December 10, 2014, ST. LOUIS -When Linda Vitale started at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital in 1980, she worked as a staff nurse while going to school to get her BSN. She was confident she would return to Springfield, MO after graduation. After all, that's where she had gotten her nursing degree and she liked the area.
As she walks the SLU Hospital halls 34 years later, it would seem Vitale won't be making the drive to southwest Missouri anytime soon.
"The teaching dynamic and excitement of academic medicine was something I enjoyed too much," she says. "This is a wonderful place."
As director of central service and linen at SLU Hospital, Vitale plays a vital role in ensuring supplies and linens are ready for the medical center. Her background as a nurse helps her understand exactly what clinicians and caregivers need in treating patients.
"I'm an advocate for them and am very sensitive to what they need," she says.
Such attention to detail is why Vitale's leadership was recognized by her peers as a "Leading by Example" winner for the 3rd quarter.
"Linda is someone I trust completely," says her supervisor, Bill Hoefer, SLU Hospital chief operating officer. "She is honest, caring, dependable, hardworking, loyal, and is always focused on our patients."
Her focus on patient care developed from her career as a staff nurse … to assistant head nurse … to heart/lung transplant coordinator.
"At that point, my previous head nurse moved down to central service and offered me the assistant director position," says Vitale. "I moved thinking it would be temporary in 1989 and I've been there ever since."
While the job offered her great work/life balance with her family the organization and her co-workers has kept her engaged.
"I've been so lucky to have great bosses who've always supported me," she says. "There are so many of us who have been here for years and it's because of the excellent service we provide the community."
Says Hoefer: "We are blessed Linda is on our team."
