HENDRICKSON RE-APPOINTED TO NURSING BOARD

Karen Hendrickson, whose appointment to the State Board of Nursing by Gov. John Ashcroft was one of several dozen returned by the Missouri Senate prior to the change in administrations, has been re-appointed to the post by new Gov. Mel Carnahan.

Hendrickson, assistant administrator for patient care, at Southeast Missouri Hosptial, is scheduled to appear before the Senate Gubernatorial Appointments Committee in Jefferson City on Wednesday morning. The panel will likely recommend Hendrickson for approval by the full Senate later in the week.

Ashcroft originally appointed the Cape Girardeau resident to the four year term in late September. She began serving on the nine member board, subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Hendrickson's name was routinely returned to the governor's office to give Carnahan an opportunity to appoint someone of his choice.

One key to receiving confirmation is having the support of the senator from the district where an appointee resides. Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, was quick to notify Carnahan that he would support Hendrickson and that she was well qualified to serve on the nursing board.

"I communicated with Gov. Carnahan my first week here that this would be an excellent appointment and that she should be re-appointed," said Kinder.

"I can't imagine a better qualified professional for this appointment and I'm pleased to support Karen. I indicated to her last year when she was appointed that she had my full support and that has never wavered."

The State Board of Nursing has nine members: five professional nurses; two practical nurses; one other nurse and one voting public member.

The responsibilities of the board are to adopt and revise rules and regulations necessary to comply with the Nursing Practice Act; prescribes minimum standards for nursing education programs; provides for surveys of nursing programs; and handles examination and licensing procedures for nurses.

The board can take action to have violators of the Nursing Practice Act prosecuted.

Hendrickson has been director of nursing of at Southeast Hospital for 10 years and graduated from the Barnes Hospital School of Nursing. She earned her B.S. degree in Nursing and has an M.A. in psychological counseling from Southeast Missouri State University.

Hendrickson is the daughter of the late Rusby Crites, a longtime Cape Girardeau County clerk.

She will be the first appointee whom Sen. Kinder will present to the appointments committeee.