.png)
Pulse Check with Dr. Kimberly Long
Join nurse and healthcare leader Kimberly C. Long as she sits down with top nursing executives to uncover the defining moments that shaped their careers. In each 10-minute episode, guests share the challenges, breakthroughs, and insights that helped them grow as leaders. From inspiring team culture to improving patient care and navigating complex healthcare systems, Kimberly brings out practical lessons and actionable strategies that nursing leaders can apply every day. Whether you’re a seasoned CNO or an emerging leader, these conversations offer a front-row seat to the wisdom and experiences that drive success in nursing leadership.
Pulse Check with Dr. Kimberly Long
Dr. Rendi Solis - Assistant Chief Nursing Officer at Antelope Valley Medical Center
In this episode of Pulse Check, Dr. Kimberly Long sits down with Dr. Rendi Solis, Assistant Chief Nursing Officer at Antelope Valley Medical Center, to explore what it truly means to lead with humility, purpose, and compassion in healthcare.
Dr. Solis shares her journey from bedside nursing to executive leadership, pivotal moments that shaped her career, and strategies for overcoming challenges like staffing, access to care, and the isolation often felt in leadership roles. She also offers actionable advice for nurses and emerging leaders stepping into management positions.
This episode is a candid look at modern nursing leadership—rooted in service, resilience, and connection.
00:00 – 00:06
Dr. Kimberly Long: Thank you for joining us this morning. I appreciate your willingness to share your expertise with the listeners.
00:07 – 00:10
Dr. Rendi Solis: Thanks for having me. Excited to be here.
00:11 – 00:36
Dr. Kimberly Long: Wonderful. To our listeners, this is Rendi Solis. She is Assistant Chief Nursing Officer at Antelope Valley Medical Center. Thank you again for being here. I have a few questions I’d like you to share your perspective on.
Every leader has a journey that brings them to where they are. Can you share yours? What experiences or challenges shaped your path?
00:36 – 00:58
Dr. Rendi Solis: Absolutely. My compassion for excellence in patient care has driven me from the bedside all the way to leadership. Leadership gives us more control over how we impact bedside care, and that’s always been the forefront of my drive to pursue leadership in healthcare.
00:59 – 01:06
Dr. Kimberly Long: What are some of the challenges that shaped your path as you progressed in your leadership journey?
01:07 – 01:37
Dr. Rendi Solis: Many challenges—education, loading myself with the knowledge needed to be successful. Professionally, access to care, staffing, retention, and placing the right leaders in the right roles have all been challenges.
01:38 – 01:48
Dr. Kimberly Long: Looking back, what was the pivotal moment in your career that defined the leader you’ve become?
01:49 – 02:25
Dr. Rendi Solis: Highland Hospital was pivotal. At the bedside, I saw opportunities to improve care. My leader encouraged me to pursue leadership, and it felt like a calling. Leadership became my niche—I truly love it.
02:26 – 02:47
Dr. Kimberly Long: Leadership roles can be isolating, especially at executive levels. What strategies have you used to stay connected and grounded?
02:48 – 03:23
Dr. Rendi Solis: I meet people where they are, without hierarchy. I show humility, treat everyone as a leader, and remain approachable so staff feel comfortable talking to me.
03:24 – 03:34
Dr. Kimberly Long: What advice would you give to someone just beginning their nursing career or stepping into leadership?
03:35 – 04:09
Dr. Rendi Solis: Be kind to yourself and others—give grace. Entry-level management is tough. Hang in there, be resilient, and communicate openly with leadership and staff.
04:09 – 04:21
Dr. Rendi Solis: Isolation is real. I encourage connecting with peers, taking people to lunch, and socializing outside of work to stay grounded.
04:22 – 04:28
Dr. Kimberly Long: Thank you so much for taking the time to share your expertise with us.
04:29 – 04:46
Dr. Rendi Solis: Absolutely. And I want to say—Dr. Long was my mentor. I had the best mentor ever, and I’m so grateful for everything you taught me.
04:46 – 05:01
Dr. Kimberly Long: It was truly an honor to be part of your journey. I’m excited to see where you continue to go.
05:02 – 05:04
Dr. Rendi Solis: Thank you so much. Bye.
05:04
Dr. Kimberly Long: Bye-bye.
