Her Story
About Madison
Madison McSwain is a transformational nursing leader with 11 years of clinical and leadership experience, currently serving as Nurse Manager 2 overseeing the cardiac service line at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara. In this role, she leads a multidisciplinary team across several high-acuity subspecialties, including advanced heart failure, structural heart, cardiac surgery, and a catheterization and electrophysiology lab that manages emergent STEMI cases and TAVR procedures — one of the top structural heart programs in Northern California. Her foundation in bedside nursing was built in the pediatric cardiovascular intensive care units at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital and Stanford Children's Health, where she developed the clinical acuity and compassionate care philosophy that continues to define her leadership approach. Driven by a personal loss and a deep commitment to cardiovascular health, she made a deliberate transition into adult cardiac care to extend her impact both clinically and within the communities she serves.
Madison's path into leadership was inspired by an exceptional workplace culture she experienced early in her career — one that demonstrated how strong, people-centered leadership directly elevates both staff well-being and patient outcomes. She went on to earn her Master's degree in Nursing Administration from Capella University and her Nurse Executive Advanced Board Certification, equipping her with the strategic and operational expertise to lead complex service lines with confidence. Known for her belief that observation is the first act of effective leadership, she prioritizes trust-building and cultural development within her teams before introducing change, fostering environments where nurses feel reconnected to their purpose and empowered to deliver exceptional care. Her leadership philosophy has been instrumental in improving nurse retention and sustaining a high-performing cardiac program.
Beyond her clinical and managerial contributions, Madison is deeply committed to broadening the reach of cardiovascular health education in the community. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, the international nursing honor society, and plans to engage with the American Heart Association's Leaders of Impact project, focusing on heart health and stroke awareness initiatives. As she prepares to transition to a Nurse Manager 2 role at UC Davis Medical Center, she brings with her a record of excellence, a passion for mentorship, and a vision for cardiac care that extends well beyond hospital walls. She is also a published author of Motherhood Unfiltered, No One Size Fits All, a testament to her authenticity and her dedication to supporting women navigating the intersection of career and family life.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Madison
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the mentorship and role modeling I received early in my career — particularly from a nurse leader at UCSF who demonstrated what it looks like to truly prioritize people and culture. That experience shaped the kind of leader I aspired to become. I also invested in my formal leadership preparation by earning my Master's in Nursing Leadership, which gave me the tools and framework to lead with intention. Beyond that, I've been guided by a service-oriented, empathic approach to care — values that were instilled in me through family influences in healthcare and that continue to drive everything I do.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
As a leader, you constantly face obstacles involving complex and diverse personalities. When that happens, I've learned to ground myself in my 'why.' You cannot control how others react; you can only control your own response. By remembering why I entered this industry and choosing to lead with kindness, navigating those challenges becomes not just manageable, but meaningful.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice is simple: don't rush into fix-it mode when you step into a leadership role. Observation is also an action. Before implementing any changes, take the time to build genuine trust with your team — learn their workflows, understand their relationships, and truly listen to what they need. Patience is not passive; it is the foundation of earning the trust and respect that make lasting change possible. The leaders who take the time to understand their people before making decisions are the ones who achieve the most meaningful and sustainable success.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the most pressing challenges in nursing today is retention. The emotional and physical demands of high-acuity nursing take a real toll, and keeping experienced nurses engaged and connected to their purpose is something our field must address with urgency. At the same time, I see tremendous opportunity in cultivating positive team cultures that directly support retention and improve patient outcomes. There is also a meaningful opportunity to expand community-facing heart health awareness and prevention work — bringing the expertise we have in clinical settings out into the communities that need it most.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Empathy sits at the core of everything I do — both as a nurse and as a leader. I believe deeply in the power of a supportive culture and in creating environments where staff feel seen, valued, and reconnected to their purpose. Trust-building is essential to me, as is keeping patient-centered care at the forefront of every decision we make. In my personal life, those same values carry over — I strive to show up with compassion, integrity, and a genuine commitment to the people around me.
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