Caldwell, ID — West Valley Medical Center CEO Betsy Hunsicker is pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer Wagenaar, of Aberdeen, South Dakota, to the position of chief nursing officer.
“Jen brings a vast array of clinical and business expertise to West Valley,” CEO Betsy Hunsicker said. “She has an extensive background in hospital quality programs, which will help West Valley continue to grow and excel in quality and patient experience.”
As CNO, Wagenaar is responsible for the delivery and development of hospital-wide patient care programs, as well as clinical policies and procedures. She identifies and implements opportunities throughout the hospital for the monitoring, evaluation and improvement of patient care.
“I decided that West Valley was the right fit for me after meeting the leadership team and seeing the diverse, dedicated staff that serve patients here,” Wagenaar said.
She previously served as CNO for Aberdeen Medical Center, a new startup hospital under the umbrella of the Sanford Health System. Sanford is the largest rural, not-for-profit health system in the United States, providing care to 126 communities across eight states in the Midwest. Wagenaar served with Sanford in various roles for 14 years.
“I am confident Jen will make immediate contributions here at West Valley,” Hunsicker said. “ I am excited by her commitment to professional practice and employee engagement, as well as her experience in developing healthcare services.”
Wagenaar earned her bachelor of science in nursing from South Dakota State University and a master of business administration from University of Sioux Falls.
“We visited Idaho on vacation last summer and fell in love with the area. When we decided the time was right to make a move, Idaho was an obvious choice,” said Wagenaar, who made the move to Canyon County with husband, Chad, and daughters, Kate and Amelia. “We enjoy spending time in the outdoors, the variety of landscapes Idaho offers and the more temperate seasons. We love living in a small, tight-knit community with everything we need just a stone’s throw away.”