Dr. Jamil Norman is the Tempo Academic Program Coordinator for the RN to BSN Program at Walden University and a certified nurse educator with over twenty years of experience as a registered nurse and over fifteen years in higher education.
Throughout her career, Dr. Norman has served as an agent of social change in the roles of educator, researcher, and mentor. She is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Network. As a nurse researcher, Dr. Norman works to advance the body of evidence on pregnancy-related health disparities among African American women.
In February, we’ve been highlighting healthcare leaders who are prominent figures in their organizations and are making transformational impacts in nursing.
Meet Dr. Jamil Norman, the Tempo Academic Program Coordinator for the RN to BSN Program at Walden University
Talk about your career path and how you ascended to that role.
So when I started, I worked as a labor and delivery nurse at the bedside. And so I worked as a labor delivery nurse for three years before I decided to get my master’s degree in nursing education. After I got my master’s degree, I started working at Grambling State University, and I taught women’s health because that was the only area I ever wanted to work or teach. I love women’s health and everything with laboring women and babies until it’s time to hand them off to somebody else. So then I taught clinical and women’s health for several years before I decided to get my PhD in nursing. And that’s kind of when I transitioned into more leadership. I was the BSN program director at an HBCU where I taught before transitioning to online teaching at Walden. Between that was having babies and I needed to be more available for my family, yet still having a career, so I transitioned into full-time on my teaching, which I call a work-life juggle, not a work-life balance. I could still advance my career and pick up my babies from school. And so it’s been wonderful. I get to do a little bit of research and also teach and have leadership in management for being the coordinator of our program.
You mentioned that you always wanted to work in women’s women’s health. Is that what inspired you to become a nurse?
I wanted to be a pediatrician until it was time to take all my biology courses. In my first semester of school, I took a micro and cellular biology class and scored a 32% on a test. I thought I was going to faint! I thought, oh, this must be a 32 out of 50. But it was an F. It was the worst grade I’d ever gotten in my education, and I quickly dropped that course and talked to family and friends to figure out if this was really what I wanted to do.
My sister is also a nurse, and when I talked to her, what I thought doctors were doing was actually what nurses were doing. So that’s when I pursued nursing, but I always knew I wanted to be in medicine. And in fact, I went from I’ll be a pediatrician to I’ll be a pediatric nurse. However, when I went through that rotation, I thought, no, this isn’t for me. And I got pulled down to the labor and delivery unit when I was a patient care tech, going through nursing school, and fell in love. I couldn’t believe that I loved it. And that was it. I was sold. It was the trifecta. And being with mom during the happy time. I love that. Women, you come into the hospital for a happy moment, right? When you’re in the hospital, you’re not feeling well, you know, something’s wrong. This is the hospital’s main area where you come in happy. And, yes, there are sad times, but most of the time, you leave happy. That was it. I was sold after that. I never wanted to do anything else at the bedside.After going through nursing school, I was like, nurses can do so much. Nurses do just so much that I love that about the profession. You can do anything in nursing.
What are the most important attributes of today’s nursing leaders?
Number one, for me, is always going to be passion. Because if you are not passionate about what you do, especially, you know, passionate about the profession of nursing, the hard days, they’re going to make you give up, and you’re not going to want to do it. I’ve seen it, some people go into nursing for money, but they don’t last. So you have to love what you do. And then it’s just accountability. And you’ve got to be a leader. You must be able to show up for those depending on you. And then the other thing right now, which is heavier in my mind, is you have to be ethical. And just everything that’s going on with the fake nursing degrees through Florida. I was heartbroken. When I saw that news, this wasn’t very good. And we’ve got to be able to protect the public. So you must have high ethics and moral standards to be a good nurse leader.
What is the most significant challenge facing nursing today?
It is burnout. Burnout has always been there. But after the pandemic, it’s challenging to be a nurse. Now, you’re short-handed. Sometimes you’re not very trusting of how people care for you whenever you’re in the workplace. And so burnout has got to be the biggest challenge. We have a lot of nurses who are educated to be nurses who are not working. And it’s because, you know, I’m not sure that we’ve always created the best environment for nurses to be able to, to live and to work and do what they, you know, love to do. So definitely, for me, the number one challenge is burnout, and at the bedside, as educators, the shortage is still there. For educators, when you have large classes, it’s exhausting.
What does it mean to you to be a nursing leader, and how are you making a difference?
The biggest thing for me is to embrace some of the changes occurring in the profession. Some nurses will tell you, don’t be a nurse. And I would never be that person because I think nursing is a wonderful profession. So I’m always trying to bring others into the profession and teach them to care for themselves. There are things that you can do to make sure that you don’t get burned out. I always tell my students if they don’t like what they’re doing, then change it. Don’t be afraid to change. Don’t just stay on at that job because you’re comfortable. If you’re tired, sometimes just learning something new and being in a different environment will bring back that passion you had when you first started and help with burnout and self-care. No one gets any awards for not using their days off. I tell everybody to use all their days and vacations, take time off with the family, and put the work aside so when they come back, they’re a better person for the people they work with and those care for.
What nursing leader inspires you the most?
I have had the pleasure of having a magnificent mentor throughout my nursing career. Her name is Dr. Afua Arhin, and I met her when I had just started as a nurse educator. She has been so impactful on me because she was the first African American nurse with a PhD that I’d ever met. She came in and taught me so much about effective leadership. She told me to get my PhD, and at that time, I was like, Are you crazy? PhD? If she told me to jump off the bridge, I’d be like, yes, we’re jumping off the bridge, and it will be fabulous. She’s just that encouraging, but she has been with me throughout my career. She helped me to go out and present at my first conference. I’d never been a presenter at a conference before. I always thought that was what somebody else did. It wasn’t what I did. And she said I have information and research to share. She just held my hand through being the educator in the classroom and developing me as a professional nurse, researcher, scholar, and presenter. And she still does that. Currently, she’s working on a Fulbright and researching in Ghana.
She has just been when there is anything I want to do professionally, and I always bounce ideas off of her. And it’s just been wonderful to have someone like that in my corner throughout these years. And the ways she’s helped me to be, she is for me to others. If she’s helping me, I’m helping to mentor students and lead them throughout their careers. So I learned how to be a mentor from having an amazing mentor.
What inspirational message would you like to share with the next generation of nurses?
My thing is always to be the change. I always tell everyone, there are many things that people will complain about, they don’t like, but they’re not doing anything about it. If you want something to change, you have to be the change. You got to get out there and make a difference, whether at the bedside, as an educator, as a researcher, or in whatever avenue you want to make an impact. So get out there and do it. Even if it seems too small, or it might even be too big, start chipping away at it, and get out there and be the change, even if it’s just for one person. I’ve helped students in courses where we’ll talk about social change. That’s our mission at Walden University. And sometimes they think they’re not doing anything. If you’re out there caring for patients, you don’t even realize it, but you are doing something. There may be something that you want to do on a bigger scale in your community. But whatever it is, figure it out, and go out there and do it. But be the change.
With almost 23 years in the field of nursing, McNulty has been able to help other nurses, both novice and experienced, to evolve into their roles on the busy medical-surgical/telemetry unit, now transitioning to step-down.
She serves as a nurse preceptor and charge nurse and was awarded “Preceptor of the Year” by her facility in 2021.
In February, we’ll highlight healthcare leaders who are prominent figures in their organizations and are making transformational impacts in nursing.
Meet Karen McNulty, a registered nurse at the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center
Talk about your career path and how you ascended to that role.
I started my nursing career at Johns Hopkins Hospital and did agency work a few years later. I was able to experience a lot of different things while working on a variety of nursing units throughout the years, and I loved it. Then I found BWMC, and that changed a lot for me. I saw a close-knit community hospital with many friendly people I knew and didn’t know and the opportunity for a lot of growth. Before I knew it, my nurse manager asked me to precept recent grads and nurses new to the hospital. As for charge nurse, I initially kept turning down that role when asked because I was afraid and didn’t want to leave my comfort zone. Then one day, the charge nurse for that day called out sick, and I was the only one able to run charge. After some orientation and being assigned to more charge shifts, my fear subsided, and I began to love this role as much as I love precepting.
What inspired you to become a nurse?
Ever since I was little, I was always fascinated with the medical field. I would sit for hours reading and looking through pictures in my parents’ medical dictionaries. Then my Mom got sick and died from breast cancer when I was 15 years old, and I believe my passion for wanting to help people grew even stronger from that point on.
What are the most important attributes of today’s nursing leaders?
The most important attributes areeffective communication, critical thinking, innovation, and respect. Listening to staff, understanding what’s going on, and deciding how to handle certain situations are very important for a nurse leader. You also need to be innovative. Many changes take place in healthcare, and nursing leaders must help their staff adapt effectively. This also promotes growth and empowers nurses with new ideas and skills. As for respect, everybody deserves to be treated equally, no matter what title you hold. Creating a climate of respect and appreciation is highly regarded in nursing and creates a much better and happier work environment.
What does it mean to you to be a nursing leader, and how are you making a difference?
Being a nursing leader means setting a good example for others to follow and helping others become great leaders. I’m making a difference by simply teaching what I already know, learning new things from others and acknowledging this, being accountable, and staying patient. When I get positive feedback from a team member about how I’ve helped them, it says a lot and means a lot to me.
What is the most significant challenge facing nursing today?
There are quite a few challenges, but a huge one is nurse retention. This has been an ongoing issue across the board, and we have experienced much of this in the unit I work on.
As a nursing leader, how are you working to overcome this challenge?
As a nurse leader, I’m trying to overcome this challenge by showing nurses coming in and nurses already here that our hospital and medical system are exceptional and that we have to work as a team when changes are needed. Sure, there are multiple factors to consider when trying to keep nurses, and many do not have the solutions. Therefore, I share my personal experiences that I’ve had with this facility as well as the opportunities that are offered.
What nursing leader inspires you the most?
I’ve had multiple nurse leaders influence or inspire me in some way. However, the one that stands out the most to me is my nurse manager, Devika Kandhai. She’s been my manager for the majority of the time that I’ve been at BWMC, and she is an exemplar of a nurse leader. Her knowledge, leadership skills, dedication, and advocacy for our staff and patients are very high. She’s always had faith in me when I didn’t have confidence in myself to do certain things, such as taking on the charge nurse role. She’s encouraged me to go into leadership roles and take on responsibilities that promote my growth as a nurse leader, and I am incredibly grateful for that.
What inspirational message would you like to share with the next generation of nurses?
There will be many challenges you’ll face throughout your nursing career, both positive and negative. Set goals, lead by example, and be patient with yourself. Each nurse is unique and accomplishes different goals at different times throughout their career. Believe in yourself, and if you want to achieve something, never allow yourself or anyone else to tell you that you can’t.
Patrice Little, DNP, FNP-BC, is a senior policy advisor for the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, an initiative of AARP Foundation, AARP, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation working to improve America’s health through nursing.
She is also a family nurse practitioner and the CEO of NP Student ®, a digital lifestyle and educational resource for nurse practitioner students. In addition, Dr. Little has advocated for the nursing workforce on Capitol Hill and has worked as a content producer for Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Lawmakers show.
Before becoming a nurse, Dr. Patrice taught secondary science for three years in South Georgia and served on various committees, including the Ninth Grade Academy Retention Program, Physical Science Curriculum Committee, and as an Academic Decathlon Coach.
Dr. Patrice is an important nursing leader, and we’re pleased to profile her as we celebrate Black History Month with the Black Nursing Leaders Series 2023.
In February, we’ll highlight healthcare leaders who are prominent figures in their organizations and are making transformational impacts in nursing.
Meet Dr. Patrice Little, senior policy advisor for the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action and an adjunct faculty for Georgia Baptist College of Nursing at Mercer University
Talk about your career path and how you ascended to that role.
I like to tell people I took the scenic route to become a nurse. My first degree is in Biology Pre-medicine. Before college, I participated in a Saturday Science program at Nova Southeastern University in south Florida which is very similar to a STEM program. They introduced us to different sciences, including healthcare. I was interested in becoming a physician because of this program.
Fast forward to college, I was on track with finishing my biology degree. I wanted to explore the role of nurse practitioners because of my interaction with the campus’s nurse practitioner (NP). Her name is Mary. Specifically, I set out to become an NP, but you must become a nurse first.
I started my nursing journey by asking her to volunteer to see what [being an NP] was like. Eventually, volunteering at the student health center turned into a work-study opportunity. She was impressed with my work ethic and advocated for me to be a student worker. She encouraged me to complete my biology degree and come back for nursing.
That is why I taught high school science provisionally and how I used my biology degree. I had a great time developing curriculums to ensure students were academically successful. And in my third year of teaching, one of my close sorors said, “do you still want to be a nurse? They have an accelerated program at Georgia Southwestern State University, so you should do that.” I started the accelerated program in August 2006 and graduated in December 2007. After that, I continued with advancement and education, eventually completing my doctorate in 2018.
What inspired you to become a nurse?
Mary is why I decided to become an NP. At the time, she organized a campus assembly addressing ecstasy issues. It was like the problem that we see today with opioids. As a nurse, she took her time and educated us about drugs and how it impacts us. But it’s not even that alone. I went to her for primary care on the college campus. She was so warm and non-judgmental. I felt like I was in good hands, receiving care from her. And I was impressed that she did what was similar to what a physician would do.
My family is from Jamaica, and I was told my three career options: doctor, lawyer, or engineer. My sister is the physician in the family. And when I saw the campus’s nurse practitioner, I said, wait a minute, I want to know more about what she does. She mentioned her flexibility, how much it took, how long it took for her training, and what she could and could not do as a nurse practitioner.. That’s when I knew being an NP was for me. I could see myself doing this. I’m a very family-oriented person. I knew one day I would get married and have children. And I said this role fits what I would like to do in the future.
What are the most important attributes of today’s nursing leaders?
Emotional intelligence is the top attribute because it has to deal with the person’s capacity to have interpersonal relationships with the people they serve. Often, I feel that leaders may lack empathy because they may be more project or task-driven in things to be completed. When you have emotional intelligence, you understand that when your team is supported, emotionally, and respected, they’re more likely to produce at a higher level when the interaction is healthy. So that’s why emotional intelligence is essential.
The next thing is that leaders must be open-minded. That’s how innovation comes about. And that’s how we strengthen our system, either enhance or redesign it, so they’re more efficient in supporting whatever project we have. Often, we deal with leaders who want to be the ones who have the original idea or the only idea. And sometimes, and I know from being a leader, when you work too close to the project, you miss some things that are just slapping you in the face and, like, wait a minute, why don’t you try that. So you have to be open-minded about that. And then also have integrity. I’ve experienced situations where leaders have treated me one way in front of a group of people and then a different way behind a closed door. So we have to be integral with that because we’re demonstrating to our future leaders how they are supposed to conduct themselves in the future. And, of course, the basic or the most common thing is we want leaders to be decisive and disciplined.
But the main thing is interpersonal relationships. That’s what it’s about. That’s what carries you further than anything. It’s how you interact with individuals and navigate challenges or differences. So often, we like to label staff as being difficult or patients as being problematic. And really, what happens is they may have a different particular need, or there may be something going on at the root. And if you have emotional intelligence, you will understand how to handle that logically instead of emotionally.
What does it mean to you to be a nursing leader, and how are you making a difference?
If you had asked me a few years ago what I thought it was to be a nursing leader, my responses would have been different now that I’ve worked as a nursing leader. You must have the courage to stand and speak out when no one else speaks out. And I feel that that’s how I have an impact.
It takes a lot of courage to do something that someone else has not done before when everyone else is telling you, where’s the evidence? Sometimes, the evidence is what you see from your lived experience and has not been produced in the literature. And sometimes, you must go with that gut feeling and do what you need to address a huge problem in your organization or practice.
Being a great leader takes courage. They have to be great at communicating. For people to understand what you are trying to say and the vision, you must be excellent at articulating it clearly and concisely. And then it’s also easier for people to meet your expectations.
I’m making a difference with the platform that I started in 2018. And it’s evolved quite a bit before it was a magazine for nurse practitioner students. And then I realized what they needed, and more students started coming to me and those who aspire to be nurse practitioners. And I said, wow, now I see what the need are. So I get close to them by understanding their needs and curating a program to meet them.
What is the most significant challenge facing nursing today?
The most recent challenge highlighted in the news was the nursing scheme, which created 7600 fake nursing diplomas. There are several contributing factors to this. And often, we have to look at the system. Anytime it’s easy, just point, look at the outcome and say, this is bad. Yes, we know it isn’t good. But how did it get there? What’s the core reason people are trying to pass the rigor of nursing preparation to become a nurse? That’s the question that we must ask ourselves. And so when I asked myself this question, I say, okay, wait a minute, what have I seen from teaching as an adjunct, and with my platform, the fostering of student and faculty relationships to support them through the rigor of the program.
The other thing is the need for more resources. If the resources are there, then students can access them. But faculty can also refer students to help. But then, on top of that, we don’t even have enough faculty to meet this nursing shortage need. And certain things need to be in place to support faculty.
As a nursing leader, how are you working to overcome this challenge?
I’m working on a project at this time to address that need.
Other things could be the curriculum challenges we have to understand. For example, last year, I delivered a talk in New Orleans, focusing on the multi-generational workforce. Each generation has different needs. So it’s time out for nursing to say when I was in school, we did this, but it’s not applicable now. So let’s get over our egos and start acknowledging and addressing the issue. And that’s where emotional intelligence comes in.
With generations where the attention span may differ, you almost have to teach them to be students. When it comes to those basic skills to succeed in nursing school, basic reading and writing skills, and critical thinking, people often say I want to be a nurse because of what they see us do—but not understanding that it involves a lot of thought and problem-solving. So how do we prepare the newest generation to be thinkers when everything at the touch of a button is just given to them? It’s a lot of passivity instead of actively learning.
That’s the huge challenge that we have. We always have to look at our systems. What can we do to make our educational system better and more supportive for the student to be successful, but at the same time to lighten up the load on our faculty so they can make sure they deliver curriculums that the students will embrace?
What nursing leader inspires you the most?
The first nurse leader is Dr. Scharmaine Lawson. She’s a family nurse practitioner and the founder of Nola the Nurse Book, which will be a television series soon. What I appreciate about her is not only did she demonstrate how far you can go with your nurse practitioner degree, but when I reached out to her, I let her know what I was doing in 2018 as far as developing a resource for nurse practitioner students, she was the first one who was like, sure you can interview me, what do you need? And then, I followed up a couple of years later, during the pandemic, and I launched a transition to practice a summit for NP graduates. And I said, Dr. Lawson, can you be the keynote, and she agreed and was the keynote for that virtual summit. So I’m just highlighting just a few things that she has done. But overall, those few things translate into two words: support and mentorship. Having her support as a younger nurse segueing into becoming a leader was priceless.
The second one is Dr. Andrea Brassard. She has been a mentor to me for the healthcare policy part that I do now as a nurse because policy influences practice, which is crucial to what I do. I was finishing up my doctor of nursing practice scholarly project. And I have a habit of reaching out to authors who impressed me. So if an article or book is good, I am reaching out to that author. And I reached out to her and said, wow, this is amazing. Can I speak with you for a few minutes to let you know what I’m doing for my project? And she said, yeah, and the relationship evolved from there.
Again, I was impressed with how far you can go as a nurse leader, and more so with your doctorate. You can influence policy and do things on Capitol Hill. And so, again, she took me under her wings. She also educated me and exposed me to other resources and opportunities to help further my development as a nurse in healthcare policy.
What inspirational message would you like to share with the next generation of nurses?
We often seek mentorship to get to the next step in our careers. And it’s just important not to forget to pick up a book. Your greatest mentors will be in the books you read. For example, I’m reading Successful Women Speak Differently because I wanted to develop my speech a little more as a leader. I challenge Black nurses to take 10 to 20 minutes daily and read a book that could help them further develop as professionals.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I’m happily serving individuals and nursing institutions with my curated programs to improve student retention, provide standardized preceptorships, and to take the load off of faculty. I can be found at npstudent.com or LinkedIn for more information.
Tasha Johnson, MSN, RN, is a clinical nurse educator and aligned AHA training center coordinator for the University of Maryland Shore Regional Health. Johnson is also a per diem administrative nursing supervisor and per diem staff nurse in the ICU.
Johnson is an important nursing leader, and we’re pleased to profile her as we celebrate Black History Month with the Black Nursing Leaders Series 2023.
In February, we’ll highlight healthcare leaders who are prominent figures in their organizations and are making transformational impacts in nursing.
Meet Tasha Johnson, a clinical nurse educator and aligned AHA training center coordinator for the University of Maryland Shore Regional Health.
How long have you worked in the nursing field?
I have been in the nursing field for 20 years – 14 years as a CNA and six years as a registered nurse. I have been with UMMS for seven years.
Talk about your career path and how you ascended to that role.
When I think about my path, I amaze myself. I allowed God to lead and guide my steps. It was and is not an easy path. However, you can do it if you stay focused and committed. I was not one of those people who knew from birth that I wanted to be a nurse. I knew I loved people and, most importantly, serving, helping, and inspiring others.
When it was time to apply for the nursing program, I received a denial letter, not realizing I had one more class to take before applying. I took that class applied again, and again I received a denial letter. At this point, I had already completed pre-req classes required for a BSN to “stay in school mode” and earned an associate of arts degree for those particular classes (earning more points to get into the nursing program). Angry, I threw the letter in the trash and gave up hopes of becoming a nurse. The guidance counselor asked me, “Don’t you want to pick another profession? Maybe nursing is not for you. How about radiology?” My husband told me to get the letter out of the trash and call after the the 4th of July holiday, when the college reopened, and see what was going on. I did, and I learned that my points were not calculated correctly. Technically I earned my acceptance letter, but instead, because of the mistake of calculating my points, nine students who had a seat would have had to give it up for me to get into the program.
Placed on a waiting list, it wasn’t until the third day of the nursing program starting, and I write this with tears of joy, that I received an email from the director of nursing in disbelief to offer me a seat in the program because someone could not continue. I was next in line to get in. Not only did I get into the nursing program, but I was the class president! I believe I am the first Black class president Chesapeake College has had. This motivated me to strive for positions to inspire other Black future nurses and nursing assistants by teaching and showing them how to truly care for patients in their vulnerable moments. I applied and was accepted into the Residency program here at SRH accepting a position in acute care in our Chestertown facility. I found a love for critical care during nursing school and, after serving a year in acute care, transitioned to help those in critical care. After achieving my BSN, this allowed me to operate in a teaching capacity at Chesapeake College as a clinical nursing instructor, a faculty member to teach one of the offered CNA courses, and a faculty member to teach patient care to the Rad Tech program. Scheduling a tour of the hospital for my CNA class with my current director, the Clinical Nurse Educator Role, was brought to my attention. I was ecstatic and jumped at the opportunity.
What inspired you to become a nurse?
I love serving and helping people. When you have a servant’s heart, you put yourself aside for someone else’s well-being. It brings my heart joy to be able to do this and see people get better, put smiles on their faces, and give hope.
What are the most important attributes of today’s nursing leaders?
Important attributes for today’s nursing leaders are professionalism, integrity, communication, and interpersonal skills. We work with many different types of personalities, races, age groups, and people with different socioeconomic backgrounds, and we need to strive for excellence and can do that by maintaining these attributes. As a Black nurse, especially in a leadership position, you will be judged or not taken seriously by some individuals, though the requirements to become a nurse are the same for all. Consistently and persistently upholding professionalism under challenging situations, demonstrating integrity, communicating well, and working well with others will help you stand out and eventually earn respect from your peers and patients.
What does it mean to you to be a nursing leader, and how are you making a difference?
Being a nurse leader is an honor because I feel Black nurses have to work harder to obtain leadership positions or the opportunity to be heard and make a difference.
I feel my position as a Black nurse leader gives other inspiring Black leaders hope and the courage to achieve their personal goals. Inspiring future nurses to share my journey and how I overcame challenges by staying professional makes a difference. Communicating well might seem small, but it makes a difference. Training new staff according to policy shows integrity and makes a difference. How you represent yourself is very important. As a leader meeting new people every week and day here at SRH, I can make a difference and crush stereotypes/biases placed on the Black community.
What is the most significant challenge facing nursing today?
The significant challenge Black nurses face today is extremely significant discrimination in the workplace. I knew discrimination and racism were true, but I did not experience or see it firsthand until I entered the healthcare profession.
As a nursing leader, how are you working to overcome this challenge?
It’s in my character to never back down from a challenge. Challenges, especially when leading to the challenge, increase my motivation to show that I can do it. I have been called the “N” word by patients. However, that still did not change the level of care I gave as if they were my family member. I have been denied positions for which I know I was qualified, but I kept a positive mindset. I may have to work harder to obtain leadership positions. However, when the time is right, and everything aligns correctly, the job, the money, and whatever else I desire with come. I keep a positive attitude. I have affirmations and scriptures before me at all times to keep me grounded and focused. On an organizational level, I’m hoping my voice will be accepted and heard to make a difference or changes by participating in leadership forums and being on committees.
What nursing leader inspires you the most?
The nurse leader who inspires me is Dyshekia Strawberry. Dyshekia is a nurse manager here at SRH for our Cardiac Catheterization Lab. I first met her when she was a clinical coordinator on one of our MedSurg floors, and it was when I got to know her when she was pursuing management here at SRH. She is a Black nurse leader manager. Always professional. She is never opposed to giving me wisdom or career advancement direction. She is smart and business-minded and cares for not only her patients but her staff as well. She elevated to the position she is in today with being a floor nurse, education, and now management, and that is so inspiring to me because I’m sure it was tough, but she kept pushing and going. When the time is right, I, too, would like to move into management, then director, then hopefully a CNO position.
What inspirational message would you like to share with the next generation of nurses?
Stay committed. Stay focused. Don’t give up or run from challenges. Set personal goals and take steps to achieve those goals. You can do it. The color of our skin does not define who we are. Our heart does. Your elevation journey is not a sprint. It’s a marathon. Be confident in your ability to succeed and motivated to achieve your goals.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I can’t express enough the gratitude I feel in my heart to not only share my journey thus far but to be able to share and inspire people on a national level. That is huge to me, and I’m so grateful and honored.
Shameika Smith, RN, BSN, CRRN, is a registered nurse in the Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Program at Shepherd Center. This rehabilitation hospital provides world-class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions like spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, multiple amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain.
Smith is an important nursing leader, and we’re pleased to profile her as we celebrate Black History Month with the Black Nursing Leaders Series 2023.
In February, we’ll highlight healthcare leaders who are prominent figures in their organizations and are making transformational impacts in nursing.
Meet Shameika Smith, a registered nurse in the Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Program at Shepherd Center
Talk about your career path and how you ascended to your role at at Shepherd Center
I started my nursing career as a Patient Care Technician in 1999 at a hospital in Florida. In the early 2000s, I moved to the metro Atlanta area, continuing my nursing career in several hospitals in Atlanta and Dekalb.
After becoming complacent in my current role, in 2008, I began taking my prerequisites part-time while working at Shepherd. It wasn’t until 2013 that I could give full attention to my studies, concentrating on becoming a nurse. I applied and got accepted to a BSN program. I completed my BSN in 2016 at Chamberlin University College of Nursing.
What inspired you to become a nurse?
I think caregiving has always been in my DNA. I love taking care of people. I love advocating for and encouraging patients when they may be at their lowest point spiritually, mentally, and physically. While working as a PCT was a wonderfully rewarding job, continuing my education and career path would afford me a broader span of what I could do in offering my services.
What are the most important attributes of today’s nursing leaders?
We have many new nurses who would benefit from a great leader. Nurses in leadership should lead with integrity and compassion and have excellent communication skills. We need to be able to share our knowledge and critical thinking skills to help our upcoming nurses be extraordinary.
What is the most significant challenge facing nursing today?
The most significant challenge facing nursing today is a clear shortage of nurses and, even broader, a shortage of nurses who are actually prepared for the nursing field. No matter what, there will always be a staff shortage in the medical field. Upcoming nurses should be nurtured and led to have great critical thinking skills as we work hard due to shortages, and the patient loads are more complicated at times. This can lead to one becoming overwhelmed, burnt out, and making too frequent nursing errors. My area of nursing is also physically demanding because many of our patients have paralysis, and we are their arms and legs.
As a nursing leader, how are you working to overcome this challenge?
As a nursing leader, I am overcoming these challenges by making myself available to help fellow nurses as a resource when they may feel overwhelmed or have nursing questions.
On my off days, I incorporate time to work out at a local gym in Atlanta and get plenty of rest. Spending time with my family is of high importance as well as relaxing.
What nursing leader inspires you the most?
My manager, Angelique Howard-Morris, RN, BSN, inspires me. I’ve watched her start as a PCT, working thru all of life’s challenges and going to school while taking care of her family. Yet, she did not allow anything to stop her from accomplishing her goals.
What inspirational message would you like to share with the next generation of nurses?
It doesn’t matter how or when you start. What matters is getting to the finish line. PERSEVERE! I promise you can do it. It is indeed one of the most rewarding things!
See Our Champions of Nursing Diversity
Sign up now to get your free digital subscription to Minority Nurse
