 Nurse in the Spotlight: Journey to Nursing and Nursing Leadership
The professional journeys of Cook Children’s nurse leaders are as unique as they are. Some of our nurse leaders joined nursing as a second profession. Some of them became leaders early in their careers as nurses, while others found the right time to transition was later. One of our inspiring nurse leaders is Deb Smith, MSFS, BSN, RN, CPN, who is a Clinical Operations Manager in the Cook Children’s Physician Network. Deb’s journey reminds us that the path to nursing leadership is well-traveled, but there are many routes to your destination. In this interview, Deb shares what inspired her to become a nurse and how she arrived at her current role in nursing leadership. She offers unique insight as a professional who has worked in a field of science outside of nursing, a nurse within the medical center, and as a nurse in the ambulatory setting. Q: A colleague shared that you worked in a crime lab before transitioning to nursing. Can you tell us about your role in the crime lab and what led to your transition to nursing? Yes! My previous career was a Drug Chemist at the Dallas County Crime Lab. I analyzed drugs seized throughout Dallas County, and testified in court as an expert witness on the cases that I worked. In 2011, my son was born. He required surgery shortly after birth to repair a birth defect. Unfortunately, he had many complications and required additional surgery. In total, he had 9 surgeries before his 5th Birthday. I had 2 very distinct experiences that opened my eyes to how incredibly cool it was to be a nurse. There was 1 nurse, and I don’t remember her name, but she absolutely changed my life. I realized that if you have to work 40 hours per week to put food on the table and a roof over your head, why not do something that REALLY matters? I wanted a career where I could make something better during the worst times of people’s lives. This nurse cared for my son as if he were her own. I decided I needed to do that for others, so I went back to school for my BSN from Baylor University. I was blessed to be accepted to the Nurse Residency program, where I started my 2nd career as a pediatric nurse in February 2017. FYI: Deb has published two children’s books related to her son’s surgery and experience with hyperbaric oxygen. They have been sold around the world, as far as Australia! Learn more here: Deb's 1st book; Deb's 2nd book Q: Can you tell us about your journey in nursing before becoming a nurse leader? I was accepted to the Nurse Residency in February 2017, Cohort 24. In August 2018, I was placed on 4 Main. Over the course of 6 years, I became a Unit Guide, Preceptor, Charge Nurse, and Quality Nurse. I attended the Nurse Leader Academy (Cohort 3) in early 2023. I realized there was so much opportunity throughout the system to truly make a positive impact both for staff and patients. I came to a point in my career where I was ready for a new challenge. Q: You’ve been a member of project teams and unit and hospital-wide councils and committees. What motivated you to engage with this work? What advice would you give to nurses seeking engagement or professional development opportunities? I am always up for a challenge, and I like driving change. Engaging with project teams, and hospital-wide councils and committees is the best way to be part of the solution to improve. It was fantastic to meet people and collaborate with other disciplines, I loved learning about what was going on throughout the Health Care System and being part of the solution to improve. I was also able to use my creativity in songwriting to write and record the PIVIE parent education single “TLC.” Advice I would give to nurses looking to engage – 100% do it! I was so nervous to join every committee. Some of them, I felt like the outsider, and sat silent for the first few meetings. That’s OK! You don’t have to participate until you feel ready. Find something that interests you, and show up with an open mind to learn. I loved that my coworkers saw me as a resource and a “go-to” when they didn’t know the answer. I got all of my knowledge from going to council and committee meetings. It’s also great for meeting new people, which was an added bonus when you floated – I always knew people on the units I worked. And, who doesn’t need supplies that you know is stocked on another unit? It helps knowing people who can tube you something real quick in a pinch. Q: What inspired you to become a nurse leader? Can you tell us about your current role and your leadership style? What inspired me to become a nurse leader was that I felt that I was at a point in my nursing career where I had enough experience to drive meaningful change. I was able to do that on a small scale in my quality role, but after years of direct patient care, I felt that I was ready for the challenge to do this on a larger scale. I was looking for a position where I could support staff, and positively influence quality care across the healthcare system. My current role as a RN Manager of Clinical Operations with CCPN is exactly what I was looking for. In a nutshell, I help oversee all clinical aspects of primary care and Neighborhood Clinics. Some specific responsibilities include managing our pool staff of triage nurses and medical assistants that fill in for over 50 outpatient clinics throughout DFW. I am also responsible for the Clinical Orientation of all clinical new hires for CCPN primary care and Neighborhood Clinics. I would describe my leadership style as supportive, collaborative, and change-driven. I lead by example and believe that empowering my team through open communication and trust is essential. I’m very proactive about identifying areas for improvement and implementing solutions that enhance patient care. My goal is to create an environment where staff feel valued, motivated, and inspired to grow. Q: You have had the opportunity to work in the inpatient and ambulatory settings. What do you wish inpatient nurses knew about the ambulatory setting? What do you wish nurses in the ambulatory setting knew about working in the inpatient setting? This is a GREAT question. I would say that what I wish nurses in the ambulatory setting knew about working in the inpatient setting is how dynamic and unpredictable the environment can be. Inpatient nurses are constantly juggling sudden changes, and multiple priorities that often shift in a moment’s notice. There is a constant need to adapt, and it’s both emotionally and physically exhausting at times. What I wish inpatient nurses knew about the ambulatory setting is that even though it seems more routine or predictable, it also has its own challenges. Outpatient staff manage a VERY high volume of patients in a short period of time. Outpatient staff are responsible for building long-term relationships with families, with a constant focus on efficiency, patient education, and preventative care. This is all done with very limited resources and time. Also, there are emergencies in the outpatient settings that require quick, critical thinking and resources that I always took for granted at the Medical Center. There is no code team or med alert team in the clinics. Families also don’t know that there is a difference between inpatient and outpatient staff; we all represent Cook Children’s. So, even though the inpatient and outpatient teams don’t work physically together, they are both equally responsible for providing the same quality of care to the patients they serve, who are frequently the same patients! Q: When you are away from work, how do you like to spend your free time? I love sports – baseball, hockey, and football. Go Rangers, Stars, and NY JETS! I love going to live sporting events, which include professional AND my 13-year-old son’s baseball and football games. Those who are “sports” moms know this is basically a full-time job in itself. I have recently gotten into pickleball. I try to play 1-2 times per week. I’m always on the lookout for anyone who wants to play! I’m also a foodie. I love cooking new recipes and going out to try new restaurants. Last, but certainly not least, I have 2 golden retrievers that keep me busy. I love exploring new hiking trails with them or taking them for short weekend adventures. Do you know a nurse who deserves to be featured in an upcoming issue of The Nurses’ Station? We’re looking to highlight nurses for their excellence in clinical care, mentorship, advocacy, community involvement outside of Cook, or any other outstanding contributions that should be shared with our nursing community! Contact the Center for Nursing Excellence: cne@cookchildrens.org | 
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