Previously, Ms. Hensley served as the Chief Nurse for Surgery, Special Procedures, and Emergency Department. Hensley is part of the leadership team, with responsibility for the execution of nurse executive duties necessary to ensure achievement of identified VHA, VISN and medical center strategic goals, objectives and performance measures. In addition to Nursing Service, she oversees Learning Resources, Sterile Processing, Chaplain Service and Social Work.

She began her career at the Hershel “Woody” Williams VA Medical Center in 2003 as a staff nurse and later served as Case Manager for General, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery and Surgical Oncology. She was selected as Nurse Manager of Surgery Clinic and Special Procedures in 2010 and later assisted in Staff Development. In August 2013, she was selected as the Cancer Care Coordinator.

Ms. Hensley served on the Nurse Professional Standards Board from 2004 to 2016, serving six years as Chair. Hensley earned both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Nursing Administration from Marshall University. She is a 2010 graduate of the VISN 9 Leadership Institute, serves as a Fellow in the VA mentoring program, and completed her Lean Yellow Belt Certification in 2015.