Jackie Wilkerson Named Chief Nursing Officer of Saline Health

Jackie Wilkerson (Photo provided by Saline Memorial)

Saline Health System on Monday announced that Jackie Wilkerson has been appointed chief nursing officer.

Wilkerson, a registered nurse, has almost 20 years of experience in health care. Her past roles include associate chief nursing officer at HCA Tristar Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and associate administrator at Benton-based Saline Health System.

“She is an exemplary leader with a tremendous amount of both clinical experience and operational expertise,” CEO Char Boulch said in a news release. “Her commitment to patient care, physicians, employees and the community is evident in all that she does, and I know that she will help us further advance our mission of making communities healthier.”

Wilkerson said her primary focus in her new role will be nurse recruitment and retention. In a previous position with Sovah Health, she established a nursing residency program with a recruitment average of 50% of local colleges with an 85% retention of new graduate nurses over a two-year period, according to the release.

Wilkerson holds a master’s of business administration in health care management from Harding University, a bachelor’s in nursing from the University of Memphis and a bachelor’s in business education from Harding University.

She is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Organization of Nurse Executives, Arkansas Organization of Nurse Executives, Arkansas Nursing Association, American Nursing Association, and American College of Healthcare Executives.

Saline Health System includes Saline Memorial Hospital, a 177-bed acute care facility, and Saline Clinics, a network of primary care and specialty clinics.