Evansville, Indiana
Joel B. Fralick, Jr.
Assistant Nurse Manager, Pulm & Onc
Ten years of building compliant, high-performing teams in regulated, high-stakes environments — now leading frontline nursing teams across Pulmonary and Oncology.
About
I didn't take a straight line to nursing.
I started out studying communication and journalism, ran restaurant kitchens and dining rooms, then spent two years with City Year (AmeriCorps) managing teams of corps members in under-resourced schools across Brooklyn, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. From there I moved into regulated operations — running compliance programs and, eventually, leading new-market license acquisition as a Director of Operations for a multi-state manufacturer, working directly with executive leadership through audits, inspections, and high-stakes expansion.
Somewhere in the middle of all that, I realized the work I cared most about was the work that happened one person at a time. So I went back to school. I started as a Patient Care Technician on a 44-bed trauma unit, became a Registered Nurse in the ER, and coordinated care transitions as a Case Management RN before stepping into unit-level leadership as an Assistant Nurse Manager over Pulmonary and Oncology — while finishing my MSN in Nursing Informatics at Western Governors University.
The throughline, if there is one: build systems that work for the people inside them — whether that's a compliance program, a classroom, or a discharge plan.
Journey
Two careers, one throughline.
Filter by category, or view the whole path — clinical care, operations, leadership, and education, woven together with the personal milestones along the way.
- 2026
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Clinical Operations Leadership
Assistant Nurse Manager — Pulmonary & Oncology
- Stepping into unit-level leadership for the Pulmonary and Oncology units, partnering with the Nurse Manager on staffing, scheduling, and daily operations.
- Supporting quality and safety initiatives, staff development, and shared-governance work across both units.
-
Clinical
Registered Nurse — Case Management
- Coordinate discharge planning and transitions of care for high-acuity patients across ICU, CVICU, and additional units as census demands — 20–25 patients daily, admission through post-acute placement.
- Conduct daily chart reviews and manage an active patient census, partnering with physicians, social workers, therapists, and payers to align care plans with clinical and utilization criteria.
- Facilitate interdisciplinary care coordination and communicate essential information at discharge to reduce readmission risk and protect patient safety.
-
Education Personal
Master of Science in Nursing, Informatics
Wrapping up my MSN in Nursing Informatics — the degree that ties the clinical, data, and leadership threads together.
- 2025
-
Clinical
Travel Nurse — Emergency Services
- Completed a travel contract in the emergency department of a Level 1 Trauma Center — a formative nursing experience — while maintaining PRN status at Ascension St. Vincent.
-
Education Personal
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Completed my BSN, bridging from the associate degree into the university-level program.
- 2023
-
Clinical Leadership
Registered Nurse — Emergency Services
- Delivered high-acuity emergency and trauma care across diverse adult and pediatric populations, prioritizing rapid assessment and evidence-based intervention.
- Chaired the Emergency & Trauma Services Magnet Council, leading shared-governance initiatives to improve patient outcomes and staff engagement.
- Served as preceptor to new graduate nurses and nursing students; mentored interns and early-career nurses as Quality Advisor for the Adopt-a-Nurse program.
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Personal Education Leadership
Graduated nursing school
Earned my Associate of Science in Nursing, having served as President of the Student Nurses Association during my second year in the program.
-
Clinical
Student Nurse Intern — Emergency Services
- Provided hands-on emergency and trauma patient care under RN supervision while completing my final semester of nursing school.
- 2022
-
Clinical
Patient Care Associate, Behavioral Health
- Provided therapeutic support, close observation, and de-escalation for up to 24 patients with acute psychiatric needs.
- 2021
-
Clinical
Patient Care Technician, Ortho-Neuro Trauma
- Delivered direct care on a 44-bed high-needs unit serving trauma, geriatric, psychiatric, and substance-use patients.
- 2020
-
Personal
Married my husband
We got married — and bought our first house together.
- 2019
-
Operations Leadership
Director of Operations, Emerging Markets
- Oversaw the full license-acquisition process for new-market entry in a complex regulatory environment.
- Coordinated internal departments and external stakeholders to sequence strategic timelines for new facility construction.
- Managed operational crises across new and existing markets through extensive domestic travel.
- Worked directly with the CEO on employee engagement and retention programs.
-
Personal
Moved back to Evansville
Came home to Evansville, Indiana after four years in Colorado.
- 2016
-
Operations Leadership
Director of Compliance Administration
- Ensured licensed clients maintained compliance with complex regulations and mandated inventory tracking systems.
- Delivered individualized and group SOP training, on-site and remote, across all operational areas.
- Created, analyzed, and reconciled data across inventory, sales, operational, and personnel systems — from day-to-day compliance through long-term growth strategy.
-
Operations
Operations Manager
- Managed supply chain, scoring 100% on compliance, security, and building inspections over five consecutive quarters.
- 2015
-
Operations Leadership
General Manager
- Ran P&L operations for a high-volume retail store: hiring, personnel development, marketing, inventory, and sales management.
-
Personal
Left it all behind for Colorado
Packed up and moved to Colorado — a leap that led to the next four years of operations and compliance leadership.
- 2014
-
Operations Leadership
Program Manager
- Managed performance and compliance for 12 AmeriCorps members as Program Manager; ensured fidelity of the service model through daily coaching and development.
-
Operations
Summer Academy Team
- Served on the City Year Summer Academy Team, supporting a summer intensive learning program during the transition between service terms.
- 2013
-
Operations Leadership
Team Lead
- Led a diverse team of 9 through a 10-month service term in Chicago, overseeing progress monitoring for 180+ students across three grade levels.
- 2012
-
Operations Leadership
Operations Director, Camp City Year
- Directed operations for a 300-student program including budget management, personnel assignments, and resource allocation; facilitated learning sessions for 300+ members.
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Personal Education
Graduated University of Evansville
Earned my Bachelor of Arts in Communication.
- 2009
-
Personal Education Leadership
Studied abroad at Harlaxton College
Spent the semester abroad in England, where I was elected Student Government Association President.
- 2008
-
Personal Education Leadership
Graduated high school
Marching band — saxophone, Vice President — was a huge part of my life and shaped my earliest leadership experience.
- ~1994
-
Personal
Grew up in the family business
Starred in a commercial for my parents' Domino's Pizza — and spent my childhood doing homeschool work and playing with toys in the back office of the shop.
- 1989
-
Personal
Born
Fun fact: an earthquake stopped that year's World Series the day I was born.
Earlier roles & additional experience
- Retail Sales Consultant · AT&T · 2020 – 2021 — Full-time consultative sales and customer solutions in a high-volume retail environment.
- Program Specialist · Easter Seals of Colorado · 2016 — Supported community programming for adults with disabilities; authored a successful grant funding a community mural project.
- Restaurant Management (Supervisor) · Darden · 2010 – 2012 — Kitchen, dining, and bar supervisor at a $1M+ location; managed ~100 employees and trained new hires across positions.
- Reporter / Editor / Producer · University of Evansville Student Publications · 2008 – 2012 — Produced written, audio, and video content; edited the weekly paper and helped launch the university's first TV newscast.
Leadership
Governance, mentorship & initiatives.
Chair, Emergency & Trauma Services Magnet Council
Led shared-governance initiatives across the ER to improve patient outcomes and staff engagement.
Quality Advisor, Adopt-a-Nurse Mentorship Program
Mentored interns and early-career nurses through onboarding and clinical growth.
Vascular Access Quality Improvement
Drove data-driven workflow optimization for vascular access practices as part of ongoing PI work.
President, Southwest Association of Student Nurses
Led the student nursing association through the associate program.
Community Mural Grant
Authored a successful grant that funded a community mural project.
President, Student Government Association
Elected student body president during a study-abroad term in the UK.
Education
Credentials & competencies.
Education
- Master of Science in Nursing, Informatics Western Governors University · Expected 2026
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing Western Governors University · 2025
- Associate of Science in Nursing Ivy Tech Community College, Evansville, IN · Dec 2023
- Bachelor of Arts in Communication University of Evansville · 2012
- Certificate in British Studies Harlaxton College, England · 2009
Licensure & Certifications
- Registered Nurse (RN) — Indiana Compact License
- BLS
- ACLS
- PALS
- ENPC
- TNCC
Core Competencies
Case Management
Leadership & Governance
Operations & Compliance
Quality & Process Improvement
Informatics & Technology
Clinical Nursing Expertise
Contact
Let's connect.
Whether it's a role, a referral, or just a good conversation about building better systems — reach out.