Jennifer E. Smith, RN, MSN, MBA, CV-BC, CNE
Candidate for Midwest Region Representative
OADN is my favorite nursing organization. In recent years, I’ve been a member of multiple teams including the QSEN Task Force, and the nominating committee, which I chaired in 2024. I participated in
the second cohort of the OADN Leadership Institute in 2022 and have since recommended colleagues for participation and served as a mentor. I regularly attend annual meetings and have presented posters and plenary sessions in addition to encouraging peers to do the same. My passion for nursing education drives my interest in the Midwestern Region Director position for the OADN Board of Directors.
As a member of the Illinois Board of Nursing, I feel it is important to foster nurses’ accountability for their
ethical and safe practice while encouraging professional growth. In December 2024, I returned to a full-time faculty role, which I held for almost 15 years prior to being the Director of Nursing at Harper College in Palatine, IL, from 2021 to 2024. I am committed to fostering peer support in a trusting environment with transparency. Great outcomes can result from some discourse at times, therefore “embracing the uncomfortable” through open communication, collaboration and teamwork is often needed to make progress. I aim to remain approachable and fair to all, while maintaining standards of the profession, and recognizing the importance of flexibility, compassion and a comprehension of the issues related to disparities and inequities that exist. I am strongly committed to creating lifelong, deep learners who pursue excellence in, and gain personal enrichment from, their nursing practice.
Jennifer E. Smith, RN, MSN, MBA, CV-BC, CNE
Professor
William Rainey Harper College