Denise Carlson: A Life Built on Care, Compassion, and Leadership
For Denise Carlson, nursing isn’t just what she does—it’s who she is.
With 39 years of experience, Denise has poured her heart into caring for others, guiding teams, and making a difference in every corner of healthcare she’s touched. Her story is one of dedication, resilience, and love—not only for nursing but for the people it serves.
“I’ve been a nurse since 1986, and I still feel the same passion for it today,” Denise shares. “This profession has shaped who I am.”
She started her career in the ICU, caring for some of the most critically ill patients—those recovering from neuro-trauma and open-heart surgeries. It was a tough place to begin, but it laid the foundation for her incredible skills in critical care.
From there, she moved to the recovery room, but when her sister became the manager, Denise chose to transfer to the ER, wanting to avoid any conflicts of interest. As it turned out, that move changed everything.
In the fast-paced world of emergency medicine, Denise found her true calling. She thrived under pressure, discovered a deep love for high-acuity care, and quickly moved into leadership. Over the years, she served as Director of Nursing across several departments—telemetry, ICU, ER, and Women’s and Children’s—helping teams grow stronger and more connected along the way.
As a military spouse, Denise moved often. Some might see that as a challenge, but she saw it as an opportunity. Every new hospital came with a fresh set of challenges: struggling units, staffing shortages, or newly graduated nurses needing guidance. And Denise was always ready. She became known for stepping into tough situations and building teams that not only worked but thrived.
Before joining Jackson Healthcare, Denise also took on the role of Risk Director—a job that gave her a new perspective on patient care. She worked behind the scenes to understand what went wrong in difficult cases and created systems to prevent those issues from happening again. It was leadership at its most thoughtful and empathetic.
Whether she’s mentoring young nurses, improving safety protocols, or simply offering a kind word when it’s needed most, she remains a steady, compassionate presence in the healthcare world.
“Nursing is deeply personal,” she says. “It’s about more than skills or titles. It’s about showing up, doing the right thing, and leading with heart.”
Denise is a wife of 33 years, a proud mom to Jaimie and John, and a loving mother-in-law to Megan. And while her family means everything to her, the patients, nurses, and colleagues she’s supported over the years are also part of her extended family.
In every step of her journey, Denise has stayed true to what matters most: caring for others, lifting people up, and making healthcare better—one moment, one nurse, and one patient at a time.
