Jenifer LaucknerJenifer Lauckner is the newest member of the Great Plains Quality Innovation Network team; she will be supporting nursing homes and communities as a Quality Improvement Advisor.

 My work experience…I worked at St. Andrew’s Health Center, a Critical Access Hospital, for 27 years. I started working there in housekeeping when I was sixteen. I moved into the environmental aide position for a while; I then took the aide class and got certified as a nurses’ aide. After working as an aide, I attended the nursing program in Bottineau through UND-Williston and received my Associates in Science in Practical Nursing and worked as an LPN for 6 years. I then attended Minot State University-Bottineau and received my Associates in Science in Nursing. I did my nursing preceptorship at the Heart of America Correctional & Treatment Center in Rugby and at the North Dakota State Penitentiary in Bismarck. I wanted to experience a different nursing setting than what I would be working in the years to come at St. Andrew’s Health Center. I worked as an RN in Med-Surg, ER, OR, and Long-Term Care.

I’m a few months shy of being a nurse for 20 years. In 2012 I wanted to experience care in the prehospital setting, so I got my EMT license to help our local ambulance crew. I moved into the Assistant Nurse Manager/Quality Manager position in 2015 and loved the challenge of finding ways to improve quality of care for patients and residents. I’m proud to say our hospital was a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital for 5 years in a row and Top 10 in Quality these past 2 years!

I am most looking forward to…Sharing my experience with facilities to help provide the best care possible. I’ve been there, I’ve worked it, I understand! Healthcare is not easy! I’ve spent many times crying with patients and residents, or by myself, because it can be a struggle. I hope our patients/residents know they are not alone; we are there for them and will look out for their safety. Every patient and resident matters!

 At the end of the workday, what brings me the most satisfaction/joy is….Knowing that what I’m doing is making a difference. What’s funny is I never wanted to be a nurse or work in healthcare; I wanted to be a teacher. I actually have an Associates in Science degree in Physical Education and Coaching, but here I am! I guess God had different plans for me.

Additional things you might want to know about me….My husband, Terry, and I have been married for almost 17 years and we have a 12 year-old son, Mason. While pregnant with my son, I worked full time at the hospital and traveled as a contract nurse at nursing homes from central to eastern North Dakota on my nights off. We live in Bottineau, North Dakota and have 4 cats and 1 German Shepheard/Husky. We love animals, obviously, and just applied to be a foster family for Turtle Mountain Animal Rescue. My husband is the baker at the Lauckner’s Family Bakery and Restaurant. We are Minnesota Twins and Vikings fans and my son and I love to go camping.

Contact Jenifer:
Jenifer.lauckner@greatplainsqin.org
Phone: 701-989-6228