OHSU School of Nursing alumna Kristi Runberg, B.S.N. ’12, RN, M.S., has always been drawn toward leadership roles. She was first bitten by the managerial bug in third grade when, as a member of her class leadership team, she met the governor and was inspired to make a change in the world for the better.
Runberg says, “Both of my parents encouraged me to take advantage of opportunities, and my dad was consistently encouraging me to take the next step in leadership roles.”
Runberg took a circuitous route toward her current leadership position at St. Charles Health System in Bend, Oregon. She earned her first bachelor’s degree in human development and family sciences at Oregon State University and planned to become a licensed social worker. During an internship with social workers in Linn County, Oregon, Runberg was disheartened by the lack of resources and struggled with the emotional toll. She feared she was not a good fit for the profession. When she was invited to assist two nurse officemates on their school visits, she realized she was drawn to nursing.
“I knew this is where my soul needs to land,” Runberg says.
Runberg is proud to have been a member of the second nursing class to enter OHSU School of Nursing’s Western Oregon University Monmouth campus. She credits OHSU with providing her the clinical skills, knowledge and critical thinking necessary to succeed as a nurse. She is particularly thankful to Bret Lyman, Ph.D., RN, then associate dean at the Monmouth campus. At Runberg’s request, Lyman established a relationship with St. Charles Health System in Bend, Oregon, allowing Runberg to complete her nursing practicum in the city where her husband was working.
During the final week of her practicum at St. Charles, Runberg was offered a full-time position on the Intermediate Care Unit on night shift. She has worked at St. Charles for 12 years, beginning as an RN in cardiac care before becoming a charge nurse. She was promoted to assistant nurse manager and quickly realized the challenges of going from an individual contributor to a leader of others. She credits Shannon Edgar, M.B.A., B.S.N., RN, vice president and chief nursing executive at St. Charles, with giving her kind but direct feedback about leadership.
“She is an authentic and genuine nurse leader. She really invested in me,” Runberg says. Edgar became a mentor, coaching Runberg in a skill she feels is a critical attribute of a transformational leader — humility.
“Be ready to say, ‘I missed that, I’m sorry,’” Runberg says. Another contributor to Runberg’s growth, colleague Desiree Margo, Ph.D., and leadership development consultant colleague, always encourages those around her to “lead from beside the people, or even from behind. … Shine a light so all can see where the team is headed.” Runberg credits her opportunities and learnings to a variety of multidisciplinary partners who have played an important role in her career.
Curiosity and collaboration are two other qualities Runberg lists as crucial for successful leadership. These qualities are included in TeamSTEPPS, an evidence-based set of communication and teamwork tools designed over 30 years ago to enhance performance and improve patient safety.
Runberg was trained in TeamSTEPPS in 2021 and was then invited to serve as an external faculty member for the American Hospital Association. She now travels to health care systems around the country to train other leaders in TeamSTEPPS strategies alongside other patient-safety passionate health care professionals. With her experience as a leadership development consultant at St. Charles, Kristi is passionate about empowering individuals to improve their teamwork skills to enhance patient safety — and this happens at all levels of the organization, both clinical and non-clinical.
“I like to think of tilting the hierarchy flat so that each role has a really essential part to play,” Runberg says. “If we don’t give every single person, including our night shift housekeeper, a voice on the team, then we are not going to be nearly as effective. And our retention of our staff is not going to be as great as it could be.”
Along with her other professional commitments, Runberg and her husband have launched a private consulting business, East Slope Economics. She coaches individuals and teams as a private consultant outside of her scope of work at St. Charles. Together, they support non-profits, particularly in health care, to demonstrate their economic and people-driven impact in unique ways.
Runberg is often asked how she has moved from being a nurse to her current leadership roles. She encourages other people, especially nurses, not to pigeonhole themselves.
“There are so many different roles we can take and areas where we can influence the world,” Runberg says. She encourages anyone who is curious about another area of nursing to explore potential opportunities, build connections and take a leap if the new opportunity aligns with their values and goals.
Runberg was recognized as a part of the Bend Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Bend Class of 2024, a program designed to identify and train Bend community leaders and connect them with additional impact and collaboration opportunities within the community. She has been asked to teach a change management course for these upcoming leaders and looks forward to supporting the next generation of leaders.
Outside her professional work, Runberg also volunteers for various organizations and is a founding member of the leadership team for the OHSU Central Oregon Alumni Chapter. No longer a formal member of the leadership team, she is excited to coach the current team as they plan their yearly goals and craft their mission, vision and values statement.
Fellow alumni living in Central Oregon have told Runberg they enjoy chapter events and value developing relationships with others sharing an OHSU training experience. She hopes alumni may also be interested in partnering with local organizations on health-focused initiatives that support the underserved.
“I believe we are stronger when we build connections and collaborate across all areas of the community,” Runberg says. “As an alumni group, having come from OHSU, we all have Central Oregon in common. Those who connect with their OHSU community seem to be able to branch out and meet even more people and their opportunities expand.”
