Franklin General Hospital CNO Honored at Conference

Rebekah Ault has been serving as the Chief Nursing Officer at Franklin General Hospital for the last three years — and she’s doing it with flying colors, according to her employees. In fact, one such employee recently nominated her for the 2025 Empowering CNO/DON Summit Award, which she won and was presented with at this year’s HealthCare Service Excellence Conference in Galveston, Texas.

In her nomination, the employee wrote that Ault consistently encourages staff to “speak up and engage in meaningful ways that enhance patient care and a positive workplace culture.”

“This has been proven as Franklin General Hospital has been selected by the National Rural Healthcare Associations top 20 critical access hospital in 2024 and 2025,” the employee wrote. “Rebekah’s commitment to excellence and community impact truly makes a difference every day. Beyond the hospital walls, Rebekah is a driving force in Hampton's community stewardship. She plays a key role in ensuring that Franklin General Hospital remains deeply connected to the community it serves. Her efforts focus on how Franklin General Hospital supports and gives back to the community, fostering strong relationships and a spirit of service that reflects Franklin General Hospital’s mission and values.”

The employee added that Ault also serves as a positive role model for many, along with playing a "vital role" in patient satisfaction.

"She has personally reached out to patients to help resolve concerns, demonstrating her commitment to compassionate care and effective problem-solving," the employee wrote. "Her engagement has made a meaningful impact on Franklin General Hospital's patient experiences."

This award means a lot to Ault, as she’s worked her way from CNA to RN to Director to CNO over the last twenty years.

She started at the MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines in 2005 before making her way to the Hansen Family Hospital in Iowa Falls in 2021 and then eventually Franklin General Hospital, where she landed in 2022. And she did it all while raising three children with her husband, Jon, and completing a couple college degrees along the way, leaving her with a bachelor’s of science in nursing and a master’s in nursing with a focus in executive leadership.

As the CNO, she oversees all of the nursing services and acts as an executive throughout the facility.

While it’s a big job, she said it’s only possible through the teamwork of many.

“I couldn’t do any of this without the team that we have here,” she told the Chronicle. “I am here to support and empower them so we can be the provider and employer of choice.”

Ault said that working at FGH is a goal she's had for a long time now, explaining that while most people strive to move onto bigger markets, she always wanted to land at a hospital in a small community, where she could really make a difference. So when she saw the CNO position open up in 2022, she knew she had to go for it.

"At Franklin General, we have the ability to truly connect with our patients and everyone else in the community," she said. "I wanted to make an impact in the community where I loved, and that's why I came here."

FGH CEO Kim Price said they are lucky to have Ault on board.

"We are so fortunate to have Rebekah as our Chief Nursing Officer," he said. "She does a great job of leading us and challenging us to not only serve our residents but our patients and also our staff."