Several nurses from MANA were featured in the May 2023 issue of Our Health Magazine, a publication of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Karla Johnson, LPN
Fayetteville Diagnostic Clinic, a MANA Clinic
Karla Johnson is a licensed practical nurse and Patient Care Manager at Fayetteville Diagnostic Clinic, A MANA Clinic. Karla wanted to become a nurse to help people and completed her LPN degree from Black River Technical College in Pocahontas, Arkansas. She began working as an Internal Medicine nurse at Fayetteville Diagnostic Clinic in 1995. She loved working in the outpatient clinic where she could develop relationships with her patients. Karla has worked as a nurse in Internal Medicine and Nephrology and as the Training and Development Coordinator with MANA where she served 20 practices.
In her current role as a Patient Care Manager at Fayetteville Diagnostic Clinic, Karla provides leadership for the nurses and patient care assistants as well as working with patients. Karla has an excellent work ethic and attitude. She comes to work early with a smile and is ready to manage any situation that may arise at the busy multispecialty clinic on a given day. Not only does she provide a good example for her team, but she also is someone patients and staff depend on and trust. In her current role, she gets to help people in all aspects from scheduling, to care and billing questions. She knows it is important for the whole team to work together to provide the best experience for their patients. She also credits a lot to her team at MANA.
Daniel Ladd, Director of Fayetteville Diagnostic Clinic said, “Karla is an empathetic listener and is really good about meeting you where you are and helping you get to the other side. She does her work with grace and dignity. She lives out the MANA mission every day in her work, what she says, and how she conducts herself. She shows compassion to people daily, goes above and beyond in her work, and she does a good job of building up the people around her.”
Sarah Watkins, RN
MANA Family Medicine South
Sarah Watkins is a registered nurse and serves as the Patient Care Coordinator at MANA Family Medicine – South in Fayetteville. Sarah completed a registered nurse degree at Arkansas Tech where she is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Sarah became a nurse because she wanted to help people, loved science, and found the human body fascinating.
After working day and night shifts at a hospital, Sarah decided she wanted a more regular schedule and applied at MANA to work as a nurse. She gained valuable experience working as a float nurse in primary care and specialty medicine. In 2009, Sarah accepted a position as a nurse at MANA Family Medicine South in Fayetteville. Eight years later, the physician partners offered Sarah the leadership position of Care Coordinator.
As Care Coordinator, Sarah implements 15 value-based programs and facilitates changes in care management. Her favorite part of the job is providing health education on everything from behavioral health, nutrition, and patient-centered health goals. I help patients set health goals and provide education and support to reach those goals. One of Sarah’s most popular classes is a one-on-one Diabetes Care Class that includes explaining the disease, how it affects the body, and developing a personal nutrition and/or exercise plan. Sarah enjoys the support she receives from the clinic manager and physician partners as they work together on how to improve workflow and care processes in the busy medical practice. Despite the many challenges, Sarah said, “It is a joy to come to work at MANA most every day!”
Mikenda Martin, LPN
MANA Family Medicine Har-Ber
Mikenda Martin is a licensed practical nurse at MANA Family Medicine Har-Ber in Springdale where she has worked with Dr. Jonathan Parker and Dr. Joshua Rankin since 2013. Mikenda received her LPN at Northwest Technical Institute and is now enrolled in the Registered Nurse program at Northwest Arkansas Community College.
Nurse Mikenda is dedicated to her work and does an outstanding job. In addition to her standard responsibilities, Mikenda manages the clinic inventory, including ordering and receiving medical products as well as vaccine inventory, storage, and handling. She is always willing to help her coworkers or jump in if someone needs an extra set of hands. She does her work with a smile on her face, a spring in her step, and joy in her heart. Her attitude is contagious and lifts the spirits of patients and staff around her. She goes out of her way to make new staff members at the clinic feel welcome.
Stephanie Claborn, RN
The Breast Center, A MANA Clinic
“You have to like people to be a good nurse,” explains Stephanie Claborn, RN, a Breast Health Specialist and Lead Nurse at The Breast Center, A MANA Clinic. She makes it sound simple, but her job is anything but simple.
Stephanie completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Louisiana College before moving to Northwest Arkansas. After graduation, she knew she wanted to work in women’s healthcare. She began as a nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and then worked in postpartum care. She began working at The Breast Center part-time in 2014. When a full-time position opened up in 2018, she applied.
As a nurse at The Breast Center, Stephanie assists with diagnostic procedures like biopsies, coordinates follow-up care, and serves as a nurse navigator for patients after a diagnosis. She supports women in their breast cancer journey and is available to answer questions along the way. She said her work is often challenging but rewarding at the same time. Newly diagnosed patients are learning a lot of new terms and information during a very emotional time, and it can be confusing. Stephanie says she is there not only to answer questions but also to give hope and support during a difficult time.
Stephanie is the “ultimate nurse,” said Denice Smith, Director at The Breast Center. “Stephanie mentors and trains her team and encourages those around her.” As the Lead Nurse, Stephanie helps improve clinical processes and develops policies and procedures. The Breast Center has experienced growth in the last few years, and having guidelines and good communication ensures her team provides excellent, compassionate care to every patient.
Kristina Sherrill, RN
Northwest Arkansas Pediatrics, a MANA Clinic
Kristina Sherrill has worked as a registered nurse at Northwest Arkansas Pediatrics, A MANA Clinic, for 18 years, serving as the Nursing Supervisor and was recently promoted to Clinical Operations Manager. Kristina has been a part of major growth within the practice and remains an integral part of the leadership team.
Caring and loving others came naturally to Kristina, the oldest of four children. Kristina attended the University of Arkansas and completed the RN program at Northwest Arkansas Community College. She knew she wanted to continue serving others in her career, and has enjoyed caring for the emotional, physical, and mental health of her patients.
“Kids are just so amazing; even when they are sick, they can still light up a room,” Kristina said. “They are everything I want to be: resilient, forgiving, empathetic, and courageous. We should all be so lucky to care for children that leave such an impact on our hearts.”
Kristina manages a large team of nurses across multiple clinics. She is recognized for her selfless care for others, positive attitude, and can-do spirit. In addition to managing daily staffing and clinical challenges, Kristina is creative with her solutions to workflow processes and organizing special events like vaccine clinics. She is looking forward to her new role, but plans to continue to fill in as a floor nurse from time to time and hopes that never changes.
Congratulations to all of the nurses that were featured in the magazine! These are only a few of the amazing nurses at MANA! Visit ourhealthnwa.com to read the full issue.