ThedaCare has a deep commitment to nursing excellence — ensuring nursing teams are empowered to deliver patient-centered care. To support these important teams, and allow them the opportunity to continue to provide high-quality care for patients and families, ThedaCare is pleased to announce Terra Swanson as the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for the North Region.
“I am honored to step into the role of Chief Nursing Officer and to serve alongside such dedicated and compassionate professionals,” said Swanson. “Our teams are the heart of the care we provide, and my commitment is to support, empower and advocate for them every day. Together, we will continue to deliver the highest standard of care for our patients and their families, ensuring they feel safe, supported and truly cared for at every step of their journey.”
Swanson’s role includes overseeing nursing and perioperative services across the North Region of Froedtert ThedaCare. In the CNO role, she will align nursing care, drive adoption of evidence-based clinical guidelines and consistently manage standards to reduce variation in practice. She will work with clinical leaders sharing responsibility for meeting patient needs and for the planning, organizing and directing of patient care in all clinical aspects of the region.
“Terra has consistently demonstrated her abilities as a transformational leader who is skilled at ensuring the voices of our nurses and key stakeholders are considered as decisions are made to improve patient care, quality and experience,” said Lynn Detterman, president of the North Region of Froedtert ThedaCare. “She lives our mission of advancing the health of our communities, and inspires each person to live their unique, best life.”
Swanson joined ThedaCare as a certified nursing assistant in the medical/surgical inpatient unit in 2003 while she was in school for her nursing degree. She has supported perioperative services in many different roles throughout her career, advancing in her leadership responsibilities.
“In her more than two decades with our organization, Terra has built a reputation for balancing communication and relationship building with strong leadership skills and trusted partnerships to deliver patient-minded care,” said Detterman.
Under Swanson’s leadership, teams created the ThedaCare Surgery Optimization & Coordination Center, modernized operating rooms at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah and helped grow the robotic service line throughout regional medical centers and critical access hospitals.
Swanson received her Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Nursing and RN certification from Marian University in Fond du Lac and Masters of Science in Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing from Western Governors University.
Her new role is effective immediately.
