New London’s Shannon Christian to lead L+M, Westerly Hospital nurses
New London ― Shannon Christian, a New London native who has spent her 28-year nursing career at Lawrence + Memorial and Westerly hospitals, has been put in charge of the hospitals’ more than 1,000 nurses.
L+M Healthcare, which owns the hospitals that are part of the Yale New Haven Health system, announced Monday it has appointed Christian senior vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer. She was previously vice president of nursing and Patient Care Services.
“We are fortunate to have a chief nursing officer as passionate and committed as Shannon,” Richard Lisitano, president of L+M Healthcare, said in a statement. “Her commitment to delivering compassionate, patient-centered care and driving positive outcomes for both our staff and those we serve will enhance the overall patient experience.”
Christian, 47, who was unavailable for an interview, was born at L+M and graduated from New London High School.
She has worked at L+M and Westerly hospitals since 1996, including as nurse manager of the orthopedic and Medical-Surgical Unit, director of Patient Care Services, administrative director of Heart and Vascular and Critical Care and administrative director of Patient Care Services at L+M.
At Westerly Hospital, she was director of Patient Care Services for two years as well as on an interim basis in 2019.
In high school, Christian volunteered as a candy striper at L+M, leading to her interest in a health care career. During college she worked in the hospital’s medical records department. After earning her associate of nursing degree from St. Vincent’s College of Nursing in Bridgeport, she went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Central Connecticut State University and a master’s degree in nursing from Sacred Heart University.
L+M, licensed for 280 beds, employs more than 2,000 people and serves 10 shoreline towns between Rhode Island and the Connecticut River as well as Fishers Island, N.Y. The 125-bed Westerly Hospital serves southern Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut.
b.hallenbeck@theday.com
Comment threads are monitored for 48 hours after publication and then closed.
