Jamestown Regional CNO Trish Jungels Named to Becker’s List for Second Time

Trish (Trisha) Jungels, chief nursing officer and vice president of clinical services at Jamestown Regional Medical Center, was named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s 'CNOs to Know' list for a second time, a recognition JRMC announced on January 16, 2026. The honor underscores nursing leadership at a time when rural health systems are competing to retain staff and expand services for local residents.

Jungels oversees a broad portfolio that includes laboratory, radiology, pharmacy, anesthesia, surgical services, the emergency department and specialty clinics. JRMC’s announcement credits her with implementing a Nursing Clinical Excellence Ladder, expanding advanced wound care and specialty service lines, and helping the organization achieve Pathways to Excellence designation for nursing. JRMC leadership also praised the hospital’s organizational culture and nursing-led improvements.

For Stutsman County patients, the recognition speaks to practical, local benefits. Nursing-driven initiatives such as the clinical excellence ladder and expanded specialty clinics can improve staff retention and grow in-house services, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances for wound care or specialty consultations. In a county where transportation and distance are frequent barriers to timely care, building and keeping services in Jamestown matters for outcomes and household budgets alike.

The achievement also has workforce and policy implications. Pathways to Excellence designation signals a commitment to professional practice environments that support nurses’ decision-making and job satisfaction. That in turn can stabilize staffing levels in emergency departments and inpatient units, improving response times and continuity of care for urgent conditions that disproportionately affect older adults and people with chronic illness in rural communities.

From a public health perspective, stronger local clinical services help with prevention and chronic disease management, which can lower hospital readmissions and reduce pressure on tertiary centers. Strengthening nursing leadership at JRMC aligns with broader efforts to make health care more equitable by expanding access to specialty care and retaining a trained local workforce that reflects community needs.

As Jamestown Regional continues to build on these programs, residents can expect incremental service growth and ongoing efforts to keep care local. For community leaders and health planners, Jungels’ recognition provides a timely reminder that investment in nursing leadership is a lever for improving access, quality and equity across Stutsman County.