Jeanne Yeatman still remembers the first time she saw an air ambulance flying overhead.
“I was intrigued by the idea of air medical transport, and I grew up watching the TV show, Emergency!,” she says. After high school, Jeanne enrolled at community college in Tennessee and went on to earn an Associate Degree of Nursing and become an Emergency Medical Technician. Her goal from the beginning: become a flight nurse
The Start of a Long Career at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Jeanne began her nursing career at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the emergency department (ED). A year later, she also joined Nashville General Hospital as a staff ED nurse on a per diem basis. “It’s sacred and special to be invited into people’s lives in their most vulnerable moments and make a difference,” she says. As soon as she was eligible, Jeanne applied to the LifeFlight Air Medical program, Vanderbilt Medical Center’s critical care transport service. She was hired in 1993.
Over the next 28 years, Jeanne grew alongside LifeFlight as it expanded — from one helicopter and 10 nurses to a fleet of nine helicopters and a team that included nurse practitioners, nurses, flight physicians, paramedics, EMTs, communicators, and pilots. The program celebrated its 40-year legacy in 2024: 76,942 flights that transported 80,118 patients by air. LifeFlight Ground was added in 2011. “I felt extremely fortunate to have been hired into the LifeFlight program and be part of that exceptional team of clinicians,” says Jeanne, who completed more than 1,000 flights.
Advancing Her Nursing Education
As Jeanne furthered her career, she advanced her education, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Tennessee State University, followed by a master’s degree in organizational development at Trevecca Nazarene University. That opened the door to management. She spent time as an assistant manager, followed by a decade as LifeFlight’s program director. Along the way, Jeanne returned to Trevecca Nazarene for a Master of Business Administration.
Under Jeanne’s leadership, LifeFlight saw many notable achievements, including the addition of helipad bases to serve all Vanderbilt University Medical Center communities. “I got into nursing to help people, and that evolved into wanting to make improvements for those who work at the bedside,” she says. In 2012, Jeanne’s role expanded to administrative director of emergency services, which included LifeFlight as well as emergency services and the resuscitation program. She became the associate nursing officer for emergency services and Vanderbilt LifeFlight in 2015. Jeanne also served as a state Tennessee Emergency Medical Services Board Member from 2014 to 2023, supporting the establishment of practice standards for the operations of emergency medical and ambulance services.
Committed to Learning as a Nurse Leader
As a leader, Jeanne recognized the importance of continuous learning. “Good leaders must be willing to stay up to date on changes in healthcare, which is what made me decide I should get a doctorate,” she says. As she explored doctoral programs that would fit her goals, she came across the Doctor of Nursing Practice – Educational Leadership Specialization at the American Sentinel College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Post University.
“I was very drawn to Post’s DNP program, which didn’t require an MSN degree like many other doctorate programs, and I liked that I could focus on one course at a time,” Jeanne says. She enrolled in late 2019.
In summer 2020, Jeanne was asked to take on the role of interim chief nursing officer of a newly acquired community hospital, now named Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital. After 10 months in the position—while continuing to run the emergency services department at LifeFlight—Jeanne was named the permanent CNO in 2021. “I love the mission of Vanderbilt and have worked with many amazing people,” she says. “I was excited about this opportunity to support the system and our patients in a new way.”
The Pinnacle of Achievement
Jeanne completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice in Educational Leadership Specialization in 2024. “Post’s program allowed me to balance school and work,” she says. “I felt supported through every step of the journey, and I learned so much in every class.”
The doctoral achievement took grit and determination as Jeanne acclimated to her new role as CNO of Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital at the same time. She got her work ethic from her father, who passed away in June 2025. “My father approached every task with quiet determination and integrity,” she says. “He taught me that pride is in the heart you bring to your work.”
Jeanne is proud to have earned the DNP, but she is especially grateful for something else. “The knowledge I gained gives me a great sense of pride,” she says. “In healthcare, we should constantly be learning, and that’s part of what this doctorate was about for me: I want to be the very best clinical expert and advocate I can be.”