Hi, I’m Barbara Smith, born and reared in the northern neck of Virginia right where the Rappahannock River enters the Chesapeake Bay. After completing nursing school in Newport News, Virginia, life took me across the country and back with over 25 years experience working in hospitals. It started in Columbia, S.C. for a couple of years with experience gained in medical surgical nursing. I took the long route to Rock Hill from Columbia, via Kentucky for 5 years, Illinois for 2 years, then Iowa City, Iowa for 5 years. These years provided me with experiences in small rural hospitals (as nursing director) as well as 1000 bed University of Iowa Hospital as assistant head nurse/educator of a high risk obstetrical unit. There were a couple of years in the open heart surgery step down unit as well as the small hospital in Kentucky where a nurse works all units of the hospital.
Coming to sunny South Carolina from the 5 foot snowdrifts in Iowa was a delightful experience for many reasons. My youngest of 3 children was born here at Piedmont Medical Center shortly after our arrival.
The next 5 years found me wonderfully immersed in labor and delivery nursing in the area. Developing and teaching childbirth classes in the early years in rural Kentucky had helped to prepare me for these next years of intensive labor and delivery work experiences.
Then my path took a turn into psychiatric nursing at a local hospital for the next 8 years, with 6 more years doing psychiatric home health nursing in Rock Hill. I became certified in psychiatric nursing by the American Nurses Association. These years provided opportunities to work with many geriatrics, and families in crisis as they struggle to deal with dementia in loved ones.
Then came the wonderful opportunity to incorporate all of my nursing knowledge and background experiences into my current role of Director at Park Avenue Adult Day Center. These 6 ½ years at Park Avenue have been challenging and wonderfully rewarding as we the staff seek to improve the quality of life for folks in this community. What a gift from God to be able to work with, love and learn about life from our clients. We the staff are honored to have this opportunity to serve our clients and enrich their lives with this wonderful service.
When I’m not at Park Avenue, I enjoy spending time and traveling with my husband Stewart. Flower gardening, reading, and serving at First Baptist Church keep my time management skills challenged. Highlights of life are the visits with our 4 adult children who live from Florida to Kentucky.