also be able to have critical thinking skills and multitask in today's healthcare world. Innovative individuals make excellent nurses as they are always looking for a best practice or a next step that we can take to improve care.

NNBW: If you could have had any other profession what would it have been? Why wasn't it your first choice?

Adams: I actually thought of opening an elder/child care center a number of years ago. I wanted to call it "The Circle of Life." It was to have a common area where "grandparent-like" relations could develop and games among both the old and young could take place. There would also be separate areas for each age category. I felt that many of today's children and elders do not always have each generation close-by and this may fill a need. As I rethought my decision, I felt that nursing actually has it all. We meet people at a time of need in their lives and hopefully make a positive impact on their world, so I clearly choose nursing over any other profession. The rewards of a smile or a warm touch or a kind letter from a patient who received exceptional care is priceless.

NNBW: What are some of the important trends you see in your industry?

Adams: I am seeing the public becoming more educated on options in care, possibly due to the Internet and ease of access to information. Hospitals are responding to this trend by offering more education to not just the patient, but also to their support persons. I also see a lot more transparency of hospital data than ever before. This may be an effort to ensure that hospitals are accountable for the care they provide. We have positive energy and focus on evidence-based best practice to improve our quality indicators and patient satisfaction scores.

NNBW: What do you like to do when you're not working?

Adams: I like to go hiking and four-wheeling with my family. I also like to read during downtime.

NNBW: Have any advice for someone who wants to enter your profession?

Adams: My daughter has completed her first year of college toward nursing. I have told her that nursing offers such a wide variety of choices to meet your personal and professional goals throughout a lifetime. There are so many windows of opportunity within nursing.

NNBW: Would you rather be younger, thinner, richer or smarter? Why?

Adams: I feel that I learn something new every day and want to continue to grow smarter with age to better develop myself and the profession of nursing.

NNBW: What's the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Adams: "Don't spend what you don't have." My parents raised me that way and it has served me well both in my personal and professional life.

NNBW: What are five things you can't live without?

Adams: Love, integrity, a need to make a difference for others, gratitude and coffee.

NNBW: If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why would you want it?

Adams: The ability to heal would be very cool.

The basics:

Name: Carla Adams, chief nursing officer, Northern Nevada Medical Center.

How long have you been in this job? Six months.

How long in the profession? Twenty-two years.

Education: RN, BSN, MSN.

Best book you've read? "Developing the Leader within You," John C. Maxwell, and "Think Big," Ben Carson.

Spouse, kids or pets? Husband, Dave (married 21 years); children, Cheri, 19; Mark, 17; and Seth 4. Zeke is our Boston terrier.