David Smith, Jr. has been the Director of Nursing for the Division of Senior and Adult Services since 2018. His decade of experience spans a variety of specialties, including medical-surgical/telemetry, acute and chronic dialysis, critical and emergency care, long-term/skilled care, and nursing administration.

 

After a satisfying first career as an educator, David decided to pursue his interest in healthcare. “I am fascinated by medical science and have always had an interest in healthcare. Nursing seemed to be the logical path at the time,” he says. He began with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, and then obtained an Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing. Today, he is pursuing a Master of Science in nursing, with a concentration in nursing education. 

 

David recalls one patient who deeply impacted him. A young pediatric patient was very ill and tired of being in the hospital. After several weeks of testing and treatments, he had given up. “At that time, he became my patient. Although he was dejected, he and I developed a friendship,” David recounts. “With gentle persistence, I was able to get him to turn the corner on his illness. Sometime later, I ran into him and his family outside of the hospital, and I was amazed to see his recovery. His family felt that I was the right nurse at the right time. That young man makes me proud to be a nurse.”

 

Nursing can be stressful, and one of David’s favorite places to decompress is in the kitchen. “I grew up with a grandfather who was a retired chef. Watching him cook taught me the power of healthy, yet tasteful food. Food can be nutritious, aesthetically pleasing and a delight to the senses,” he explains. “After a challenging day at work, being in the kitchen allows me to channel my energy in a positive manner, forces me to eat healthy, and fuels my creative culinary experiments.”

 

David feels that nursing will be a lifelong profession for him, and he looks to a 90-year-old woman at his church as his inspiration. “She just recently retired from her work as a nurse, after more than 60 years of caring for and teaching others,” he explains. “I am amazed at the passion she still has for this profession. Her experience and knowledge encourage me in my desire to engage in this profession for the rest of my life. She is a living witness to the impact nurses and the field of nursing can have on one’s life.”

 

David is certain that choosing to become a nurse was the best career decision he ever made. “Not only do I get to help others, but it is satisfying, gratifying, and humbling to be able to journey with others during a time of illness,” he confirms. “I remain a nurse because at the end of the day I am able to make a difference in the lives of my patients.”