Kristin Johnson

Kristin Johnson is a seasoned nursing executive and Director of Nursing with more than 25 years of progressive experience leading maternal and child health services across acute care settings. Currently serving at Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith, Arkansas, she oversees a comprehensive maternal-child service line that includes Labor and Delivery, Mother-Baby, Level III NICU, Pediatrics, Antepartum, OB Emergency Department, and Lactation Services. Throughout her career, Johnson has built a reputation for transformational leadership, operational excellence, and a steadfast commitment to improving clinical quality, patient safety, and patient-centered care while fostering high-performing interdisciplinary teams.

Johnson began her nursing career in 2000 as a bedside pediatric registered nurse and gained broad clinical expertise through travel nursing assignments across Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Florida. After joining Baptist Health Medical Center in Fort Smith, she advanced through roles as Staff Nurse, Clinical Educator, Nurse Manager, Interim Nursing Director, and Nursing Director before assuming her current leadership position at Mercy Hospital. Under her guidance, her teams achieved Baby-Friendly designation, earned Safe Sleep Gold Certification, expanded pediatric and lactation services, introduced innovative maternal care initiatives such as nitrous oxide for labor, and partnered with the Arkansas Perinatal Quality Collaborative to reduce primary cesarean section rates. She also successfully managed departmental operations, workforce development, financial stewardship, physician collaboration, and regulatory compliance while leading large multidisciplinary teams.

Committed to advancing maternal and infant health, Johnson is a passionate advocate for improving outcomes in Arkansas, where maternal and infant health challenges remain significant. She champions evidence-based practice, nursing education, workforce empowerment, and collaborative leadership to ensure mothers, newborns, and families receive the highest standard of care. Beyond her clinical responsibilities, she supports community organizations including Monarch Oasis and the Ronald McDonald House, reflecting her dedication to serving vulnerable families both inside and outside the hospital. Johnson holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Western Governors University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the University of Arkansas, combining strong clinical expertise with strategic healthcare leadership.