Meet Elizabeth Hatfield, Nurse Extern Program Supervisor

Elizabeth Hatfield supervises the 130 student extern nurses she supervises at CommonSpirit - Saint Joseph Hospital - Lexington and supports their professional success.

To Hatfield, leadership is rooted in service. “I know that externs perform at their best when they are valued, supported and held accountable,” she said. “Leading with humility, consistency and compassion while setting high expectations is my philosophy.”

This approach contributed to Hatfield being named the 2026 Leader of the Year for CommonSpirit - Saint Joseph Hospital - Lexington and the Kentucky ministry.

The nurse extern program provides nursing students who have completed foundational coursework the opportunity to practice skills while working alongside nurses. Externs rotate among departments to gain clinical experience before graduation.

Although she is not a clinician, Hatfield motivated by a commitment to others. She supports the nurse externs, who provide patient care at CommonSpirit - Saint Joseph Hospital - Lexington.

Hatfield attributes her leadership style to her personal history. “I have overcome adversity, so my goal in adulthood has been to provide support to others with compassion and empathy,” she said. “We do not always know what others are experiencing, so leading with that awareness is important to me.”

At 16, Hatfield became emancipated following traumatic events. She navigated mental health challenges, which she addressed through counseling and her faith. The birth of her daughter at age 18 shifted her focus toward providing a stable upbringing for her child.

Three days after her daughter’s birth, Hatfield obtained her GED. She worked as a patient care assistant in a group home from 2008 through 2011, then served as a human resources coordinator at a brain injury rehabilitation center. She joined CommonSpirit - Saint Joseph Hospital - Lexington in 2018 as a human resources coordinator and transitioned to an executive assistant position in hospital administration in 2019. She became nurse extern program supervisor in December 2024. Hatfield expects to graduate in September with a bachelor’s degree in human resources management from Capella University and plans to pursue a master’s degree.

Her nomination for Leader of the Year noted the significant growth of our nurse extern program. The number of externs who remain with the ministry after graduation has increased. This recruitment pipeline helps address the nursing shortage, said Hatfield, who also assists with activities for the hospital’s Spirit Team.

Hatfield said the ministry’s focus on humankindness aligns with her values. “It means choosing to see the person before the position,” she said. “Actively listening and taking time to encourage others is important to me.”

Hatfield’s connection to CommonSpirit - Saint Joseph Hospital - Lexington includes her late grandmother, Ida Jo Bland, who worked at the ministry as a registered nurse. “I decided to come to Saint Joseph because she valued her work there,” Hatfield said.

Hatfield’s daughter, Allison Dyer, is a patient care assistant at CommonSpirit - Saint Joseph Medical Center - The Women’s Hospital. Hatfield met her husband, Mike, at the hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hatfield has a son, Ethan Laslie, and three stepchildren, Liam, Hayden and Becca. The family lives in Charlestown, Indiana. Hatfield travels to Lexington for work multiple days each week.

“I commute to Lexington because I am dedicated to this ministry,” she said.

Interested in making a difference and helping build healthier communities? Explore current career opportunities at CommonSpirit Health.