Power Women: Sarah Loftin, RN, CMSRN
Chief Nursing Officer at Arkansas Surgical Hospital
How did you get started in your field?
I have known since I was a little girl that I would be caring for people in some capacity as a career. My grandmother was a nursing assistant, and my mom was a nurse, so I have been around health care my whole life. It was a natural choice for me.
What do you love best about what you do?
Health care can be a very difficult field, but it is also incredibly rewarding. It’s amazing to watch the progression of our patients. Oftentimes, patients arrive in the worst pain of their lives. Following a procedure – sometimes as soon as they are awake enough to have a conversation – their quality of life is already better, because their pain has improved. There is nothing better than watching the great outcomes our patients experience each and every day.
How do you maintain a work/life balance?
I try to be where I am: If I am working, I put my focus on work. If I am at home or at a function with my kids and family, then I do my best to be present with them in that moment.
Is there another “power woman” in your life who inspires you?
My late mother-in-law, Cindy Loftin. She was my friend, my mentor and my confidant. While my husband, then boyfriend, was overseas, I lived with Cindy and my father-in-law, Doug. I didn’t know it at the time, but she was preparing me for a life as a Loftin. Everyone knew her high standards and expectations. She was amazing.
What’s your favorite quote?
“You might encounter many defeats, but you must never be defeated.” – Maya Angelou.
