Banner Heart Hospital names new Chief Nursing Officer
New CNO Paula Durston
MESA, Ariz. (Aug. 6, 2009) – Banner Heart Hospital has named Paula Durston as its new chief nursing officer, effective Aug. 24.
Durston is currently serving as director of the cardiovascular service line at Banner Desert Medical Center and has held a variety of leadership positions within Banner Health. With more than 25 years of leadership experience, she also served as director of nursing for Banner Desert’s adult acute care center as well as the facility’s critical care and cardiology service lines.
“We are delighted to have Paula on board as we expand our services at the Heart Hospital and continue to be a destination hospital for the Southwest,” said Laura Robertson, CEO of Banner Heart Hospital. Robertson previously served as the chief nursing officer at Banner Heart before being named to her post in late spring.
A veteran nurse and hospital administrator, Paula has been serving as a nursing leader since the early 1980s, when she held a variety of leadership positions at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. She also served as director of perioperative services for Yavapai Regional Medical Center. Paula began her nursing career as a staff nurse at Stormont Vail Hospital and Medical Center in 1972. She began her Banner Health career in 1982 when she took a staff nurse position at the former Mesa Lutheran Hospital.
In addition to a nursing diploma from the Stormont Vail School of Nursing in Topeka, Kan., Paula holds a master’s of nursing/nursing administration specialization and bachelor’s of science in nursing from the University of Phoenix. She also has earned her certified advanced nursing administration designation.
During her more than three decades in the field, Paula has published numerous health care articles and presented on a variety of topics that illustrate advancements and transformations in nursing excellence and quality patient care.
About Banner Heart Hospital
Banner Heart Hospital is one of the largest free-standing heart hospitals in the nation. It has been named as one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals® for cardiovascular care by Thomson healthcare business for three consecutive years. This annual award for cardiovascular services objectively measures performance on the key criteria at the nation’s top performing, acute-care hospitals. Banner Heart is home to the Southwest's premier robotic surgery program, with more than 300 procedures already completed. Banner Heart Hospital opened in 2000 and is the only heart hospital in the East Valley, serving Mesa, Apache Junction, Queen Creek, Gilbert Payson, Globe and many other communities.
