Karen Emard, RN, BSN, CEN, has been named nurse manager for the Catoosa County Health Department, according to a joint announcement by the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) Northwest Health District and the Catoosa County Board of Health. Ms. Emard began her duties at the health department on July 3. She was previously clinical manager for the emergency department at Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton.
“We are thrilled to have someone with Karen’s extensive private-sector nursing experience join our public health nursing team,” said DPH Northwest Health District Program Manager Nichole Crick, RN, BSN. “She is already managing clinical operations at the health department and working to ensure delivery of excellent program and nursing services and evidence-based practice, while optimizing resources for achieving individual and community health outcomes.”
“I am enthusiastic about leading the dedicated, experienced clinical team at the Catoosa County Health Department,” Ms. Emard said, “and especially interested, because of my background and training, in continuing and strengthening the health department’s community role in emergency preparedness and response.”
Ms. Emard also previously worked as patient services administrator, dedicated charge RN, forensic nurse examiner, and emergency department RN at Memorial Health System in Colorado Springs, CO. She is a certified emergency nurse and a trauma nurse/emergency nurse instructor.
Emard is experienced in emergency preparedness and trained in incident command. She also volunteers with the Community Emergency response team. She is a member of the Emergency Nursing Association and the American Nursing Association.
She received her associate degree in nursing from Pikes Peak Community College, her BSN from Western Governors University, and is working on her Masters in Nursing Healthcare and Leadership Management at Western Governors University.