Her Story
About Sarah
Sarah Flood, RN, MSN, CPHQ, serves as Patient Safety Manager Section Chief at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System in Aurora, Colorado. In this leadership role, she oversees key patient safety initiatives, including the Patient Safety Program, Fall Prevention Program, and Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Program. Sarah leads efforts to identify risks, coordinate root cause analyses, conduct proactive risk assessments, and implement continuous process improvements that enhance the quality, safety, and reliability of care provided to Veterans. She collaborates closely with frontline healthcare teams and executive leaders to promote a culture of transparency, accountability, and psychological safety.
With more than 15 years of healthcare experience and over a decade as a registered nurse, Sarah has built a distinguished career centered on leadership, quality improvement, and patient advocacy. She began her nursing journey through travel nursing, where she gained diverse clinical experience and developed the confidence and adaptability that shaped her leadership path. During her career, she advanced through roles including Staff Registered Nurse, Assistant Nurse Manager, and High Reliability Organization Coordinator before becoming Patient Safety Manager Section Chief. Her expertise includes high reliability organization principles, healthcare quality, risk management, staff development, infection prevention, and evidence-based practice implementation.
Sarah earned her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Leadership and Administration in Healthcare from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Colorado Mesa University. She holds Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) credentials, along with Lean Six Sigma Yellow and Green Belt certifications, and is an active member of the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ), Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, the CU Anschutz Alumni Association, and the VA VASP Mentorship Program. Sarah attributes her success to grit, determination, and perseverance, overcoming significant personal challenges to achieve her educational and professional goals. Her passion is creating environments where healthcare professionals feel empowered to speak up, collaborate, and drive meaningful improvements that lead to safer, more compassionate care for Veterans.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sarah
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to grit, determination, and an unwavering commitment to perseverance. Coming from a fifth-grade education and taking the initiative to pursue my own education required resilience, discipline, and a strong belief in myself. Through hard work and dedication, I have overcome challenges and continued to grow both personally and professionally. Perseverance has become my trademark, shaping who I am and driving me to keep moving forward, no matter the obstacles I face.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received is to never make a promise I cannot keep and to always remember where I came from. I believe integrity and authenticity are the foundation of success, and keeping my word has helped me build trust throughout my career. I have also learned that when standing in front of an audience, I should never apologize for taking their time. I am there because I have valuable knowledge, experiences, and insights to share, and people are there because they need to hear what I have to say. This mindset has given me the confidence to embrace my voice and the impact I can make.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in my work and personal life are creativity, continuous learning, community, and sharing my passions with others. As an artist, I enjoy expressing myself through oil, pastel, and charcoal painting, and I am actively involved in local art organizations where I have the opportunity to showcase my work at the Brighton Art Community several times a year. Music is another important part of my life; I am a bluegrass musician who plays upright bass, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and banjo. I also enjoy teaching bluegrass music, including violin and guitar, because I believe in the importance of passing knowledge and inspiring others. Beyond the arts, I value dedication and connection through activities like competitive bowling, where I participate in two leagues. These experiences reflect my commitment to creativity, lifelong growth, and building meaningful connections within my community.
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