Rocio Sanchez has been a leader at Advocate Condell Medical Center for nearly 10 years, not only as a direct care nurse but also a passionate advocate for professional development. Her commitment to empowering nurses, fostering growth, and creating opportunities has created the ongoing, annual tradition of Professional Development Day. An event designed to inspire, connect, and uplift, Professional Development Day is an opportunity for all health care professionals to make new connections and find new opportunities.
“When nurses feel invested in, when they’re reminded that they’re more than a role– that they’re a profession– they have the capacity to change things. That’s why we do our Professional Development Day, to create that culture of growth. It’s not just encouraged, but expected and celebrated. It’s about every nurse saying that you belong here and your story isn’t done yet.”
Sanchez’s Mission Through Professional Governance
Sanchez’s nursing career started in the Clinical Resource Unit at Advocate Condell. From the start she immersed herself in nursing professional governance, recognizing the important role direct care nurses play in shaping health care policies and practices. Her journey through leadership has been inspired by promoting nursing excellence, serving first at Chair of both the Professional Development Council and the Shared Governance at the site level.
“My work has always revolved around empowering nurses, expressing and sharing the autonomy of practices and providing them the resources and the knowledge and understanding of our structures so that they can leverage them to really be able to own their practice.”
Her leadership expanded further when she was elected President of Advocate Health’s professional governance, representing nurses across Illinois and Wisconsin divisions. Despite these leadership responsibilities, Sanchez always remained grounded in bedside practice. She currently serves in the Critical Care Float Pool, providing care across the Emergency Room, Intensive Care Unit, and Progressive Care Unit at Advocate Condell.
Creating Connections: The Birth of Professional Development Day
The idea for Professional Development Day was born out of Sanchez’s personal and professional experiences during the pandemic. Having personally paused her own academic pursuits in 2020, she understood the frustration and yearning for growth that many of her peers felt. Nurses frequently approached her with questions about advancing their education or careers, but often lacked clear pathways or guidance.
“I felt like at the time, it was a good opportunity to consider something like professional development day. Being involved in professional governance, I kind of had the resources and the support from my leadership to be able to coordinate and plan such an event.”
Recognizing this gap, Sanchez envisioned a day dedicated to professional growth — a space where nurses could easily connect with academic institutions, professional nursing organizations, and internal resources. “I felt like it was important to bring both academic institutions and professional nursing organizations to the event and kind of put it at the fingertips of our nurses,” she explained.
With the support of her leadership and experience in professional governance, she planned and coordinated the inaugural event in 2022, aiming to put professional development opportunities directly at the fingertips of every nurse at Advocate Condell.
“This Was for Me”: Impact of the First Event
The first Professional Development Day exceeded all expectations with over 200 attendees. A diverse range of academic partners and professional organizations partnered with the event to inspire nurses to take on new paths. The hospitals own internal councils and programs also engaged with professionals to promote new opportunities and growth.
The tangible results were immediate and inspiring:
- Nurses enrolled in advanced degree programs.
- Certifications and membership in professional organizations increased.
- Many participants engaged more actively with Advocate Condell’s internal initiatives, such as the Excel Program, which recognizes professional achievements.
Perhaps most significantly, was the heartfelt feedback. Nurses expressed feeling seen, valued, and motivated to continue their professional journeys. One particularly resonant comment from a participant captured the event’s spirit: “I’ve never felt like something like this was for me until today.”
Through this success, Sanchez helped reinforce a culture where professional growth isn’t just encouraged — it’s expected and celebrated.
Sanchez’s Personal Philosophy on Professional Development
At the core of Sanchez’s passion lies her personal story. As a first-generation college graduate, she knows firsthand the transformative power of education and ambition. Early in her career, she viewed earning her bachelor’s degree as the final goal — until she became active in professional nursing organizations and saw peers pursuing doctorates and specialized practice areas. This exposure was eye-opening and deeply motivating. “When you surround yourself with talent, you become inspired to also raise the bar on yourself and pursue beyond what you probably had thought you had the potential to do.”
Today, her message to nurses is clear and encouraging: show up. By attending events like Professional Development Day, nurses can discover new possibilities, find inspiration, and set new goals. “You have nothing to lose,” she emphasizes, “and there’s so much you can gain.” Whether it’s advancing academically, earning a certification, joining a professional organization, or deepening engagement within their workplace, every nurse has the potential to grow — if they seize the opportunities before them.
Planting Seeds of Growth: The Power of Rocio’s Professional Development Day
Rocio Sanchez’s dedication has not only transformed her own career but also paved the way for other health care professionals at Advocate Condell and inspired them to reimagine their futures. Through initiatives like Professional Development Day, Sanchez is building a culture where growth is celebrated, ambition is nurtured, and nurses are empowered to reach beyond what they once thought possible. Her story stands as a powerful reminder that in nursing — as in life — the only limits are the ones we set for ourselves.
