New nursing leader

Indiana University Health Jay Hospital’s new director of nursing operations is excited to be working in her hometown community. 

She’s also looking forward to a shorter commute. 

Christina Schemenaur, who lives in Portland with her family, officially steps into her new role today. She comes to IU Health Jay from Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, where she’s worked since graduating from Ball State University with a nursing degree in 2001. 

“I am excited just to be in my own community,” said Schemenaur, a 1996 graduate of Jay County High School. “That was one of the hardest things working in Delaware County … I didn’t feel like I had such an impact in my own hometown.” 

She takes the place of Lisa Craiger, who recently retired from the position.

As director of nursing operations, Schemenaur will oversee all nurses throughout the hospital. She will draw on her past leadership experience, most recently as the manager of the IU Health Ball cardiac intensive care unit since 2012.

“You’re the CEO, basically, of your unit,” Schemenaur said. “I did budget, I did hiring and things like that, customer service. … It was a very nice stepping stone to what I’ll be doing here.” 

As she settles into her new job, one of her goals is to help her coworkers continue the integration with the IU Health system. The one-year anniversary is March 1, and the hospital is still in its adjustment period. 

“I want to get in, build those relationships, see what’s going well for the staff but also see what they’re still struggling with,” Schemenaur said. “Going from your own hometown locally-owned hospital, what are our barriers? How can I help with that integration of IU Health into the Jay community and make them more comfortable?” 

A love of science and helping people guided Schemenaur to her career, as well as a family connection — her grandma and uncle were nurses too. She said she also thrives on the continued learning required in the ever-evolving healthcare field. 

“The biggest thing is being able to have a profession where I felt like I made a difference, not just in the lives of my patients but the lives of their family members, the people in the community,” she said. 

Working in administration was not initially in the cards for Schemenaur, who planned to be a bedside nurse until she retired. But an interim leadership position eventually became permanent, and she realized administrators help people in other ways. 

“I’m caring for my patients in a different way because now I’m caring for the people that care for the patients,” she said. “So you still have a connection with your patient, it’s just a different way.”  

Dave Hyatt, president of IU Health Jay, said Schemenaur’s leadership experience and medical knowledge made her the prime candidate for the job. The local connection was “icing on the cake.” 

“She knows the community, she knows the people,” Hyatt said. “One of the things we say at Jay is we’re taking care of our friends and family and neighbors, and she knows our patients.” 

Now that her commute has been shortened by 98 minutes each day, Schemenaur is looking forward to getting involved in more activities in Jay County and spending time with husband Wes and their two children.

“I really hope to be here, at home, for the rest of my nursing career,” she said.