Mentoring Matters: A Quality Improvement Project

Kimberly Blanton is a board- certified Nursing Executive and has more than 26 years of progressive nursing experience, including key management positions. Blanton completed her Doctorate in Nursing Practice from the University of Kentucky in 2020 and her Masters in Healthcare Administration from the University of Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona in 2009. She is currently the Chief Nursing Officer for Chandler Medical Center at UK Healthcare. Dr. Blanton began her career in 1998 serving as a critical care nurse in the UK Healthcare Neuro Intensive Care. She took on multiple nursing leadership roles during her initial 11 years at UK Healthcare. She left UK in 2008 to take a role as Director of Critical Care Nursing for Pikeville Medical Center. In January 2011, she rejoined UK Healthcare as a Hospital Operations Administrator. Prior to accepting her Chief Nursing Officer role, she has served as the Enterprise Nursing Operations Director for the Cardiovascular Service Line, Interventional Services, and the Enterprise Infection Prevention and Control program for ten years.