Leading While Caring
Rebekah Artman is the senior nursing officer for Duke LifePoint hospitals, Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital. Artman’s remarkable career trajectory, which began as a certified nurse assistant (CNA) while attending nursing school, highlights her deep commitment to professional growth, patient advocacy and empowering nursing teams. Learn more about her path to overseeing nursing operations at two facilities.
Rebekah's Path from CNA to SNO
Rebekah Artman's appointment as senior nursing officer marks a homecoming for her, as she began her nursing career at Harris Regional Hospital in 2007 as a certified nurse assistant (CNA) while attending nursing school. Over the years, Artman steadily advanced in her education and career, earning degrees and taking on various roles that paved the way for her current position.
After earning her registered nursing license in 2009, Artman developed a passion for providing bedside care as an ICU nurse and was routinely tapped for interim leadership roles. “The transformational leaders I’ve had saw something in me before I saw it in myself,” Artman, who hails from Robbinsville, North Carolina, says.The Lifepoint Health veteran grew as a healthcare operator in the Assistant Chief Nursing Officer (ACNO) Program.
The transformational leaders I’ve had here saw something in me before I saw it in myself.
Assistant Chief Nursing Officer Program
In the ACNO program, Artman was mentored by Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) Becky Jones at Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital. She says that Jones was transformative in her leadership journey throughout her time there and critical in shifting her approach to systems thinking. “Director to an executive is a whole different mindset," Artman says. "It’s moving from ‘Here is my area of focus,’ to ‘How does this impact the whole?’”
As an ACNO, Artman also worked alongside Bridget Denzik, CNO, ensuring alignment with patient and hospital goals. “Bridget champions those she leads," she says. "The Frye family loves their people and is there for their patients." Patient care is central to hospital leadership. “Not only do I care for patients, but now I care for our staff as well, nurturing their personal and professional growth,” Artman says.
Hospital leadership also means giving and receiving feedback. Artman says that a steady feedback loop ensures she is aware of what she calls ‘blind spots,’ and helps her know what to focus her intentions on. “Positive feedback I have received is that I am positive,” she says. “I find our core values to be incredibly empowering. Are we being accountable to these values, I’ll often ask.”
Lifepoint’s Core Values:
- Champion Patient Care
- Do the Right Thing
- Embrace Individuality
- Act with Kindness
- Make a Difference Together
Tuition for her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at Western Governors University was offset through Lifepoint’s reimbursement benefit, and Artman credits the healthcare MBA program at the University of Tennessee for ramping up her leadership skills and pursuits. A key to balancing priorities as a nursing director and graduate student? “Intentional planning time,” she says. “Asking myself what is approaching and what I can do to prepare – has helped me be more successful day to day.”
Artman says she that stays within Lifepoint Health because of its core values, administrators and opportunities for personal and professional growth and development. “The experiences continue to invigorate me in this profession,” Artman says. While it’s easy to become task-oriented in any role, Artman has clarity when it comes to the type of people-first leader she aims to be. “I want to provide colleagues and those I lead with a voice, a stage," she says. "I want to listen to their suggestions for overcoming obstacles and reaching solutions together."
Rebekah was a joy to mentor. She is eager to learn, uses resources to guide her decision-making and doesn’t hesitate to ask questions. That’s the epitome of a great nursing officer.
Bridget Denzik, DNP, chief nursing officer, Frye Regional Medical Center
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2007
Begins working as a CNA
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2009
Earns RN license
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2015
Starts first supervisor role
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2023
Gains experience as an ACNO
About Lifepoint Health
We are a diversified healthcare delivery network committed to making communities healthier® with acute care, rehabilitation, and behavioral health facilities from coast to coast. Our commitment to empowering nurses includes providing the tools, training, and support needed to succeed through REACH: Recruiting and Retention, Education, Advancement, Culture, and Honors. From your first day to your next career milestone—your experience matters.
- 60 community hospitals
- 250 sites of care, including behavioral health and rehabilitation units
- 31 states across the US
Explore our nursing career opportunities:
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