Stella L. Owen, RN

Stella L. Owen is an accomplished nursing leader and Administrative Director of Nursing for the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) and Coronary Care Unit (CCU) at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. With more than 25 years in the nursing field and nearly three decades of service within the same organization, Stella has built her career from the ground up—beginning as a clinical care technician and advancing through roles as a trauma RN, emergency department nurse, and nurse manager. Her extensive frontline experience, particularly her 20 years in the emergency department, has shaped her clinical expertise and informed her leadership approach in high-acuity, fast-paced environments.

Transitioning into leadership, Stella discovered a passion for guiding teams and improving both patient and staff experiences. As Director of Nursing, she oversees operations across critical care units, managing responsibilities that include staffing, budgeting, quality outcomes, patient satisfaction, and employee engagement. She is known for fostering a supportive and accountable work culture, grounded in her belief that when healthcare professionals feel valued and empowered, they deliver the highest level of care. Her leadership philosophy centers on a “trickle-down effect,” where strong support from senior leadership translates into engaged teams and, ultimately, better patient outcomes.

In addition to her executive role, Stella serves as a forensic nurse with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, where she applies her specialized training to support victims of sexual assault. She holds a master’s degree in forensic nursing from Monmouth University and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Kean University, along with certification as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE). A member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society, Stella remains committed to professional excellence, mentorship, and advancing the impact of nursing leadership in both clinical and community settings.

• Monmouth University - Master Degree, Forensic Nursing
• Kean University - Bachelor degree, Nursing Science
• Muhlenberg Harold B & Dorothy A Snyder Schools-School of Nursing - Diploma in Nursing , Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
• UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ - Associate of Science (A.S.), Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse

• MSN
• RN
• CEN (Certified Emergency Nurse)
• SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner)

• Nursing Honor Society

• ENA (Emergency Nurses Association)
• AACN (American Association of Critical-Care Nurses)
• AONL (American Organization for Nursing Leadership)
• NJSNA (New Jersey State Nurses Association)