Lori Forneris

Background

About Lori Forneris

Lori Forneris started her nursing career in 1978 as a staff nurse at a rural critical access hospital. Over the next 20 years she was in various positions and leadership roles culminating in Assistant Director of Nursing responsible for grant management, staffing, education, and new service line development. She was also a part owner of a nurse-owned business that developed innovative educational materials for nursing research utilization (precursor of evidence-based nursing) with internationally sales for 13 years. In 2001 she expanded her nursing leadership experience to Level 2 Trauma Center in the ER/ambulatory departments.Five years later she developed her passion for mentoring and teaching as a faculty member of Briar Cliff University. Realizing her desire to return to the small rural hospital setting, Lori took a position of Chief Clinical Officer at Loring Hospital were she is responsible for all clinical services. She recently was an integral part of leading the Iowa Nursing Coalition Nurse Residency Task force. This 2 year endeavor resulted in the development of an innovative online nurse residency program for new graduates not only in Iowa but nationally. Changing focus from management roles to more involvement in staff development and adaption of evidence-based shared decision making on nursing units, she was the Clinical Practice Expert on a medical/tele unit in an urban hospital setting for three years. She left the hospital setting to pursue her dream of starting a business, Nursetribe, inc. as a Nursing Leadership Coach. She also continues her passion for developing new gradutates by working part-time for one of the first Nurse Residency Apprenticeship Programs. For fun her side job is a Disney Travel Planner-Concierge for Ears of Experience planning magical vacations.