Andy Quito (BSN, RN) is director of nursing for medical-surgical services at Bridgeport Hospital. He leads multi-campus nursing operations, patient flow, quality and safety initiatives, workforce development, virtual nursing and patient experience strategies, while supporting nurse leaders and frontline teams.
What makes you a Healthcare Hero?
Over the past year, I led strategic quality and operational initiatives that strengthened Bridgeport Hospital’s nursing performance across medical-surgical services, virtual nursing, patient flow, workforce planning and performance improvement.
In partnership with an exceptional division nursing leadership team, I supported approximately 650 staff, reduced RN turnover by 25% and RN vacancy by 40%, decreased traveler reliance, supported Closer to Home lounges serving discharged patients, and expanded virtual nursing across 11 Bridgeport Hospital units with 17 hybrid virtual nurses. I also improved discharge performance, including a 29-minute reduction in median discharge order-to-discharge time and a 3.88% increase in pre-11 a.m. discharges.
Tell us about a challenge in your job that you were able to overcome.
One challenge I overcame was stabilizing workforce capacity while sustaining quality and patient flow. I focused on strong employee engagement action plans and worked with my division leadership team to adapt our leadership approach to better support the new generation entering the workforce.
What’s your next major goal and/or challenge?
My next major goal is to strengthen leadership succession by supporting new leaders as they grow, gain confidence and become proficient. I will continue adapting my leadership approach to meet the expectations of an evolving workforce while building resilient, engaged and future-ready teams.
