KIMBALL -- Whitney (Lockwood) Smith, BSN, RN, CEN, has earned the title of Kimball Health Services Employee of the Year. 

Smith, daughter of Scott and Susan Lockwood of Kimball, is a Kimball High School graduate who achieved an advanced nursing degree and has been putting it to work in her hometown since 2023. 

After graduating from Kimball Public Schools in 2011, she pursued her Bachelor of Nursing degree at the University of Wyoming. She worked in Wyoming in various nursing specialties including Pediatrics, Medical/Surgical, Obstetrics, and Emergency Care. 

A standout achievement is her certification as a Board-Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN), which reflects her expertise and dedication. 

Smith originally wanted to be a veterinarian growing up because she loved animals and was interested in the medical field. As part of an Intro to Healthcare course in college, individuals from various healthcare professions gave presentations, including a nurse. This piqued her interest, and she decided to pursue nursing instead. 

“My favorite part of the job is the investigative aspect, figuring out what’s making my patients ill and then what should we do to make them better,” Smith said. 

In the fall of 2023, Smith, her husband Landon and daughters Holly and Lauren moved from Gillette, Wyo. to Kimball, where she’s now closer to family and continues her career as an ER, Med/Surg nurse. 

She soon assumed a leadership position at KHS, becoming a nurse manager. Smith was named the hospital’s Employee of the Month award winner in September 2024 and was promoted to Director of Nursing in January. 

She was chosen by her peers to receive the Employee of the Year award last month. 

“Whitney has shown some of the best leadership imaginable recently,” her nomination said.?“Her unwavering support of the nursing staff and her dedication and teamwork has made a significant difference in fostering a positive work environment.?From her dedication to patients — such as staying late to coming in at all hours of the night to help with the most critical patients — it is hard to tell how many lives have been positively impacted by her compassion to deliver the best care possible! We are lucky she chose to work at KHS!” 

Smith said she takes great pride in working at KHS, where she believes the hospital offers a unique “hometown feel.” 

“Unlike larger hospitals where patients can sometimes feel like just a number, we focus on treating each patient as an individual, with dignity and respect,” she said. “This personal touch is a hallmark of our mission to provide care that goes above and beyond.” 

Smith said the recognition from her peers means a lot. 

“They really have supported me through this last year so I could achieve it,” Smith said. “It’s really on them that I was able to achieve it all.”