Her Story
About Deborah L.
Deborah L. Cantlin is a highly accomplished registered nurse with 40 years of experience dedicated to advancing nursing excellence, professional development, and patient-centered care. She began her career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) in 1985 before earning her associate, bachelor's, and Master of Science in Nursing degrees from Excelsior College in Albany, New York, completing her master's in 2015.
She currently works at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, in the role of, Nursing Professional Development Specialist, leading initiatives that strengthen nursing practice, support the organization's Magnet journey, coordinate recognition programs including the DAISY Award, and empower nurses to demonstrate their impact on patient outcomes through evidence-based practice. She describes this as her "dream job." Board certified in Nursing Professional Development, Ambulatory Care Nursing and formerly certified as a Heart Failure Nurse for eight years, Cantlin has built a distinguished career as both a clinician and a national nursing leader. She has held leadership roles with the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing, including work on nursing-sensitive indicators, and served on the Patient Education Committee of the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses. An accomplished author, she has been published in Nursing Management and the Journal of Cardiac Nursing, and her dedication to compassionate, high-quality care has earned her a recent DAISY Award nomination from the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing. She has previously worked as an Independent Nurse Consultant, helping healthcare organizations implement evidence-based protocols and demonstrate the value of nursing practice. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Cantlin is passionate about mentoring the next generation of nurses and advocating for a stronger voice for the profession during a time of rapid change in healthcare. She encourages nurses to unite, embrace leadership opportunities, and shape the future of nursing through advocacy and evidence-based innovation, particularly as artificial intelligence transforms healthcare delivery. A devoted mother and grandmother, she treasures time with her family and close friends, while also enjoying reading, gardening, spending time outdoors, and volunteering in her community. She proudly supports Vision for Creative Housing and credits her success to perseverance, lifelong learning, and the enduring lesson to always follow her heart and trust her instincts.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Deborah L.
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to hard work, perseverance, and the guidance of exceptional mentors and leaders throughout my career. There were times when I worked weekends while continuing my education and raising my young daughter, which taught me resilience and determination. Most importantly, I have always trusted my instincts and followed my heart when making career decisions, and those choices have consistently led me in the right direction. I learned early on that in order to be and bring my best, I need to surround myself with leaders and teams that value and support my contributions to our patients and our profession.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received is to follow my heart and trust my gut as these are closely connected. I believe that our intuition, when grounded in experience and values, provides valuable guidance and helps us make sound, authentic decisions throughout our careers.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women to trust their instincts and follow their hearts. At the same time, be proactive in shaping your career by seeking mentors, taking on leadership opportunities, joining professional organizations, embracing evidence-based practice, and advocating for both your profession and the patients you serve. These experiences will help you grow as a confident and impactful leader. Surround yourself with other, like-minded women who support and cheer you on. Be a solid base of support for other women. We lead best by lifting others. Stay true to yourself, your character and your integrity. These qualities will never disappoint and can never be taken from you.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the greatest challenges is the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, often before it has been sufficiently validated for clinical practice, while reimbursement pathways for AI continue to expand. At the same time, nursing still faces limitations in capturing reimbursement for many of the interventions nurses provide. Other significant challenges include ongoing nurse staffing shortages, evolving regulatory requirements, a shortage of experienced nurses and educators, fragmented systems across healthcare settings, and the increasing shift of complex patient care into ambulatory environments. These changes also present opportunities to strengthen evidence-based nursing practice, improve care coordination, and validate the evolving role of nurses in new care settings.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide both my professional and personal life are authenticity, advocacy, evidence-based practice, patient-centered care, collaboration, and integrity. I believe in fostering unity within the nursing profession while always advocating for the best possible outcomes for patients. Above all, I strive to remain true to my values by trusting my instincts and leading with purpose and compassion.
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