SCK Health New Director of Nursing – Dixie Simpson

After almost 15 years at SCK Health, Director of Nursing (DON), Tracy Austin announced her retirement, and will be exiting her role in October of 2023. Tracy has been an important member of the SCK Health family, and we appreciate all she has done for us in her time here. She will be greatly missed, but we wish her the best in her retirement! With this change, we would like to announce that SCK has hired internal candidate Dixie Simpson for Director of Nursing.

Dixie’s medical career began during her high school years as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Throughout her college tenure, she further honed her skills as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) while working in a nursing home and ultimately becoming a nurse. Her journey into nursing commenced at the University of Jamestown (formerly Jamestown College) in Jamestown, North Dakota, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Nursing (BAN). In addition to her academic achievements, she holds the esteemed title of Certified Critical Care RN (CCRN).

Simpson boasts an impressive 38-year career as a Registered Nurse (RN). Her career has spanned a diverse array of specialties, including roles as a nursing home charge nurse, Pediatric nurse, Burn Center nurse, and Emergency Department nurse. She has also excelled in positions such as One-Call Center nurse, Air-Ground Transport nurse, House Supervisor, and ICU nurse.

Dixie’s dedication to her profession extends beyond traditional hospital settings. She has served as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), a School Nurse, and an office nurse for Cardiothoracic/Vascular surgeons and Anesthesiology groups. Her leadership skills shine bright through her lengthy tenure as a nurse leader in various departments, with emphasis in ICU.

Notably, Dixie has expanded her expertise into emergency medical services (EMS), having become an EMT, Paramedic, and former State Examiner for the Kansas Board of EMS. She has generously volunteered her time and expertise with Sumner County Fire District #9 as the Medical Officer and Belle Plaine EMS.

Currently, Dixie is making a significant impact in education as she imparts her knowledge by teaching EMT classes for Cowley College. Her commitment to the field of healthcare has been unwavering, and her contributions to both clinical practice and education continue to benefit countless individuals.

Dixie grew up in South Dakota on a dairy farm and moved to Kansas after college for a nursing position at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita after graduating from nursing school.

She met her husband Randy at Riverside ER a couple of years later. He is currently a Physician Assistant with Integrity Healthcare LLC. They live outside of Oxford. They have two daughters; Kally is a Crime Scene Investigator with Bryan Police Department, Bryan, TX; and Kelsey is a Seasonal Department Manager with Runnings in Brookings, SD.

When asked for her vision as the DON for SCK Health, her response was, “Learning all I can from the current DON, Tracy Austin. She has an incredible amount of knowledge filed away on the functioning of the hospital.” As to the future, “Working with the nursing leaders and nursing staff to make a smooth transition to our new REH designation. We have very smart people here. They have wonderful ideas for improvements. We will be learning this process together. SCK Health is a great place to work. We have huge potential to make it even better. I believe the staff is very invested in working toward the success of SCK Health. I would like to ask for the staff’s patience as I ‘learn the ropes’ in my new position.”