Tammy Penka Recognized as One of the Great 100 Nurses of Arkansas

Baxter Health is proud to announce that Tammy Penka, MSN, RN, Director of Quality, has been named one of the Great 100 Nurses of Arkansas. This recognition honors exceptional nurses who have made a significant impact on the lives of their patients and their communities.

The Great 100 Nurses of Arkansas is an annual award that honors nurses who have made a significant impact on the lives of their patients, colleagues, and community. Nurses are nominated for this award and then chosen by an anonymous panel based on their concern for humanity, their contribution to the profession of nursing, and their mentoring of others.

Tammy, a nurse of 28 years, worked as a clinical nurse, case manager, nurse manager, and nursing instructor before beginning her career at Baxter Health. She joined the Baxter Health Family in 2010 serving patients as a clinical nurse. She transitioned to the Quality Department in 2011 as a Process Improvement Specialist and then assumed the role of Director of Quality in 2016.

The Great 100 Nurses of Arkansas award is sponsored by the Great 100 Nurses Foundation. The Foundation was founded 37 years ago by PK Scheerle, a registered nurse in New Orleans, and focuses on celebrating nurses based on the courage they have displayed, their competency in the profession, and the care they have shown to their patients and colleagues. Since its founding, the Great 100 Nurses Foundation has honored thousands of nurses across Arkansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, Texas, and Oklahoma.

“We are incredibly proud of Tammy Penka’s nomination as one of the Great 100 Nurses of Arkansas,” said Rachel Gilbert, MSN, RN, Baxter Health VP/Chief Nursing Officer. “Tammy’s unwavering commitment to quality patient care, her exceptional leadership skills, and her profound passion for the nursing profession has truly set her apart. This well-deserved recognition is a testament to the positive impact she has made on Baxter Health and the lives of so many others.”

Baxter Health congratulates Tammy on this well-deserved honor. For more information about the Great 100 Nurses of Arkansas award and nomination process, visit www.g100nurses.org/arkansas.html.