HENDRICKSON IS NAMED TO NURSING BOARD

Southeast Missouri Assistant Administrator Karen Hendrickson has been appointed to a four-year term on the Missouri State Board of Nursing.

The appointment by Gov. John Ashcroft will be formally confirmed by the Missouri Senate when it reconvenes in January.

The State Board of Nursing is the regulatory agency for nursing practice in Missouri.

"To be appointed to the State Board of Nursing is a great honor," Hendrickson said. "I look forward to accepting the challenges and responsibilities that are inherent in this position, just as I look forward to the opportunity to be involved in developing standards of nursing practice that will help meet the growing and diverse health care needs of Missourians."

Eight members, five of whom are registered professional nurses, sit on the board.

The State Board of Nursing has statutory authority to regulate the practice of registered nurses, including certified registered nurse anesthetists and licensed practical nurses in Missouri. Its powers include prescribing minimum standards for schools of nursing, surveying schools to determine compliance, accrediting school of nursing programs, examining and licensing new nurses and prosecuting people violating provisions of the Nurse Practice Act.

Hendrickson's name was submitted for consideration as a board appointee by the Missouri Nurses Association.

"The Missouri Nurses Association is very pleased to have Karen Hendrickson represent nursing administration on the Board of Nursing," said Belinda Heimrich, executive director of the Missouri Nurses Association. "Her involvement as co-investigator of the Missouri Nursing 2000 Futures Research Study and her expertise in nursing administration will make her a definite asset to the state board."

Hendrickson has served as director of nursing at Southeast Missouri Hospital for the past 10 years. A graduate of Barnes Hospital School of Nursing, Hendrickson earned her bachelor of science degree in nursing and master of arts in psychological counseling at Southeast Missouri State University.