MAYWOOD, Ill. -- Kim Reeks, RN, MSN, has been named the director of nursing at Loyola University Health System (LUHS). Reeks has filled the position most recently held by Mary Morrow, RN, PhD, ACNS-BC. Dr. Morrow was named the chief nursing officer at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital (GMH) of Loyola University Health System (LUHS) in 2011.
“Kim has demonstrated her strong leadership skills over the years by developing staff and promoting excellence in patient care,” said Paula Hindle, RN, MSN, MBA, vice president of health-care services and chief nurse executive, LUHS. “She is an ideal fit for this position, because she offers both the administrative and bedside-nursing experience that is necessary for this role."
In her new position, Reeks will be responsible for a number of projects at Loyola University Medical Center (LUMC) including upgrading infusion pumps and assisting with the implementation of a new monitoring system for intensive-care unit patients.
Reeks has worked at LUMC for her entire career. Since 1983, she has held a variety of staff and leadership positions. Reeks also has cared for some of LUMC’s most critically ill patients in the hospital’s intensive care unit. Most recently, she served as the nurse manager for one of LUMC’s busiest intensive care units where she managed 75 employees who cared for surgical and trauma patients. This unit has earned several hospital quality awards. She also was named a LUHS Nursing Excellence Award winner, and she played an integral role in the development of a new model of patient and family-centered care in the hospital.
Reeks earned her bachelor of science in nursing from Southern Illinois University. She went on to complete her master of science in nursing at Loyola University Chicago. Reeks is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, the American Nurses Association, the Illinois Nurses Association, the American Organization of Nurse Executives and the Illinois Organization of Nurse Leaders.