Biographical Information

What about Ellie Smith, RN, MSN, your instructor? 

My nursing career has taken many turns, providing me with a fascinating experiences and enriching my life.  I obtained an Associate Degree in Nursing at Grossmont Community College and began my career on the night shift on a telemetry unit.  After five years and several position changes within the hospital, I decided that nursing would be my lifetime career and realized the need for more education.  Going back to school, working on a Bachelor’s degree, maintaining a full time job at the hospital and raising two children seemed, at times, impossible.  These accomplishments would indeed have been impossible if not for the tremendous support from my husband.

 I returned to life without school, just working didn’t seem so bad!!!  Through the years I chose to work in a variety of nursing positions that included staff and managerial experiences, in-hospital acute nursing and home/community nursing, hospice and emergency nursing.    Finally I chose a clinical specialty in emergency nursing, working in this field for fifteen years as a staff nurse and manager, obtaining a Certification in Emergency Nursing in the process.

 I have a desire to give and nurture in another way, beyond bedside care of the sick.  I want to teach others about this exciting, fascinating field of nursing and health care. I decided more education would help me to realize this goal.  By now my two children had grown up and were off on their own life's adventures.  In fact, I was soon to become a grandmother.  Can grandmothers go back to school??  You bet!!  I returned to school in the midst of to obtain a Master’s degree in Nursing, with education as my specialty.  Currently, I am a nursing instructor at the community college.  I love the challenge of teaching.  What an adventure!!