CSRA Impact Call

The Dean of the college was invited to present at the Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce's monthly CSRA Impact Call. The topic of the meeting was "Women Leading for Women's History Month." Below is the script that I crafted for her.

Good morning, everyone! I’m Dr. Beth NeSmith, Dean of the Augusta University College of Nursing. I am honored to be speaking with you today, and I am excited to discuss my role at the college, my nursing leadership journey, and the status of healthcare across the CSRA.

Nursing is a predominantly female field, meaning I am uniquely situated to engage in mentorship and work alongside other female leaders. At the College of Nursing, our admin leadership team is 71% women, all with advanced doctoral degrees. Our program directors are an all women team, with 60% representing ethnic, sexual, or cultural diversity. 11 of our current faculty members honed their leadership skills as women in the military before coming to educate future nurses. And finally, all seven of our national fellowships are held by female faculty members. I am proud to be a part of such a dynamic team, and to be entrusted with leading them and the future of our institution.

My journey began over 30 years ago when I became a staff nurse with MCG emergency services. Just two years later, I was promoted to Nurse Supervisor, sparking my passion for guiding others and my dedication to professional development. Since then, I have attained nursing leadership roles at the local, regional, and national levels in areas of trauma, emergency, and disaster nursing.

As a native of the CSRA, I am forever grateful to the impact Augusta University has had on my personal and professional development. Higher education helped me pave the road to various leadership roles. From professor, to director, to chair, interim dean, and then becoming Dean last year, I am proud of the work I’ve put in, and thankful for the mentorship I’ve received at every step.

I like to think of my leadership as split into two buckets. While I am a leader for nurses and healthcare, I am also a leader for an academic institution. Therefore, it’s my responsibility to enhance employee satisfaction and promote their own professional growth and development. As entrepreneurs and business owners, I think many of you can relate to this aspect of leadership.

I’d like to briefly discuss a few programs and initiatives I’ve implemented for our employees. The first being what I like to call, “Coffee With the Dean.” Each week, I designate an hour of my time to sit with employees and listen to them. Over coffee and donuts, they share their aspirations, ideas, concerns, and questions. I have a full schedule, and this hour allows employees to have face-to-face time with me and gives them an opportunity to discuss all manners of topics. Not only does it increase their satisfaction, but it gives me a read on the climate of the college and to keep my finger on the pulse of what’s going on.

We also have Values of the Month, a program that allows employees to nominate each other for one of the values of the College of Nursing. This gives us the opportunity to not only celebrate those in our institution who are going above and beyond, but it helps to bolster the relationships between colleagues. Employees are encouraged to “catch colleagues in the act” of collegiality, compassion, excellence, inclusivity, integrity, and leadership. The winner is celebrated in our newsletters and via social media, ensuring that they feel appreciated, seen, and acknowledged.

The final program I’d like to discuss is the EGG program, which stands for Employees Get Gratitude. This program supports our employees with funds to encourage recruitment, grant writing, and publishing. Employees are the greatest asset of any institution and are often our greatest recruiters. Publishing in journals and receiving grants supports our pursuit of R1 status.  It’s important to acknowledge and support our employees when their activities directly correlate to our overarching initiatives.

As I mentioned before, the other bucket encapsulates nursing and healthcare. As Dean of a nursing institution, it is my turn to mentor other nurses. To create a space in which nurses and future nurses feel empowered to pursue their goals and to help their communities. This role affords me the opportunity of reaching beyond the college and doing my part to help address the issues in healthcare.

The nursing shortage, access to rural healthcare, health disparities; nursing leaders like myself are actively working to address these topical challenges. Through my professional journey, I actively researched health disparities in trauma populations. Now, I am proud that our college is an environment where faculty and students join me in this and similar focuses. I’d like to highlight a few of those individuals and programs and the incredible work they are doing.

PhD student, Debra Dewitt, has presented on the national stage about her mobile health application for breast health among fellow African American women.

Our two study abroad options give students the opportunity to address rural health in Scotland or engage in interdisciplinary collaboration while serving communities in Rwanda.

Professor Lynn Glenn conducts diabetes research and interventions to promote healthy lifestyles for young mothers in rural communities.

Pam Cromer, our Director of Interdisciplinary Costa Layman Community Health Outreach Programs, dedicates her time to ensuring migrant workers receive access to healthcare and coordinates the annual women’s health clinic.

A large part of the responsibility of nurse leaders is advocation. Think of nurses as the quarterbacks of the medical professionals team in the healthcare field. Nurses often must be at the forefront of organizations and legislation, advocating for change, advancements, and improvements. I am thrilled to say that more than twelve of our faculty members hold leadership or committee membership at the regional, state, and national levels.  

                A consistent topic of interest for advocation is the nursing shortage. As Dean, I strive to consistently graduate quality nurses and encourage them to join the workforce.  We have an extremely high employment rate, with most of our graduates remaining in Georgia. We are the only College of Nursing affiliated with a tertiary care academic medical center and a community home to five large medical centers, all just steps away from our classrooms. This allows our students to practice and acclimate to nursing close to home, often leading to employment at those same medical centers after graduation.

                I’d also like to highlight the impact of our partnership with WellStar. This important academic practice partnership is presented at the national level via my appointment to the Academic-Practice Advisory Committee. This is a national board between American Association of Colleges of Nursing and American Organization for Nursing Leadership. Here, we share ideas and guidance for nursing programs and their sister hospitals regarding increasing the nursing workforce.

WellStar has its own Clinical Career Pathway Program, allowing individuals to get paid while they engage in career development from beginning to end, starting with training to become a Certified Nursing Assistant or Certified Medical Assistant, all the way through to terminal doctoral degrees, which focus on advanced practice or new knowledge development through research with a PhD. Graduates of this program may decide to pursue a degree beyond this training, finding opportunities with our College of Nursing.

                In Fall of 2026, the college will be reintroducing our online RN to BSN program. Through partnership with WellStar, our first cohort will be their employees. WellStar is graciously providing their registered nurses with the opportunity, and financial means, to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Registered nurses who have attained a BSN enjoy more job opportunities, higher earning potential, and more options for career advancement and further education.

                These partnerships are critical to not only addressing the nursing shortage but ensuring that those entering the workforce are of the highest quality, leading to improved patient outcomes. I encourage anyone who is interested in the medical field to look into nursing. It’s truly a calling like no other, and our programs can meet you at any level of your professional journey. We have advanced degree and certification options for those who are already nurses, and even an accelerated program for those who already have a degree in a non-nursing field.

                As I leave you all today, I’d like to take this moment to celebrate Women’s History Month. To recognize the impact of those who came before me and paved the way for me, not only to be a woman in STEM but a woman in leadership. Through years of growing and developing, I’ve learned from a multitude of mentors, my own mistakes, and of course those moments of achievement. In closing, I’d like to provide you with some words of encouragement.

                You belong here. You are exactly where you are meant to be. If you weren’t capable or knowledgeable, you wouldn’t have made it this far. You are in your position because of your strengths, your talents, and your tenacity. As a leader, you have to trust yourself and your team. Surround yourself with people who support your goals, with people who are driven. Listen and learn from those around you, utilize their wisdom and expertise, and use that when making decisions. Focus on the next best step, and you’ll be walking in good company.

I am more than happy to engage in any questions you may have, time permitting, and thank you all for your time today and for allowing me to speak and share with you!