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- Nikki Smith DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Faculty and Staff
Nikki Smith, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE
Title: | Clinical Assistant Professor |
Department: | Professional Nursing Practice College of Nursing |
Email: | NS27@mailbox.sc.edu |
Phone: | 803-576-6884 |
Office: | College of Nursing University of South Carolina 1601 Greene Street, Room 528 Columbia, SC 29208-4001 United States |

Background
Dr. Smith graduated from the Medical College of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science
in Nursing in 2002, Uniformed Services University with a Master of Science in Nursing
in 2012, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Medical University of South Carolina
in 2016.
Teaching
Dr. Smith was a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Uniformed Sciences University
from 2016-2020. During that time, she taught in the Family Nurse Practitioner and
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing programs, specifically DNP Project and Practicum
courses. Dr. Smith teaches various courses across the undergraduate and graduate nursing
programs in USC College of Nursing.
Research
Dr. Smith’s research interests are areas focusing on innovative teaching practices
in nursing education. Her passion is improving access to health care services, especially
mental health services within outpatient settings. She enjoys seeing patients across
the lifespan from newborn to elderly adults.
Dissemination
Dr. Smith’s dissemination activities include poster presentations at the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners National Conference, podium presentations at National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Annual Conference and USC College of Nursing Scholarship Day.
Professional Service
Dr. Smith is currently a member of The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, National
League for Nursing, South Carolina Nurses Association and the APRN Chapter, National
Black Nurses Association SC Midlands Chapter, and Alpha Xi Chapter of Sigma Theta
Tau International Nurses Honor Society.
Professional Practice
Dr. Smith has over 20 years as a registered nurse practicing in medical-surgical nursing,
critical care and emergency nursing, and 10 years as a family nurse practitioner within
the military healthcare system. She retired as Lieutenant Colonel in the United States
Army Nurse Corp after 20 years. Dr. Smith has experience working in the MICU, PICU,
SICU, ER as registered nurse and various Patient Centered Medical Homes (PCMH) throughout
the United States and overseas. While deployed to Iraq for 15 months, she also gained
experience as a Critical Care Flight Nurse. Dr. Smith has served in many leadership
positions to include Head Nurse, Officer in Charge of Family Practice Clinic, Deputy
Chief, Education Division, and Department Chief/Director of Primary Care.
Publications
Smith, N.R., (2023). Take Off the Mask: Getting Real About Depression, Trauma and Loss. American Journal of Nursing, 123 (4) 64.
U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and Department of Defense. (2020). VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines for The Management of Dyslipidemia for Cardiovascular Risk Reduction. https://www.healthquality.va.gov/guidelines/CD/lipids/VADoDDyslipidemiaCPG5087212020.pdf