When Kendra Hagerman learned about the open director-of-nursing position at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital (PVCH), the memories came flooding back.

Hagerman worked there for nine years in several capacities and was eager to return.

“I loved working here but I left in 2020 to fulfill my dream of being a flight nurse,” she noted. “Now, I am so pleased to be back in this atmosphere in which our amazing staff strives for excellence.

“They support patients and their families, as well as one another; the spirit of teamwork is contagious. I cannot imagine why anyone would not want to be a part of this team.”

Hagerman’s goal in her new position is to provide support and leadership to the nurses and other PVCH departments.

“I want to continue to build this great team, while providing skilled and compassionate care through evidence-based practices,” she commented. “I also will do my best to live up to the hospital’s values of accountability, innovation, integrity, service excellence, teamwork and stewardship.

“In addition, a strong work ethic and professional attitude are so important as we care for our patients’ physical and emotional well-being.”

Hagerman’s previous positions at PVCH were registered nurse, Emergency Department supervisor, director of nursing, and administrator.

Her professional background also includes instructor of nursing at Barton Community College; assistant director of nursing at Larned State Hospital’s Psychiatric Services Program; RN at The University of Kansas Health System – Great Bend Campus in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit; and Critical Care Transport for EagleMed.

Melanie Urban, Administrator at PVCH, commended Hagerman’s qualifications, stating, “Mrs. Hagerman’s professional background and alignment with PVCH’s core values make her an excellent leader for our nursing team. Her commitment to healthcare excellence plays a crucial role in our ongoing mission to deliver outstanding patient care.”

Hagerman earned an associate’s degree in nursing at Trinidad State Junior College, Alamosa, Colo., in 2010, and a master’s in nursing at Walden University in Minneapolis, Mn., in 2016.

“I will rely on this background at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, which I consider to be my home,” she said. “There is not much better than serving the community you live in.”

Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, 923 Carroll in Larned, is a 25-bed facility, offering many services not typically available in a smaller facility. Included are 24/7 emergency care; acute, skilled and specialized nursing; surgery; high-tech imaging and laboratory tests; wound care; rehabilitation; and sleep and diagnostic center. PVCH Family Medicine provides the full range of family-medicine services; physician-assisted weight loss; and women’s health services. The hospital’s number is 620-285-3161; the clinic’s number is 620-804-6007.