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Nursing Commission Selects New Executive Director

Paula Meyer, who has served as the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission’s (NCQAC) Executive Director for 25 years, will retire at the end of June. After a nearly eight-month recruitment and screening process, NCQAC extended an offer of employment to Dr. Alison Bradywood as its next Executive Director.

Dr. Bradywood presently works as the interim Executive Director of the Bailey-Boushay House, a Seattle long-term care facility focused on mental health, HIV, and substance use disorder. Dr. Bradywood also currently lectures at the University of Washington School of Nursing and is an independent consultant for Networx Health. She previously served as Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Director of Clinical Practice and Quality with Virginia Mason Medical Center and Virginia Mason Health System.

Dr. Bradywood holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Vanderbilt University, a Master of Public Health, Master in Nursing, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees from the University of Washington, and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Rhode Island.

Dr. Bradywood will begin her work as the executive director of NCQAC on May 1, 2023. She will work alongside Ms. Meyer during the month of May as a transition period.

NCQAC widely advertised the position in August 2022 with a deadline for applicant submissions at the end of January 2023. An established search committee screened 44 applications and interviewed nine applicants. The search committee recommended two candidates to NCQAC for further evaluation.

On March 9, the candidates each presented on the topic of development of a strategic plan, which was open to the public. During the executive session that followed, NCQAC members interviewed each candidate. They voted for their choice at the business meeting on March 10.

The Executive Director serves at the pleasure of NCQAC and is responsible for performing all administrative duties of NCQAC, including preparing an annual budget, and any other duties delegated by the commission.

Ms. Meyer stated: “Working as the Executive Director of the NCQAC has been a pleasure. This position contributes to patient safety in Washington and the profession of nursing. NCQAC members often comment on how rewarding their work is to protect the public.”

Ms. Meyer began her tenure as NCQAC’s Executive Director in 1998 and has achieved many milestones in the development and growth of NCQAC staff in their roles and responsibilities as a regulatory agency. Under Ms. Meyer’s leadership, NCQAC received an award from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing in 2015 for its achievements in innovation and regulation. Ms. Meyer announced her plans to retire in March 2022, knowing that the recruitment and hiring of her replacement would be thorough, transparent, and time consuming.

NCQAC is Washington’s State Board of Nursing. NCQAC regulates the competency and quality of all licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, advanced registered nurse practitioners, and nursing technicians in Washington. NCQAC protects the public’s health and safety by establishing, monitoring and enforcing licensing, consistent standards of practice, continuing competency mechanisms and discipline.

NCQAC has 15 governor-appointed members, including three public members, two advanced registered nurse practitioners, three licensed practical nurses, and seven registered nurses.

More Information

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NCQAC Contact:
Chris Archuleta
Director of Operations
chris.archuleta@doh.wa.gov