Southeast Alabama Medical Center (SAMC) is pleased to announce Tena Knight, RN, MSN has been named associate chief nursing officer.

Tena has 21 years of critical care nursing experience at SAMC and she most recently served as director of the Neuro Critical Care Unit. Her duties during her tenure at SAMC have also included interim director of Behavioral Medicine, clinical nurse specialist, clinical educator, charge nurse of the Critical Care Unit, house supervisor and a staff nurse in the surgery recovery area.

Tena received her Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and her Master’s in nursing from the University of South Alabama in Mobile. She is licensed as a Clinical Nurse Specialist by the Alabama Board of Nursing.

She has played a key role in SAMC’s journey to become a Certified Primary Stroke Center and serves as the clinical nurse specialist for the Stroke Team. “She is an exceptional leader and will be an asset to the nursing administrative team,” said Melissa Owens, SAMC Chief Nursing Officer.

Tena has also served as adjunct clinical nursing faculty at Troy University and Wallace Community College. Her professional memberships include the American Association of Critical Care Nurses and the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses.

When she is not at work, Tena enjoys spending time with her family, reading and trips to the beach. A Dothan native, she and her husband have three children.