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Unlocking Executive Potential,
Driving Results.

Dr. Helene Burns leverages over 40 years of senior healthcare leadership and Georgetown-certified executive coaching to help leaders build capacity. Through evidence-based active inquiry, she expands executive confidence, resolves complex interprofessional dynamics, and drives breakthrough organizational performance.

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Helene Burns Executive Coaching

Founded by Dr. Helene M. Burns, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAONL, FAAN, our executive coaching practice is dedicated to empowering healthcare leaders, C-suite executives, Chief Nursing Officers, and senior clinical administrators. Navigating today’s complex healthcare landscape requires more than clinical expertise—it demands visionary leadership, emotional intelligence, strategic alignment, and unwavering resilience. Grounded in veracity, compassion, and accountability, Dr. Burns partners with established and emerging leaders to clarify executive goals, expand leadership capacity, foster healthy work environments, and achieve breakthrough performance.

Executive Coaching for Top Leadership

Executive Coaching for Top Leadership

Are you a C-suite healthcare executive, Chief Nursing Officer, or newly promoted director navigating the heavy burdens of modern health system leadership?

  • Balancing demanding operational performance targets and quality metrics with personal work-life alignment?
  • Transitioning from operational management to high-level strategic influence and C-suite decision-making?
  • Managing complex interprofessional team dynamics, high-stakes medical director partnerships, or challenging organizational cultures?
  • Leading large-scale workforce transformation, mitigating burnout, and sustaining high retention across clinical teams?
  • Feeling isolated at the executive level without a trusted, confidential sounding board to process crucial decisions?

Dr. Helene Burns brings over 40 years of distinguished healthcare leadership—including more than a decade as Chief Nurse in top-tier integrated health systems—combined with Georgetown University ICF Level 2 Executive Leadership Coaching certification. Having led system-wide workforce redesigns, driven zero-harm patient safety initiatives, and mentored scores of C-suite leaders, Dr. Burns provides the exact synthesis of real-world executive authority and evidence-based coaching methodology needed to navigate your toughest leadership challenges.

Why Hire Helene Burns?

Helene Burns Executive Coaching, LLC
As owner and president of Helene Burns Executive Coaching, LLC, Dr. Burns draws on decades of healthcare leadership experience to mentor emerging and established nurse executives. Her boutique consultancy provides personalized leadership development, executive guidance, and strategies to help healthcare leaders drive meaningful organizational change.

AtlantiCare (5-Time Magnet® Designated Integrated System)
In her system-wide role at AtlantiCare, Dr. Burns is responsible for the overall nursing strategy, clinical quality, and nursing practice across the entire health system. She collaborates closely with clinical and administrative leaders to standardize care delivery and cultivate a compassionate, high-performing workforce.

AONL Board of Directors for Region 2 in August 2024
Dr. Burns leads the Board of Directors for the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) Foundation, directing philanthropic efforts that support nursing leadership research and education. Her leadership drives national initiatives designed to fund evidence-based research and empower the next generation of nurse leaders.

2024 Class of Fellows
This designation reflects Dr. Burns's recognized national contributions to nursing executive practice, operational innovation, and healthcare advocacy. As a Fellow, she actively influences national nursing policy, serves on key governance committees, and shares industry best practices.

2023 Class of Fellows
As an inducted Fellow in nursing's most elite academy, Dr. Burns is recognized as one of the profession's most impactful leaders in advancing healthcare delivery. Her selection highlights her extensive contributions to health policy, clinical practice environments, and published research on authentic leadership.

President (2022 to 2023)
Serving as President from 2022 to 2023, Dr. Burns guided statewide initiatives, research, and legislative advocacy to support nurse leaders throughout New Jersey. In this role, she was instrumental in championing healthy work environment frameworks and advancing critical healthcare workforce legislation.

Jefferson Health New Jersey (2017 – December 2023)
Serving at Jefferson Health – New Jersey, Dr. Burns maintained executive and operational accountability for nursing care and operations across three acute care hospital campuses. During her tenure, she directed more than 1,400 clinical staff members and successfully led the health system to achieve its prestigious Magnet® Designation.

Kennedy Health (2011 – 2017)
In this foundational executive role at Kennedy Health, Dr. Burns oversaw daily clinical nursing operations, departmental budgets, and patient care standards across the health system. She spearheaded key initiatives to improve patient care outcomes, establish nurse residency pathways, and strengthen shared clinical governance.

Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden
In addition to her executive roles, Dr. Burns serves as an Adjunct Clinical Professor at the Rutgers University School of Nursing, bringing over four decades of executive healthcare leadership directly into the classroom. In this role, she leverages her extensive background as a Chief Nurse Executive to mentor emerging nurse leaders and educate students on evidence-based practice, clinical governance, and healthy work environments.

Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in Health Systems Executive Leadership from the University of Pittsburgh
Her doctoral preparation underpins her data-driven approach to complex healthcare management, systems transformation, and advanced clinical leadership.

Graduate of the Leadership Coaching Program (Cohort 87)
Having completed Georgetown University’s rigorous Leadership Coaching Program, Dr. Burns integrates evidence-based coaching methodologies into her leadership consulting practice. This formal credential equips her to help executives develop emotional intelligence, strategic communication skills, and effective organizational leadership behaviors.

Client Success Stories

Case Study 1 Empowering Executive Confidence & Delegation

Case Study 1: Empowering Executive Confidence & Delegation

Client Profile: Newly Promoted Director of Nursing experiencing expanded operational oversight. Core Challenge:Newly expanded scope, needing to build confidence and learn how to delegate tasks to departmental managers. Looking to prevent extended work hours and decision fatigue. Coaching Approach: Dr. Burns partnered with the client to explore root causes of decision fatigue, practice high-stakes communication, […]

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Case Study 2 Navigating Dyad Partnerships

Case Study 2: Navigating Dyad Partnerships

Client Profile: Clinical Director operating in a high-stakes dyad partnership with a Medical Director. Core Challenge: Learning as a new director to build a relationship with a physician dyad counterpart. Both are new to the role. Their ability to work collaboratively affects the work environment. Coaching Approach: Active listening, metaphor exploration, and strategic questioning to […]

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Achieving Work-Life Alignment

Case Study 3: Achieving Work-Life Alignment & Cultural Shift

Client Profile: Director of Inpatient Services succeeding a long-tenured director. Core Challenge: Inheriting a legacy workplace culture of 12-hour daily grinds while striving to maintain personal family commitments amidst personal life challenges. Coaching Approach: Deep presence, support, and strategic chunking of organizational goals, enabling the client to establish healthy cultural boundaries without compromising clinical performance. […]

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