Title: Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer
Company: Children’s Nebraska
Location: Elkhorn, Nebraska, United States
Pamela J. Johnson-Carlson, DNP, Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at Children’s Nebraska, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Healthcare Professionals for dedication, achievements and leadership in Nursing Practice.
Having established a distinguished career spanning over 45 years in the health care industry, Dr. Johnson-Carlson has demonstrated expertise in nursing practice, patient care services and nursing leadership. Her journey began in 1979 as a tech at Children’s Nebraska in Omaha, Nebraska. After gaining experience and honing her skills across various roles and institutions, she returned to the organization as the vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer from 2007 to 2011. In this capacity, Dr. Johnson-Carlson was responsible for advancing clinical operations and fostering a culture of excellence.
After working at several other facilities, Dr. Johnson-Carlson again returned to Children’s Nebraska, this time in 2023 as the senior vice president of patient care services, where she remains today. In this capacity, she oversees the nursing practice across the enterprise. She manages patient care services, including laboratory operations, radiology, pharmacy, environmental services, case management and much more. Additionally, Dr. Johnson-Carlson leads surgical services and partners with vice presidents and clinical leaders to foster a no-barrier culture throughout all departments. Her commitment to nursing excellence is evident through her advocacy for Magnet distinction and integration of professional practice standards across all clinical units.
Among other noteworthy positions, from 2011 to 2014, Dr. Johnson-Carlson served as the senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Phoenix Children’s. Her leadership continued at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Colorado Springs, where she held the position of vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer between 2019 and 2020. During her tenure there, Dr. Johnson-Carlson led the design and opening of the new hospital, an achievement she considers among her most notable. The success of this project was bolstered by strong collaboration with her colleagues and the hospital president.
Dr. Johnson-Carlson’s career also included significant contributions at The University of Iowa. From 2020 to 2023, she was the chief administrative officer at Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Concurrently, from 2020 to 2021, she served as the interim chief nurse executive and associate director at Iowa Healthcare within the same university system. In these positions, Dr. Johnson-Carlson integrated clinical leadership with operational oversight while focusing on removing barriers to care and championing professional practice standards.
Instrumental in shaping her career trajectory, Dr. Johnson-Carlson earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Midland University in Fremont, Nebraska, followed by a Master of Science in nursing with a focus on maternal and child health (clinical nurse specialist and administration) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice in clinical systems administration from Creighton University in Omaha in 2016. Each academic achievement has contributed to her ability to lead complex health care organizations and drive innovation within clinical teams. In addition to her degrees, Dr. Johnson-Carlson has received nurse executive board certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Dr. Johnson-Carlson’s professional affiliations reflect her standing in the field. She is an active member of the American Nurses Association and has served on the Magnet Appraisal Board through the American Nurses Credentialing Center since 2011. Her involvement with these organizations underscores her dedication to advancing nursing practice nationally.
Throughout her career, Dr. Johnson-Carlson’s commitment to scholarship has been evident through her publications and projects. She co-authored “Predictive Staffing Simulation Model Methodology” in Nursing Economic$ in 2017. She also co-authored a book chapter titled “The Culture Club: An Interprofessional Process for Cultural Transformation,” which underscored her belief that organizational culture is foundational to quality care and team achievement. This publication took place during the opening of the hospital in Colorado.
Dr. Johnson-Carlson has received recognition for her contributions to health care leadership and team development. Notable honors include Best Places to Work for Nurses from Nursegrid in 2026. Among others, she received an Outstanding Hospital Award from Donor Network of Arizona and a Master Teacher Award from Midland University. She was also a finalist for Business Leader of the Year by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Johnson-Carlson attributes her sustained success to high expectations for herself and an insatiable appetite for learning.
Looking ahead, Dr. Johnson-Carlson remains committed to advancing the field of nursing by championing initiatives that elevate professional practice standards and inspire innovation within health care teams. Her legacy reflects not only decades of dedicated service but also an unwavering pursuit of excellence that continues to shape the future landscape of nursing leadership.
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