The Rhode Island State Nurses Association Honors Cathy E. Duquette with the President’s Award

October 23rd [Providence] – The Rhode Island State Nurses Association (RISNA) has honored Cathy E. Duquette, RN, Ph.D. with the organization’s highest honor, the President’s Award.  Dr. Duquette served as President of RISNA from 2009 to June this year, providing invaluable leadership within the organization.  Her achievements during her tenure were exemplative of the award which recognizes “a RISNA member who has volunteered their time, resources and experience in order to further the mission of the Association.”

In special recognition of Dr. Duquette’s achievement, RISNA has created the Cathy E. Duquette Leadership Fund to be awarded through the Rhode Island Nurses Institute.  The fund has been established to assist emerging nurse leaders in Rhode Island in the development of their transformational leadership skills.

“The Rhode Island State Nurses Association is a valuable professional resource for nurses at any stage of their career,” said Cathy Duquette, RN, Ph.D, the executive vice president for nursing affairs at Lifespan. “RISNA serves a key role in developing the competencies of tomorrow's nurse leaders; and I am both honored and proud to have the new leadership fund scholarship program created in my name. Leadership skill development requires education and nurturing, and this scholarship will provide nurses with the means to further their education and to develop the skills to serve in key leadership roles.”

In her role at Lifespan, she is responsible for co-leading the system strategy for quality, safety and patient experience with her physician colleague, the Executive Vice President for Physician Affairs, as well as leading the organization’s efforts to implement Lean and Six Sigma across the health system.  Prior to assuming her current role, she held other positions within the Lifespan system – most recently that of Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer of Rhode Island Hospital and before that, Vice President of Nursing and Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at Newport Hospital.