The Nurses Legacy Institute’s Post

If you’re a Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), you’re part of a diverse tapestry of inspiring nurse leaders. At The Nurses Legacy Institute, we’re intimately familiar with hundreds of career stories. No two alike. Formative lived and professional experiences shape each story. Today, we’re honored to spotlight Dr. Mila Sprouse EdD, MSN, RN, CCRN, NE-BC. Mila authored the soon-to-be-published memoir “From Tomatoes to the Boardroom. Available for pre-order ahead of its September 30 release, it traces her rise as a nurse leader from humble beginnings in the Philippines. We’re proud of our chapter in her story, which took place five years ago this fall. Still early in her executive journey at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center, Mila was searching for a conference to help her navigate the complexities of the CNO role. Discovering The Nurses Legacy Institute, she applied for and was awarded a scholarship to attend our flagship Chief Nursing Officer Institute (CNOI). One of “the most precious gifts” of her career, Mila walked away with three key lessons, imparted by our founder, Dr. Joyce Batcheller 1) Courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s leading in spite of it. 2) Executive leadership is less about titles and more about presence. 3) The true measure of leadership is how well you lift others along the way. Mila graciously credits TNLI for shaping how she shows up as a nurse leader— authentic, grounded in courage, community, and the wisdom of CNOs who came before. Today, Mila oversees more than 3,000 caregivers as CNO for North Puget Sound Providence. Coming full circle, and not by coincidence, her system CNO is TNLI faculty member Sylvain Trepanier, DNP, RN, CENP, FAONL, FAAN (pictured together). When asked her advice for young nurse executives, Mila shared this moving reflection— “I want you to know: you do not have to lead alone. To this day, when I meet promising nurse leaders like you, I recommend attending the Chief Nursing Officer Institute. The experience will shape your career and calling.” Enjoyed this beautiful story? It’s the first of many The Nurses Legacy Institute alumni spotlights to come! Follow this page and subscribe to 'all' notifications (click the bell in the upper right corner of our profile) for more inspiring alumni stories. Repost & tag a nurse leader in your network whose story we should spotlight.