Beth Draves, RN, has been named chief nursing officer for Banner – University Medicine in southern Arizona. Draves brings nearly two decades of nursing experience to the position and has served as interim chief nursing officer for the past year.
“I’m honored and humbled by this opportunity to help drive change, build resilience among teams, and advocate for staff, which has always been very important to me,” said Draves.
Since joining Banner – University Medicine Tucson in 2018, Draves has held leadership roles in emergency departments at both the Tucson and South campuses. She also worked in behavioral health and clinical care operations. During her tenure, she contributed to developing workflows during periods of high patient demand and led initiatives focused on safety and quality improvement.
Robin Shepherd, DNP, RN, vice president and system chief nursing executive for Banner Health stated: “Beth’s deep clinical expertise, operational acumen and compassion for patients and team members define her as an exemplary leader who embodies our mission.”
Alison Flynn Gaffney, FACHE, chief executive officer of Banner – University Medicine Tucson added: “Beth is a trusted voice among her colleagues, and we are honored to have her step into this role permanently.”
As she assumes the role permanently, Draves plans to streamline education efforts by expanding hands-on training for patient care teams. She will support Banner – University Medical Center South’s pursuit of Magnet recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. In addition, she aims to empower bedside nurses to take active roles in committees as well as research and quality-improvement projects.
“Nursing leadership isn’t just about managing tasks and responsibilities,” said Draves. “It’s about inspiring others to deliver compassionate, high-quality care.”
Banner – University Medical Center Tucson and Banner – University Medical Center South are part of Banner – University Medicine’s academic network connected with the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. The centers include Diamond Children’s Medical Center along with various specialty clinics. Both institutions operate under Arizona-based Banner Health—a nonprofit health system that operates facilities across six states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, and Wyoming.
