Methodist Hospital | South hires new CNO


Tonja Thigpen Chief Nursing Officer Methodist Hospital | South COURTESY PHOTO

Tonja Thigpen Chief Nursing Officer Methodist Hospital | South COURTESY PHOTO

Methodist Hospital | South is proud to introduce Tonja Thigpen, MSN, CCNS, CCRN-K, NEA-BC, as their new Chief Nursing Officer.

Thigpen will join the hospital after serving as the Assistant Chief Nursing Officer at Reston Hospital Center in Reston, Virginia. Thigpen has held several other leadership roles throughout her career, including Administrative Director of Nursing Operations and Practice at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Having served as a Nursing Director over several departments including, Critical Care, Emergency Department, Trauma and Adult Care Services, Thigpen brings extensive experience to the hospital. At Mary Washington hospital, she improved nurse retention in her Critical Service line and Emergency Department. She also received the Outstanding Leader Award in 2018 and 2019 and led her Emergency Department to obtain a high-performing team award in 2018.

Thigpen holds a BSN from Virginia Commonwealth University and an MSN from Liberty University. She is a Doctorate candidate at Virginia University of Lynchburg and on track to graduate in December 2021. She has also completed the AONE Nurse Director Fellowship Program in 2016 and is a board-certified Critical Care Nurse Specialist certified in Critical Care Nursing and Nursing Administration. Thigpen has a proven track record of fostering a culture of ownership through accountability, respect, innovation and shared governance. Tonja also served in the United States Army for nine years.

“God has blessed me with the capacity to assist people in need. It is a privilege to serve all nurses—to advocate for high-quality care for our patients and to provide a healthy atmosphere for nursing growth and development,” Thigpen shared. “One thing that remains true is that nurses are the heartbeat of healthcare.”

Under Thigpen’s leadership, Methodist Hospital | South will continue to provide exceptional care to the community while growing to meet the needs of the patients and families in Atascosa County.

About Methodist Hospital | South

Methodist Hospital | South is a 67-bed rural facility serving over five counties. The facility features a full-service inpatient and outpatient surgical department and a multispecialty clinic featuring cardiology, orthopedics and urology services. Its purchase by Methodist Healthcare in 2017 gave the Jourdanton based hospital access to a vast network of the systemís health care services, including immediate transport for higher levels of care. In 2019, Methodist Hospital | South received a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The hospital has received six consecutive ìAî Grade ratings for Patient Safety.

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