North Arkansas Regional Medical Center (NARMC) Chief of Nursing Donna Boehm will receive the 2024 North Arkansas College Distinguished Alumna award presented by the Northark Foundation. She will be honored during the Foundation’s annual Evening on the Plaza dinner on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the Signature Bank Community Room. The dinner will be preceded by a reception at 6:00 p.m. in the atrium. The special event celebrates the 50th Anniversary of North Arkansas College which was founded in 1974.
“Being selected for the Northark Distinguished Alumna award gives me a sense of pride and accomplishment,” Donna said. “It signifies recognition for my contributions and achievements, as well as validation for the efforts put into my development and growth.”
Donna is thankful Northark was an option for getting an education. She graduated from Northark in 1995 with an Associate Degree in Nursing and has been employed at NARMC since 1992. “Attending Northark afforded me several advantages such as being cost effective and having family and friend’s support. Attending college in my hometown allowed me to stay connected to my community, attend my children’s sporting events, and I was able to work in my community hospital while I was getting my degree. The smaller classes and the one-on-one support were invaluable. Going back to school in your 30’s and having a family is challenging. Northark was there to provide support in those challenging times.”
Once she was working, she found clinical and communication skills were crucial for providing quality care to patients and ensuring their well-being. “Northark provided me with those skills and gave me a solid foundation that was essential for my success,” she said.
In 2017 she received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and is currently in a Master’s in Nursing Administration program at Arkansas State University.
Donna is a highly competent Registered Nurse with 30 years of experience in orthopedics, pediatrics, urology, and medical-surgical including three years of ICU experience. She supervises over 250 nurses and utilizes a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to drive quality of care and performance excellence to achieve operational and clinical success. She has also provided nursing services during multiple mission trips to Mexico over the course of five years and serves as a Volunteer Board Member of the Office of Emergency Medicine.
“My current role is multifaceted,” Donna commented. “I have always had a passion for patient care and leadership development. Interacting with patients and their families, witnessing their recovery, and seeing them thrive in the community after a hospital stay is rewarding and highlights the impact of the care NARMC provides. Focusing on advancing nurses into leadership roles and implementing processes that prioritize safe patient care and staff well-being contributes to the overall success and effectiveness of our healthcare team and organization.”
Donna has three children: Tyler, Morgan, Jason and one grandson Brayden. In her free time, she enjoys boating, traveling, concerts and plays, and going to football and basketball games.
Cathy Brandt will receive the Ozarks Ambassador award. Bonnie Baker, wife of the late Bill Baker, founding President of Northark will receive the Pioneer Impact award during the dinner.
Evening on the Plaza tickets are $50 each or a table of six for $250 and can be purchased online at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/eveningontheplaza or by calling Micki Somers at (870) 391-3242. Please RSVP by April 8, 2024.