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RN Director of Nursing
Ascension
Jennifer L. Smith, DNP, RN, Director of Nursing, Ascension St. Vincent's Riverside, Jacksonville, Florida.
Dr. Smith has over 25 years of healthcare experience that ranges from patient care technician to Director of Nursing. She is currently the Director of Nursing at Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside, Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Smith has been a nurse for over 10 years, with a primary focus in medical surgical acute care nursing, working as a staff nurse and throughout her nursing leadership journey.
Jennifer currently serves on multiple committees within her local, market, and national Ascension team and has participated in the implementation of various quality driven, patient and associate focusing initiatives. She is the co-chair of the Ascension National Nurse Affinity Evidence-Based Practice and Implementation Science Committee, which allows her the opportunity to engage at a high level with others to emphasize the importance of Evidence-Based Practice within the nursing community.
She was selected as one of ten nominees from Ascension Florida for the Foundations of Ministry Leadership Formation program, a year-long program designed to enhance leadership development both personally and professionally through self discovery, reflection, and skill set. Jennifer has been able to use these talents as well as others to mentor multiple students and armed forces personnel as they venture into the leadership realm.
Jennifer obtained her Doctorate in Nursing with an emphasis on Executive Leadership in 2022 from Jacksonville University, with a research focus on the effects of a nurse mentorship program on nurse career satisfaction and retention. She is currently in pursuit of a certification in Executive Nurse Leadership.
While Jennifer's professional career keeps her quite busy she is also a mother and a grandmother. She prides herself on work-life balance while successfully meeting the needs of those she is called to serve.
