Baton Rouge, La. – Today, Baton Rouge General (BRG) announced it
has named Monica Nijoka, MHA, BSN, RN as its Chief Nursing Officer (CNO).
Nijoka has a long history with BRG, beginning her career at the hospital
as a student nurse in 1975 and working her way up to Vice President of
Patient Care Services by 1999, a position she held until 2005.
“Monica is a true patient advocate, and we are proud to welcome
her back to our leadership team,” said BRG’s interim President
and CEO Edgardo Tenreiro. “She brings decades of experience, a deep
understanding of our values, and a passion for nursing that will drive
our team as we continue to focus on providing exceptional patient experiences
to the community.”
Since 2007, Monica has served as Chief Nursing Officer at The NeuroMedical
Center in Baton Rouge. A well-respected leader in the healthcare community,
Monica has been honored by the Louisiana State Nursing Association (LSNA)
as Nurse Administrator of the year, as Southeastern Louisiana University’s
alumni of the year, and as a Woman of Achievement by the Zonta Club. During
her time at BRG, she led the hospital to three consecutive LSNA Hospital
of the Year awards.
“In her long career at BRG, Monica transformed our nursing and patient
care service programs into some of the best in the country,” said
BRG Chief of Staff Andrew Olinde. “Her passion for patient care,
love of nursing and leadership qualities make her a great fit for the
CNO position at The General. We welcome her back with open arms.”
Departing CNO, Anna Cazes, will move into a new role at Lake Charles Memorial
Hospital in Lake Charles, La. As CNO, Cazes led Baton Rouge General to
its highest ever patient satisfaction scores, with BRG’s overall
rating currently in the top 10 percent of hospitals nationwide.
About Baton Rouge General Medical Center
Baton Rouge General Medical Center is a full-service community hospital
with 590 licensed beds between two campuses. As the first hospital in
the capital city, Baton Rouge General opened its doors in 1900, and has
provided the Greater Baton Rouge community with high-quality healthcare
for generations. An accredited teaching hospital since 1991, Baton Rouge
General serves as a satellite campus of Tulane University School of Medicine,
and offers other medical education programs, including a School of Nursing,
School of Radiologic Technology, Family Medicine Residency Program, Internal
Medicine Residency Program, and Sports Medicine Fellowship Program. For
more information, visit
BRGeneral.org, find us on Facebook at
Facebook.com/BatonRougeGeneral and follow us on Twitter at
@BRGeneral.