Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi recently celebrated the first class of the Oxford Nurse Leadership Intensive (ONLI), a seven-month program designed to develop the hospital’s next generation of nursing leaders. ONLI equips emerging nurse leaders with practical tools, mentorship and real-world leadership experience.
Created by Chief Nursing Officer Mark Ottens, ONLI identifies and supports rising talent among charge nurses, head nurses, new managers and other emerging leaders across the hospital. The program helps equip nurses with the tools, perspective and confidence to lead with purpose, accountability and compassion in today’s health care environment.
Through monthly didactic sessions, participants explored essential leadership topics, including budgeting and finance, strategic planning, human resources, communication and decision-making. The program also included hands-on activities, leadership and personality assessments, mentorship and a group project focused on solving a real-world challenge through data-driven thinking and collaboration.
The class included six nurses: Linsey Michael, Ashley Reed, Sheri Patterson, Traci Nowlin, Kelly Jo Ashley and Breanna Thomas. Their completion of the program marks an important milestone in Baptist North Mississippi’s ongoing commitment to strengthening nursing leadership and supporting professional growth from within.
For participants, ONLI provided both practical knowledge and meaningful personal growth.
“Participating in the Oxford Nurse Leadership Intensive was truly a transformative experience,” Nowlin said. “Over the course of seven months, I gained invaluable insight into the many facets of leadership — from budgeting and strategic planning to strengthening my communication and decision-making skills. One of the most powerful lessons I’m taking with me is that a good leader takes all the blame and none of the credit. That mindset has reshaped how I approach my role and reminded me that leadership is about supporting your team, creating trust and putting others in a position to succeed.”
Reed echoed that sentiment, noting that the program strengthened her understanding of leadership principles while also building confidence. “Collaborating with a group of passionate peers and working through real-world projects helped me develop skills I use every day as a nurse leader,” she said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of a program that invests so intentionally in the future of nursing leadership.”
