Saint Joseph Health has announced that Claire Hicks, APRN, has joined its team at Saint Joseph Medical Group – Primary Care in Bardstown. Hicks is a native of Nelson County and graduated from Thomas Nelson High School.
“It’s a real honor to give back to the community that I grew up in and provide the same level of care I would want my loved ones to have,” said Hicks. “I have a big heart. Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always wanted to be a nurse. My mom’s a nurse and I’ve always had a passion to care for others.”
Hicks began her nursing career as a trauma/surgical ICU nurse at University of Kentucky HealthCare before returning home in 2023 to work as a staff nurse at Flaget Memorial Hospital. She later pursued her APRN credentials with the goal of becoming a primary care provider.
“My mamaw has been a very big inspiration for me, especially in the provider role,” said Hicks, recalling her experience caring for her grandmother after she suffered a stroke in 2018. “I just loved taking care of her.”
She chose primary care because it allows her to build long-term relationships with patients and support them throughout their lives. “I really am passionate about the positive impacts I can make on patients. With primary care, you can make patient relationships and see it all the way through,” she said. “I can’t wait to have a patient where I can have a patient for 20 years.”
Hicks earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Eastern Kentucky University in May 2021 and completed her Master of Science in Nursing with a Family Nurse Practitioner focus from Northern Kentucky University in October 2025.
“I am encouraged about empowering patients, having them feel supported and valued,” she said. “I treat patients as if they were my own loved ones.”
Outside of work, Hicks enjoys exercise, cooking, outdoor activities, watching sports such as UK Wildcat football and Cincinnati Bengals games, spending time with family and friends, and played college soccer at EKU.
She will see patients at Saint Joseph Medical Group – Primary Care located at 4371 New Shepherdsville Road, Suite 210 in Bardstown.
Saint Joseph Health is part of CommonSpirit Health and operates one of the largest health systems in Kentucky with locations across 20 counties. Its network includes hospitals such as Flaget Memorial Hospital and several others serving patients statewide.
Saint Joseph Medical Group serves as the employed provider network for Saint Joseph Health with locations throughout central and eastern Kentucky.
