Sarah Lackey is a systemwide nursing leader with a passion for nursing excellence and retention. She has served as the Magnet Program Director for Cone Health in Greensboro NC for the past 11 years, marshalling the organization through its 3rd and 4th Magnet designations. 
 
Several years ago, she added nurse retention to her role. Her 40+ year career in nursing prepares her adequately for the task of deciphering this complex topic: she has a diverse and broad pattern of clinical expertise and staff development activity across all care settings; has published numerous peer reviewed articles; serves as an advocate for nursing on various boards and governing bodies; works with all levels of leaders to evaluate and implement solutions; and maintains close relationships with the clinical work environment and frontline staff. 
 
Intent upon developing practical and applicable methods to address nurse retention, she is focused on the persistent challenges of the clinical work environment. She developed a method that helps busy leaders and frontline managers shift the way they think about workplace dynamics, while building individualized unit and work group cultures with the ultimate goal to hire for fit. Outcome data are positive. 
 
Her work has been presented regionally and nationally; a small national consortium of early adopters has convened to share implementation experiences and outcome data.
 
Sarah completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at the University of Alabama with a concentration in system leadership; her Master’s degree in cardiovascular nursing was granted by the University of Alabama at Birmingham; her undergraduate degree in Nursing was awarded from Northern Illinois University. Sarah is also an International Coach Federation trained coach. 
 
In her off time, Sarah enjoys organic gardening, bicycling, scenic walking, and the mountains of western North Carolina.