NOLENSVILLE, TN, June 08, 2023 - Karen Rene Nance Durham, RN, BSN, BSEd, ONC, is a distinguished biographee of Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are chosen from among a pool of the most prominent professionals and are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Ms. Durham has had a distinguished career as a registered nurse, excelling across distinct roles in her field. Currently, she is a staff registered nurse with TriStar Centennial Medical Center where she deploys her vast experience through contributions to neuro-ortho and medical-surgical patient care; she also functions as a dedicated charge nurse, thriving in a collaborative leadership role and partnering with a superb team. Ms. Durham has been in her current position since 2014 when she left Washington Health System after having served in a similar position since 1991.
The path to Ms. Durham's dedicated career in healthcare was shaped by distinct experiences in a variety of fields, all contributing to her comprehensive skillset and deep expertise. She initially pursued a calling to education by completing a Bachelor of Secondary Education with a concentration in vocational home economics from Harding University. Discouraged by her immediate prospects, Ms. Durham refocused her academic profile by earning teaching certification in secondary biology from California University of Pennsylvania—where she was a presidential scholar—then embarked on work as a substitute teacher across diverse disciplines from 1985 to 1989. Concurrently, she excelled as an instructor for the Division of Continuing Education at the Community College of Allegheny County between 1985 and 1986.
Ms. Durham credits peer support and inspiring mentorship for prompting her to pursue a career in nursing. In 1990, she earned a nursing diploma from The Washington Hospital School of Nursing, then completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at California University of Pennsylvania in 1993; notably, in 1992, Ms. Durham was again honored as a presidential scholar for her academic achievements.
Various field certifications are evidence of Ms. Durham's broad expertise in nursing and patient advocacy. For example, she holds the National Association of Orthopedic Nurses Orthopedic Certification, and she finished the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale Training Program. Ms. Durham is also proud to be an HCA Healthcare Charge Nurse Leadership Certificate holder.
Notable civic service is a profound component of Ms. Durham's profile. She was active in the Boy Scouts of America between 1991 and 2016 and in particular served as a BSA health officer for the Cub Scout Day Camp organization from 2002 to 2014. Moreover, from 2009 to 2014 she was a Cub Scout pack trainer and was the active Cub Scout Pack committee chairperson between 2006 and 2009. In 2015 Boy Scouts of America awarded her the highest national scouting award, The Silver Beaver Award. Ms. Durham is also a member of the global charity My Peak Challenge. She set up the subgroup, Single Parent Peakers, and serves as an administrator for that group and the Nashville Peakers. Her Peak Challenge supports a number of charities including Blood Cancer UK, Ocean Conservancy and One Tree Planted. Ms. Durham also participates broadly in various nursing industry organizations via membership in the National Association of Orthopedic Nurses, which promotes excellence in research, education and practice, as well as the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses.
Ms. Durham recently finished a distinct tenure as the chair of the Executive Nurse Practice Council that extended from 2017 to 2022. She helped develop and install the Executive Nurse Practice Council at Centennial Medical Center in 2016, she thrives on offering productive mentorship to other nurse leaders and collaborates on administrative protocols such as formulating the Council bylaws. Currently, Ms. Durham serves on the Medical Surgical Line Nurse Practice Council and is the Chair of the 7 Tower Unit Nurse Practice Council. She is committed to a careful and comprehensive restructuring of the Unit Councils before relinquishing the leadership responsibilities to the next appointee upon her retirement.
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