St. James Parish Hospital is proud to announce the promotion of Ethan Bland, MBA, as Chief Financial Officer (CFO)and Brittnay Bourgeois, RN, MHA, CPHQ, as Chief Nursing Officer (CNO). These leadership appointments were made with the full involvement and support of the St. James Parish Hospital Board, reflecting a shared commitment to cultivating strong, values-driven leadership from within the organization.
The roles of Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Financial Officer are vital to the hospital’s mission. The CNO provides clinical leadership, supports nursing staff, ensures the delivery of safe, high-quality care, and advances the overall patient experience. The CFO is responsible for safeguarding the hospital’s financial health while ensuring sustainability, stability, and strategic growth. Together, these leaders strike a balance between clinical excellence and financial stewardship, two pillars essential to the long-term success of St. James Parish Hospital.
“I am incredibly proud that we were able to develop talent from within and provide opportunities for professional growth among our outstanding staff,” said Mary Ellen Pratt, CEO. “Through intentional leadership development, we have prepared our people to step into expanded roles. Promoting from within not only recognizes the dedication and expertise of our team but also helps us preserve the high-performing culture we have carefully cultivated. Ethan and Brittnay have deliberately pursued education and development to prepare for this next step, and I am extremely confident in their ability to lead SJPH into the future.”
Ethan Bland, a St. James Parish native, holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Louisiana State University and a Master of Business Administration from Louisiana Tech University. He joined St. James Parish Hospital in 2020 as Materials Manager, overseeing supply chain operations. His role later expanded to include Revenue Integrity Analyst, where he focused on improving charge capture and revenue cycle management. In 2023, he was promoted to Director of Finance, assuming responsibility for accounting, budgeting, audits, and cost reporting.
Upon being named Chief Financial Officer, Ethan shared that he is motivated “to rise to the challenge and give my very best to the hospital and community I care so deeply about.” Ethan is prepared to embrace this leadership role and strengthen the hospital’s financial health through sound planning and strategic investments. “Our community’s success has always come from the collective efforts of its people, and I want to help strengthen those relationships even further.” As CFO, Ethan wants to help ensure that we are good stewards of hospital and public resources by leading initiatives that enhance the well-being of our hospital and community, allowing us to continue to offer high-quality services to future generations.”
Brittnay Bourgeois, also a St. James Parish native, earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Southeastern Louisiana University and a Master of Healthcare Administration from LSU-Shreveport. She recently completed the American Hospital Association’s Next Generation Leadership Fellowship (2024–2025), a prestigious program designed to develop emerging healthcare leaders. With experience across a variety of healthcare settings, Brittnay brings a strong foundation in patient-centered care. Before being named Chief Nursing Officer, Brittnay served as Chief Quality Officer, where she led critical initiatives in patient safety, quality improvement, risk management, infection control, and care coordination.
“Being selected as Chief Nursing Officer is a privilege and a responsibility I don’t take lightly,” Brittnay said. “I also feel a tremendous responsibility to support our nurses and continue strengthening an environment where they can thrive, grow professionally, and provide the very best care to our patients and families.”
As CNO, Brittnay plans to remain accessible and closely engaged with patients, families, and our community—listening to their experiences, responding transparently, and ensuring their voices guide our care decisions. By living our values in every interaction and building on the strong culture already in place at St. James Parish Hospital, she believes we can continue to strengthen relationships and demonstrate our commitment to enhancing the well-being of all.
