Quick Facts:
Springfield
After several months of searching for the right person to step into the role of chief nursing officer, Mercy Springfield Communities has announced Nicki Gamet will be the new CNO starting May 1.
Gamet has a long history at Mercy. She’s been part of the team for 27 years and started off as a staff nurse. Ten years later, her co-workers encouraged her to apply for a manager position that was open. Gamet got the job and quickly discovered that in her new role, she was able to assist her team and make improvements that impacted their daily work. That focus on servant leadership has always been at the heart of Gamet’s leadership style.
“I want to foster a culture of trust, empower our caregivers, and support the work they do each day,” she said. “To be successful in leadership at Mercy, you must be a servant leader at heart.”
Over her nearly three decades at Mercy, Gamet has held several leadership roles. Most recently, she served as vice president of regional operations for Mercy Springfield Communities. In that role, Gamet provided strategic oversight for Mercy facilities and clinics across the Ozarks. Her experience as a nurse and as a leader made her a great fit for the position of chief nursing officer, said Marie Moore, who held the role of CNO for two years before being promoted to president of Mercy Washington and Lincoln communities. Like Gamet, Moore started her career as a nurse before moving into leadership.
“Nicki is an excellent listener and is incredibly patient,” Moore said. “Those are skills you need in this role where your focus is on creating cohesion and team building amongst our nurses. Nicki brings phenomenal expertise to the role of CNO, and I’m excited to see another nurse step into this position and lead our incredible team of nurses.”
Gamet holds a bachelor's in nursing from Southwest Baptist University and a master's in management, leadership and strategy from Webster University. She also actively serves on the executive board of Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri, and she recently completed her term on the National Rural Advocacy Task Force.
As she steps into her new role as chief nursing officer, Gamet said she expects her deep roots in nursing will guide her as she helps lead the more than 2,400 nurses now on her team.
“I am so excited to join an exceptional team of nursing leaders and caregivers,” she said. “Mercy nurses are special. As the Sisters of Mercy who came before us, they are the heart and hands of Jesus in the care they provide. It is a privilege to be part of that legacy and work alongside this incredible nursing team.”
