Welcome from Francine Barr, DNP, RN, Inova Alexandria Hospital Chief Nursing Officer
Nursing at Inova Alexandria Hospital embodies Inova’s mission to provide world-class healthcare – every time, every touch – to each person in every community we have the privilege to serve. Inova Alexandria Hospital nurses care for our patients and community with kindness and compassion as well as an unwavering commitment to quality and safety. We assure that every nurse has a voice to influence patient care delivery and a healthy work environment.
The future for Inova Alexandria Hospital, nursing, and our community is very bright. As plans are underway to build a new Inova Alexandria Hospital, we are thrilled to have nursing engaged with the architects and designers in the creation of a world class facility for our community and the patients we serve. Every aspect and element of the new hospital is being designed with our patients in mind and our nurses involved. The future promises to be one of growth, opportunity, and development. Nursing will be at the forefront of this, and I am honored to be part of this exciting journey.
Nurses at Inova Alexandria Hospital are teachers, servant leaders, facilitators, consultants, change agents, coaches, researchers, clinical experts, and motivators. As one team, we inspire and empower our nurses to perform at the highest level of professionalism and to achieve and validate skills and confidence through engagement and feedback.
Inova Alexandria Hospital is proud to have earned the prestigious 
Nurse Leader Receives Local Award
For the 2022–2023 awards year, Inova Alexandria Hospital has earned the distinction of #5 Best Hospital in the Washington, DC metropolitan region, and the #10 Best Hospital in the state of Virginia.
NCDR ACTION Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award: Every year since 2014, Inova Fairfax Hospital has earned Platinum Performance, which recognizes the highest level of care for high-risk Chest Pain – Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack) patients.
I have been a professional nurse for over 4+ years , worked in a skilled nursing facility and as a home health nurse. IAH is my first acute care job and I have been here for 2 years and 10 months. I love working at IAH Unit 23 because of the teamwork. There are people to depend on. I find meaning in my work from the difference I make in lives of people. It’s the change I see in the patient from admission to discharge. Even for those who are not going home, it is the transition to peace and calm. That is where I find meaning to my work.
I have been a nurse for a little over a year and IAH is my first job as professional nurse. I love working at IAH on 4N because of the team. Everyone is helpful. If it is something new, we help each other. You never feel alone. What brings meaning to my work is when you see that you have made a difference in someone’s life. Patients are often on our unit for long periods of time. You get to know them and see them improve their well-being.
I have been a nurse for 5-1/2 years and IAH was my first nursing job. I like working on Unit 23 because of the teamwork and my coworkers. I had previous career in telecommunications, and I wanted to take those skills apply them to having an impact on people. I find meaning in the fulfilling work and the success with treating patients.
I have been with IAH for 19 years. I stay because of the people here at IAH. What brings meaning to my work is exhibiting communication skills that help us communicate with patients and colleagues, sometimes at the worst life moments. There is no greater privilege than to be with people at the best and worst times of their lives.
"I have been at Inova Alexandria Hospital (IAH) since 2017 in critical care. I love working at Alexandria because of the teamwork and the culture here. What brings meaning to my work in togetherness, this is key. What brings meaning to my work is being objective and setting goals for myself, my patient and for the team."