Vice President Named at Baptist Shelby

Alabama Nurse, Sep-Nov 2003

Alabaster, Ala. Baptist Medical Center Shelby is pleased to announce that Judy Blankenship will be taking over the position of vice president of patient care services.

Blankenship is a native of Drake, North Dakota, where she attended Trinity Hospital School of Nursing. She graduated in 1971 and worked at her hometown hospital before coming to Alabama.

Blankenship has been a Baptist Shelby since 1974 and has held many position while here. Blankenship first started out as a night staff nurse then moved to unit coordinator, DRG coordinator and quality coordinator. She became a nursing division director in 1998 and held that position until now.

Blankenship has been busy since she came to Baptist Shelby 29 years ago. She realizes that many new tasks will come with her job, but she is excited and ready for the challenges that await her.

"I live with changes," Blankenship said. "If you don't have change then you become stale, so I believe it can be a good thing."

Being in a leadership role takes a special kind of person; a person who can handle the pressures of a demanding job as well as the day to day things that can occur in a hospital setting.

"Being responsible for all patient care in the hospital will be a big difference for me," Blankenship said. "I take the responsibility seriously. The people resources at this organization, as well as the leaders here, are exceptional. I know that I will have the help and support I need from them."

Blankenship started her new position Friday, August 1, 2003. She stepped in when Brenda Bourbon retired from the vice president position she had held since 1982.