Joan Burritt, DNSc, RN
Clinical Professor
Email: Burritt.Joan@scrippshealth.org

Joan Burritt, DNSc, RN is a Clinical Professor in the School of Nursing and the Chief Nurse Executive and Associate Administrator at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla. She has many years experience as a nurse executive and as a clinical professor. Dr. Burritt has established herself as an innovator and change catalyst of organizational turn-around, process redesign, and contemporary clinical practice. Her leadership successes are most evident in the 2005 designation of Scripps Memorial Hospital as the first Magnet Nursing Program and hospital in San Diego County.

Joan obtained a diploma in nursing from Yale-New Haven Hospital, a BSN from Boston University, and a Masters and Doctorate of Nursing Science from the University of Pennsylvania. She began her career as an oncology nurse and advanced to Clinical Director of Pediatric, Medical, and then Ambulatory Nursing at Yale-New Haven. Before relocating to Southern California, Joan was the Chief Nursing Officer and Associate Executive Administrator at The University of Pennsylvania Health System in Philadelphia.

Dr. Burritt has authored numerous publications including articles in Nursing Update, Dimensions of Nursing Administration, The Journal of Obstetric, Gynecological and Neonatal Nursing, and Issues in Health Care of Women, as well as a chapter in Fawcett’s text, “Analysis and Evaluation of Conceptual Models of Nursing.” Her recent publication, “Organizational Turnaround: The Role of the Nurse Executive,” appeared in the November 2005 issue of the Journal Of Nursing Administration (JONA); and she currently is working on the publication of original research related to the Clinical Mentor Program at Scripps Memorial, La Jolla.