Winter 2026 Newsletter Now Available
Natalie Kennedy, BSN, RN, has worked at Regina Health Center (RHC) for more than 13 years. Delivering compassionate, quality care to every resident has always been her mission. Now the director of nursing at RHC, Natalie sets the example for her staff. She is hands-on, accessible and encourages others to continue their education while working at Regina Health Center. She knows the journey well herself: After utilizing tuition reimbursement funds made available by generous RHC donors, Natalie earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2023.
To learn more about Natalie and her longtime commitment to Regina Health Center, read the full story below. The story also appears in the Winter 2026 edition of The Heart, Regina Health Center’s biannual newsletter. This issue – available here – not only features Natalie but also offers Holy-In-One details; a profile on volunteer Joe Waler; a spotlight on resident Fr. Elmer Marquard; 2025 service milestones and employees of the month details; progress on the Front Plaza; and the most recent Grateful Hearts Tribute Gifts List.
Offering Compassionate Care: Natalie Kennedy Leads by Example as Director of Nursing
Natalie Kennedy, BSN, RN, is meant to be a nurse. Anyone who watches her interact with residents can see she is a nurturing caregiver, offering words of encouragement and remembering even the smallest details about individual resident needs.
It’s that elevated level of attentiveness and detail that put Natalie on the path to being Regina Health Center’s director of nursing, a role she assumed in February 2025. In this position, she manages nearly 100 state tested nurse aides (STNA) and nurses, oversees resident care, assists with admissions and maintains the required licensures.
“As director of nursing, I won’t ask anyone to do something I wouldn’t do,” said Natalie. “It is important to me that my staff feels they can communicate with me. I want to be accessible to them.”
Natalie, whose mother was a geropsychiatric nurse and encouraged her to enter the field herself, ultimately decided to pursue a nursing career after working as a habilitation aide for children with disabilities. “I was working with a little girl who was on a ventilator. She encouraged and inspired me to go to school,” said Natalie.
A Journey from LPN to RN
While finishing the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program at Cuyahoga Valley Career Center (CVCC), Natalie completed practicum hours at Regina Health Center. From the moment she walked in, she knew it was a place she wanted to work.
Natalie began her career at Regina Health Center as an LPN in November 2012. “Quality care is delivered compassionately here,” she said.
During her more than 13-year career at Regina Health Center, Natalie has filled numerous roles. She has worked every shift, served as a charge nurse, care coordinator, clinical nurse and assistant director of nursing, and even led the initiative to transition from paper to electronic charting.
Her journey to becoming the director of nursing also included a significant milestone: In 2017, Natalie entered The University of Akron’s LPN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. She graduated summa cum laude in May 2023 with her BSN and passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NYCLEX) that July.
Regina Health Center’s tuition reimbursement funds played a significant role in earning her degree. The Ann T. Kadzielski Memorial Fund helped cover the cost of tuition, books and medical supplies, as well as commuting expenses. Additional tuition dollars came from the Grdina Fund. “Tuition reimbursement was a game changer for me,” said Natalie.
Setting the Example
Natalie is also passionate about showing nursing students just how fulfilling it can be to work in a skilled nursing environment, and that there is an entire world outside of acute care. Through a partnership with The University of Akron, BSN students complete a mental health rotation at Regina Health Center. “I have stayed here because of the environment, its mission and values, and the mutual respect shown to everyone here. I want to share that with future nurses,” said Natalie.
Natalie Kennedy leads by example, encouraging her staff to remember the privilege they have every day to care for residents. “They [the residents] need our support,” she said. We have the opportunity to serve, help the most vulnerable and make an impact.”
Taking the Next Step: Nursing Team Fosters Culture of Educational Advancement
Encouraging her staff to pursue the same opportunities she had is particularly important to Director of Nursing Natalie Kennedy. Assistant Director of Nursing Corey Stansberry went from LPN to registered nurse (RN) in February 2025. Cuyahoga Valley Career Center (CVCC) — Natalie’s alma mater — is offering STNAs at Regina Health Center the opportunity to become LPNs through its part-time, evening program. CVCC has waived the application fee, and the entrance exam has been included in the program without extra cost.
Read the full newsletter by clicking here