By OLIVER GOOD

Staff writer

Marion High School alumnus Gail Boaldin has returned to take the chief nursing officer position at St. Luke Hospital and Living Center as of Nov. 3.

“It’s been about 30 years since I’ve been to town,” Boaldin said Thursday. “It’s nice to be back close to a lot of my family.”

She’s excited to be living near her two kids and five grandchildren and ready to give back to a community she said gave her so much as she was grew up.

With 12 years of experience in small towns as a chief nursing officer in Western Kansas and near Topeka, she is ready to “spice it up” by adding her own touches here and there to the St. Luke atmosphere.

She is not, however, planning any major changes as of yet as she gets her bearings, and so far she has experienced a soft move into new St. Luke CEO Jeremy Ensey’s former role.

“It makes for an easy transition when things already run extremely smooth,” she said.

Boaldin specializes in critical access hospitals with 25 or less patient beds like St. Luke and values helping patients in their time of need.

“I’m an ER nurse at heart,” she said. “I still hope I get some bedside time in here.”