Her Story
About Edith
Edith Smith is a registered nurse with 37 years of experience in healthcare. She currently works as a staff nurse with Encompass Health, supporting patients recovering from strokes, disabilities, and surgeries through rehabilitation services in partnership with Novant Health. Prior to this role, she dedicated 32 years to the emergency department, specializing in forensic nursing, legal nurse consulting, pediatrics, and trauma care at Wake Forest Baptist Health. There, she played a key role in establishing the pediatric emergency department as a Level 1 trauma center and developed tools such as the Broselow tape system for pediatric dosing. She has also led community outreach initiatives, including the Because We Care program for grieving families, book bag and shoebox programs, and addiction support efforts.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Edith
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Love what you do and take pride in it. Listen to people, not only what they are saying but what they are not saying. Build up as a team. Take care of yourself too because you can't be the nurse you need to be if you can't take care of yourself.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Go into it with an idea, plan, and goal to grow or you'll be miserable. Be a team player. There are many avenues like traveling nursing. Take change and make healthcare better. Stand up and support each other as women.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Addiction is rampant and a huge challenge, especially navigating it as a parent. Opportunities to speak out, provide support groups, and start counseling in jail. Healthcare fails people sometimes so need to do better and be advocates.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Trust, honesty, accountability, taking ownership, admitting when wrong, and taking pride in what you do. Come with solutions when complaining.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.