by Matt Batcheldor

The Tennessee Action Coalition is honoring two Vanderbilt nurses in its roster of 2023 Tennessee Rising Star Nurse Leaders.

Cory Smeltzer, RN, is a clinical staff leader for the Holding Room and Post-Anesthesia Care Unit at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Monika Schmidt Do, DNP, APRN, AGNP-C, is an assistant professor at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (VUSN).

Cory Smeltzer, RN

The two are among 25 nurses in an elite group of young Tennessee nurse leaders representing the three grand divisions of Tennessee, a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds, front-line clinicians, academicians and managers.

The aim of the Tennessee Rising Star Nurse Leader program is to engage and empower young nurses to lead the profession in improving the health of Tennesseans.

“Congratulations to these extraordinary nurses for this impressive accomplishment,” said Executive Chief Nursing Officer Marilyn Dubree, MSN, RN, NE-BC.

VUSN Dean Pamela Jeffries, PhD, RN, agreed and said that Tennessee needs young, talented nurse leaders. “Health care is facing a shortage of nurse leaders in addition to nurses,” Jeffries said. “Young leaders like Cory and Monika are the future of our profession and vital for the health of the people of our state.”

The Tennessee Action Coalition is one of 51 Action Coalitions in every state and Washington, D.C. The coalitions are part of The Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, a nationwide initiative designed to harness the power of nursing to help all Americans lead longer, healthier lives. The campaign works with policymakers, health care professionals, educators and business leaders to respond to the country’s increasing demand for safe, high-quality and effective health care.