Jeanette Pennick named chief nursing officer at HCA Houston Healthcare Pearland

Houston, TX – HCA Houston Healthcare Pearland recently announced the appointment of Jeanette Pennick, MSN, RN-BC, CMSRN, NE-BC, NEA-BC as chief nursing officer (CNO). Pennick will provide oversight of patient care, clinical initiatives, nursing operations and nurse leader development. 

Pennick assumed the role on January 1 after serving as interim CNO since September 2021. She previously was the hospital’s director of emergency services since July 2017, where she and her team were named HCA Healthcare Unit of Distinction honorees in 2018 and 2019. Pennick was also selected as director of the year in 2019 and was instrumental in HCA Houston Healthcare Pearland achieving its Level IV trauma designation, primary stroke and chest pain center accreditations. 

“Jeanette brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this role and I could not be happier to have her as a permanent member of our senior leadership team,” said David Wagner, chief executive officer at HCA Houston Healthcare Pearland. “Providing excellent patient-centered care is her priority and I know our nursing colleagues and medical staff will appreciate her advocacy for nursing and clinical vision for our hospital”. 

Pennick’s nursing career began in Canada where she was born and raised. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Alberta and her Master of Nursing Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington after she relocated to Texas in 2004. Before joining HCA Houston Healthcare Pearland, Pennick served as a critical care nurse, educator and nursing leader in three Houston healthcare systems. 

In addition to her robust clinical experience, Pennick is recognized by the American Nurse Credentialing Center as a certified medical-surgical nurse (RN-BC), a certified nurse executive (NE-BC) and a certified nurse executive advanced (NEA-BC). She is also accredited by the Medical-Surgical Society as a certified medical-surgical nurse (CMSRN) and earned her Executive Six Sigma Black Belt, demonstrating her commitment to providing quality care and the development of efficient workflow and processes. 

Pennick has resided in Pearland for 14 years with her husband and two sons. “It is an honor to continue serving the Pearland community as a leader of nurses. It’s also humbling to be a part of such a compassionate multidisciplinary healthcare team, who are committed to the care and improvement of human life,” said Pennick.