Bourbon Community Hospital Names Connie Charles as Senior Nursing Officer

PARIS, KY (June 10, 2025) – Bourbon Community Hospital is proud to announce that Connie Charles, MSN, BSN, CCRN, has been named the facility’s new Senior Nursing Officer. In this role, Charles will oversee the hospital’s clinical operations, nursing services and patient care initiatives. She will work under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer and in collaboration with the Market Chief Nursing Officer to continue advancing the hospital’s mission of delivering high-quality, patient-centered care to the community.

Charles brings nearly 20 years of nursing and leadership experience to the role, having served in a variety of progressive leadership positions at various healthcare organizations. Most recently, she has served as Director of Nursing (ICU and Medical-Surgical Units) at Bourbon Community Hospital, where she led the daily operations of the nursing staff and achieved significant advancements in patient satisfaction, quality and regulatory compliance.

Prior to joining Bourbon Community Hospital, Charles spent over a decade at a healthcare facility in Lexington, Kentucky, where she held several leadership roles including Director of Inpatient Nursing and Director of Cardiovascular Services. During her tenure, she was responsible for the operational and financial oversight of 12 inpatient nursing departments and managed more than 300 full-time employees. She successfully led efforts to improve patient experience scores by 75%, developed and implemented clinical practice standards, and directed major quality improvement initiatives that reduced central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs).

Her educational background includes a Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Management from Western Governors University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of the Cumberlands, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from Eastern Kentucky University. She holds several professional certifications including Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and NIH Stroke Scale Certification. Throughout her career, Charles has been recognized for her contributions to nursing leadership, including being nominated for Leader of the Year and earning a DAISY Award for Nursing Excellence.

“We are very pleased to welcome Connie into her new role as Senior Nursing Officer,” said Tommy Haggard, chief executive officer of Bourbon Community Hospital. “She is an outstanding leader with a strong track record of improving clinical operations, advancing patient care quality and supporting staff development. Her passion for patient-centered care and her commitment to operational excellence will be instrumental as we continue to serve our patients and families in Paris and the surrounding communities.”

As Senior Nursing Officer, Charles will be responsible for the strategic leadership and direction of all nursing services and clinical departments at Bourbon Community Hospital. She will focus on maintaining a culture of safety, achieving clinical excellence, and supporting a collaborative work environment where patients receive high-quality care close to home.