Executive Nurse Manager
Primrose Retirement Communities
Aberdeen, SD
Kathy Gerdes is an Executive Nurse Manager for the Primrose Retirement Communities whose corporate office is in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The Primrose company has 26 Assisted and Independent Living facilities in 13 states. Prior to this position she was the Director of Senior Services at Sioux Center Hospital and Health Center in Sioux Center, Iowa, a position she held since January, 2006. The position included administration of the LTC facility, Assisted Living and Independent Living facilities and Home Health and Hospice programs. Past professional experience includes CEO at Bowdle Healthcare Center, a Critical Access Hospital, LTC facility and Rural Health Clinic in rural South Dakota. In this position she led the organization through a comprehensive leadership development program, initiated a capital campaign and established a facility Foundation, changed the clinic to a Rural Health Clinic, and initiated efforts to change the governance of the facility from the City Council to a separate nonprofit entity. Kathy has also held leadership positions in Home Health, Hospice, rural hospital nursing, and a free standing ambulatory surgical center. She has special interests in access to healthcare in rural and frontier settings as well as leadership development in these areas.
Ms. Gerdes has held past leadership roles at the district and state levels of the South Dakota Organization of Nurse Executives and the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations, and at the state level of the South Dakota Hospice Organization. She has also served on the Palmetto Fiscal Intermediary Hospice Advisory Committee. Kathy holds current membership in Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society and various community service boards. She is a past recipient of a community service award for her work in support of rural healthcare.