Full-Time
Head Nurse
Appalachian Regional Healthcare
Nonprofit health system serving Appalachia
No salary listed
Salyersville, KY, USA + 1 more
More locations: West Liberty, KY, USA
In Person
 Medical, Clinical & Veterinary (1) |
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- Licensed Practical Nurse required.
- A minimum of 2 years of experience in nursing supervision is required.
- Demonstrated management and clerical skills are required.
- Provide effective supervision and clinical leadership of the nursing unit in accordance with clinic philosophy, policies, procedures, plans, and organization.
- Perform clinical nursing procedures, including starting intravenous lines, administering chemotherapy, performing electrocardiographs and electrocardiograms, and assuring that the drug cart is properly stocked.
- Assist the physician with various clinical procedures.
- Assume Licensed Practical Nurse duties as required.
- Accept telephone calls from patients and their families and counsel them concerning their illness, condition, and medicine.
- Provide patient education as required.
- Assure that patient forms are completed, insurance coverage is verified, and Medicaid coverage for prescription medicines is confirmed.
- Secure pre-authorization before a physician admits a patient to a hospital, observation unit, or outpatient surgery to assure proper payment is received.
- Schedule patients for surgery at various Appalachian Regional Healthcare hospitals and assure that the pre-operation work-up is completed.
- Interview, select, develop, promote, transfer, discipline, and terminate personnel under supervision, or recommend such actions.
- Develop work schedules and assignments based on patient needs and assure adequate staff is available to assist physicians.
- Develop and maintain safety plans for employees and patients, including fire drills and bomb threats, and implement Occupational Safety and Health Administration plans.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Registered Nurse preferred.
Appalachian Regional Healthcare operates 14 nonprofit hospitals across Kentucky and West Virginia, serving rural Central Appalachia. It offers primary and specialty care, including cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, and behavioral health, plus home health, pharmacy, and rehabilitation services through over 1,300 providers. What sets ARH apart is its position as one of the region's largest employers, focused on medically underserved communities. The goal is to improve health and promote well-being for the people of Central Appalachia.
Company Size
N/A
Company Stage
Grant
Total Funding
$3.7M
Headquarters
Barbourville, Kentucky
Founded
1955
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Whitesburg ARH hired Joey Waddell CEO on July 2, 2026.
- Hazard ARH's maternity expansion supports 350 annual births and regional retention.
- ARH's college partnership builds local talent for nursing, residency, and physician recruitment.
What critics are saying
- Pike County sued ARH on April 9, 2026 over $3 million unpaid psychiatric bills.
- Robinette v. Appalachian Regional Healthcare reached federal court on January 30, 2026.
- ARH's 2023 federal billing settlement and 2016 pharmacy allegations damage payer trust.
What makes Appalachian Regional Healthcare unique
- ARH runs 14 hospitals across Eastern Kentucky and Southern West Virginia.
- Hazard ARH opened six new birthing suites on March 25, 2026.
- ARH launched Lifestyle Medicine and Alice Lloyd College clinician pipelines in 2026.
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Benefits
Professional Development Budget
Company News
Joey Waddell named CEO of Whitesburg ARH Hospital. WHITESBURG, Ky. (WXKQ) - Appalachian Regional Healthcare has named Joey Waddell as the new Chief Executive Officer of Whitesburg ARH Hospital. Waddell brings more than 20 years of healthcare leadership experience and most recently served as chief operating officer at Highlands Regional Medical Center. A native of Eastern Kentucky and U.S. Army veteran, Waddell has held leadership positions in Kentucky and Indiana and says he looks forward to leading the hospital while continuing to improve healthcare services for the people of Central Appalachia.
ARH earns 2026 Platinum Bell Seal for workplace mental health. * Special to Appalachian Newspapers * 6 hrs ago * Comments Appalachian Regional Healthcare announced in a statement it has been awarded the 2026 Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health, a national recognition honoring U.S. employers committed to creating mentally healthy workplaces. ARH, the statement said, has been awarded the Platinum Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health - the highest level awarded - for its dedication to overall employee wellness, mental health, and a supportive workplace culture. The Bell Seal is issued by Mental Health America, the nation's leading nonprofit dedicated to promoting mental health, well-being and prevention. The statement said the recognition highlights ARH's ongoing commitment to supporting the health and well-being of its employees across the communities it serves. "At ARH, supporting the mental health and well-being of our employees is an essential part of caring for the people who care for our communities," said Sonya Bergman, ARH chief people officer. "This recognition reflects our continued commitment to creating a workplace where employees feel valued, supported and equipped to do their best work." The statement said ARH was evaluated on its policies and practices in four key areas: culture, benefits, compliance and wellness programs. These areas reflect the importance of a comprehensive approach to workplace mental health, including supportive resources, employee-centered policies and a culture that recognizes the connection between personal well-being and professional success. As part of that commitment, the statement said, ARH offers employees access to a broad range of mental health and wellness resources through a dedicated wellness support program. These resources include confidential counseling and therapy services, employee assistance programs, digital well-being coaching, telehealth behavioral health options, crisis support, and personalized assistance connecting employees with local and organizational resources. By supporting employees through both personal and professional challenges, ARH continues to invest in the overall well-being of the workforce that serves communities across Central Appalachia, according to the statement. "As a healthcare organization, we understand the unique demands our employees face every day," Bergman said. "Providing strong support for their mental health and overall well-being is not only the right thing to do - it strengthens our ability to care for our patients and communities." Since 2019, Mental Health America has awarded the Bell Seal to hundreds of employers for supporting the mental health of more than 5.1 million employees, based on decades of research identifying best practices in workplace mental health, the statement said. "As a healthcare system serving communities across Central Appalachia, ARH remains committed to strengthening programs and practices that promote a healthy, respectful and supportive workplace," the statement said. To learn more about Mental Health America and the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health, visit, mhanational.org/bestemployers.
ARH holds 2026 Nursing Awards Luncheon. * Special to Appalachian Newspapers * 4 hrs ago * Comments Compassion, strength, and dedication are just a few of the many positive qualities represented at Appalachian Regional Healthcare's second Nursing Awards Luncheon on May 6 at the Ramada Inn in Paintsville, according to a statement from ARH. The annual luncheon is part of ARH's recognition of Nurses' Week, which honors the important role nurses play in improving healthcare. The awards recognize nurses who show exceptional dedication and go the extra mile in patient care and leadership, the statement said. "Nursing is more than a profession. It is a calling that is rooted in compassion and service," said Paula Vaughan, ARH Division chief nursing officer. "Every day, our nurses are there for our patients during some of the most difficult times in their lives. They provide care, comfort, and so much more, and this event gives us a chance to celebrate our nurses and the tremendous impact they have on our communities." The awards celebrate nurses in a range of categories, representing their various roles across different hospitals throughout the communities. Presenters shared touching stories that highlighted the personal connections nurses build with patients and their families, the statement said. "Our nurses care for our families, friends and neighbors. They are true reflections of the spirit of Appalachia. Hardworking, compassionate, and deeply committed to helping others," said Beth Forman, ARH division chief nursing officer. The statement said the role and value of nurses are immeasurable. "They are the foundation of healthcare, providing clinical care, comfort and hope," the statement said. "Whether at hospital bedsides, in clinics, or in patients' homes, nurses form deep connections with patients and families during their most vulnerable moments." The 2026 Nursing Excellence Awards winners are: - Larry Jeffers, Hazard ARH Regional Medical Center, Ambulatory Care - Allison Conley, Highlands Regional Medical Center, Behavioral Health - Leslie Taylor, Highlands Regional Medical Center, Care Coordination (CM/UR) - Dolores Luke, Morgan County ARH Hospital, Clinical Quality & Safety - Amanda Carmical, Harlan ARH Hospital, Critical Care - Marlene Maynard, Paintsville ARH Hospital, Emergency - Chloe Johnson, McDowell ARH Hospital, Emerging Nurse Leader - Susie Prater, Hazard ARH Home Health Agency, Home Health - Katie Hammonds, Paintsville ARH Hospital, Infusion/Oncology - Christopher Leake, Middlesboro ARH Hospital, Interventional Radiology/Cath Lab - Carolyn Popp, Mary Breckinridge ARH Hospital, Licensed Practical Nurse - Eden Adams, Whitesburg ARH Hospital, Med-Surg - Thelma Pace, Harlan ARH Hospital, Nurse Director - Natasha Lafferty, Highlands Regional Medical Center, Nurse Educator - Crystal McGaffee, Paintsville ARH Hospital, Nurse Executive - Kathy Frasure, McDowell ARH Hospital, Nurse Legend - Carla Whitaker, Hazard Regional Medical Center, OB/L&D/NBN - Rebecca Wilder, Barbourville ARH Hospital, Operative/Surgical Services - Crystal Coots, Mary Breckinridge ARH Hospital, Patient Care Support - Ambulatory - Melanie Jackson, Barbourville ARH Hospital, Patient Care Support - Hospital - Kelli Bledsoe, Harlan ARH Hospital, Preceptor/Mentor - Kylie Nelson, Beckley Regional Medical Center, Rising Star Highlands Regional Medical Center ICU, Team Excellence Newsletters. Headlines. Would like to receive its headline alerts? Signup today!
Appalachian health system sues EKY county over $3M in unpaid psychiatric care. April 9, 2026 12:17 PM Gift Article An Appalachian regional nonprofit health system is suing one Eastern Kentucky county for more than $3 million in unpaid psychiatric medical care it says it provided inmates at the county jail dating back nearly five years. Appalachian Regional Healthcare, headquartered in Hazard and operating 14 hospitals across Eastern Kentucky and Southern West Virginia, filed suit against Pike County and Jailer Brian Morris in December. Summons in the dispute were delayed until earlier this month. The regional health care chain claims Pike County and the jail breached an implied contract and received unjust enrichment by failing to pay a total of 93 inpatient psychiatric medical bills from March 2021 to September 2025. The company says the Pike County Detention Center has paid previous invoices, which established an agreement through the dealings and is enforceable as a contract under Kentucky law. Despite repeated demands, ARH says the county has refused to pay the remaining balances, however. Morris said he has not yet had an opportunity to investigate the claims, but he believes the individuals who were treated by ARH professionals were no longer in custody nor prisoners at that time. That was communicated to the company before it initiated the lawsuit, he said. "To date, it is my understanding that we have received no proof of these claims outside of a demand for payment by ARH," he said. "I am also not sure at this time if ARH ever attempted to properly bill these individuals' health insurance providers prior to making these claims." Under Kentucky law, "the cost of providing necessary medical, dental, and psychological care for indigent prisoners in the jail shall be paid from the jail budget." Inmates are not to be considered medically indigent if they are actively covered by a medical insurance policy. Morris said he is investigating the matter because the detention center hasn't paid ARH for other treatment during or after the 2021-25 period for which the company claims the county is delinquent. "I cannot justify or support the payment of Pike County citizens' tax dollars to ARH or any other entity without some proof being provided that these monies are rightly owed," he said. ARH did not immediately respond to a Herald-Leader request for comment Thursday. Morris, a former Pike County deputy judge-executive, is in a tight primary race to decide who replaces Judge-Executive Ray Jones in 2027. Appointed jailer in late 2017 after former Jailer Freddie Lewis resigned, Morris won a crowded Democratic primary in 2018 and secured the post for another four years in that year's general election. In 2022, he ran unopposed. Late last year, Morris dropped out of his third Pike County jailer race to run for judge-executive as a Republican shortly after Pike County Schools Superintendent Reed Adkins exited the race. Morris faces attorney Suzy Gibson Shearer, who is also a Republican. April 9, 2026 5:30 AM Politics & Government April 6, 2026 12:32 PM Lexington Herald-Leader Austin R. Ramsey covers Kentucky's eastern Appalachian region and environmental stories across the commonwealth. A native Kentuckian, he has had stints as a local government reporter in the state's western coalfields and a regulatory reporter in Washington, D.C. He is most at home outdoors.
ARH highlighted nationally as model for Food Is Medicine innovation. * Special to Appalachian Newspapers * Apr 9, 2026 * Comments Appalachian Regional Healthcare is gaining national attention for showing food can play a powerful role in improving health, according to a statement from ARH. ARH, the statement said, was highlighted as a national best-practice model for Food Is Medicine during the recent launch of the Florida Food Is Health Institutional Procurement Initiative in Miami. The event was part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' nationwide Take Back Your Health campaign focused on strengthening hospital food systems and expanding patient access to nutritious, locally sourced foods that can help prevent and manage chronic disease. The national event brought together hospital leaders, agricultural partners, and federal officials focused on expanding how nutrition is integrated into patient care across healthcare systems across the country, the statement said. During the event, ARH President and CEO Hollie Harris was invited to help lead a national roundtable convened by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., alongside Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, according to the statement. Harris, the statement said, was asked to help guide the discussion because of ARH's leadership in implementing Food Is Medicine strategies across rural hospital settings and communities. "We are honored to share what we've learned through ARH's Food Is Medicine work and the partnerships that have made it possible across our service area," Harris said. "For too many years, health systems have focused on treating the most serious health conditions rather than finding ways to keep people well in the first place. Science and years of research have told us that food is medicine, and as healthcare providers, we have an important responsibility to help it continue to grow as part of how we care for patients and the communities they call home." Rather than treating nutrition as an add-on, the statement said, ARH embeds it into patient care across its multi-hospital system. ARH screens patients for food insecurity, offers produce prescriptions, provides medically tailored meals, and serves healthier hospital food. This approach addresses the root causes of chronic disease while supporting both recovery and long-term wellness, according to the statement. "When health systems take food seriously, it changes lives," said Harris, who also serves as co-chair of Kentucky's statewide Food Is Medicine Initiative alongside Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell. "At ARH, Food Is Medicine isn't theoretical - it has become a major part of how we care for our patients, support our workforce, and strengthen the communities we serve." Kennedy, the statement said, emphasized the importance of improving nutrition within healthcare settings nationwide, noting that quality food is foundational to quality care. Federal leaders also pointed to ARH as an example of how hospitals can lead this shift by aligning nutrition, clinical care, and community partnerships. CMS issued a national Quality and Safety Special Alert during the event encouraging hospitals to align nutrition services with the forthcoming 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and strengthen food service practices that support patient recovery and long-term health outcomes. The guidance reinforces existing Medicare Conditions of Participation requiring hospitals to meet individual patient nutrition needs, maintain dietitian oversight, keep therapeutic diet manuals current, and integrate nutrition into quality and performance improvement programs. During a national press conference following the roundtable, the statement said, CMS leadership highlighted ARH's workforce and patient nutrition strategies, noting that the system served nearly 1.9 million meals across its facilities last fiscal year - demonstrating the powerful role hospitals can play in improving health through food. The event also spotlighted farm-to-hospital partnerships as a key strategy for improving food quality while supporting local agriculture. This approach is already underway in Kentucky through ARH's partnerships with organizations, including the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and the Kentucky Cattlemen's Association to bring more locally sourced food into hospital kitchens, the statement said.