Getting to Know a Nurse Practitioner - Pamela Evans-Smith

Pamela Evans-Smith, PhD, FNP-C

Neurosurgery, Boone Health Neurosurgery and Spine Center

I grew up in a small town south of Cape Girardeau. I moved to Columbia to go to nursing school. I met my husband here in Columbia. He is from Iowa. We decided to stay in Columbia as we both did not want to move farther away from our families. My husband Kevin is a pharmacist who works at the University full time and at Boone inpatient pharmacy part time. We have 3 sons and 1 daughter who are grown now, and I have a grandson who is 15 months old. We also have 2 golden retrievers.

Why did you get into the health care field? There was a television show about a female neurosurgeon (ironic that she was a neurosurgeon) and she had a sassy nurse. I wanted to be that sassy nurse. I actually wanted to be a paramedic when I was graduating high school, but my father was a telephone lineman and did not want me to have to work out in the weather. He told me he would help me financially if I went to nursing school.

What interested you in your particular specialty? A lot of our patients are either in chronic pain with back and neck issues or scared by the diagnosis of a brain mass. I like helping educate them about their disease process and treatment plan. By educating patients, I feel it helps them realize a sense of power.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? Talking with a patient after a scan has shown improvement in a brain mass or following up after their neck or back pain has improved.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job? Working with patients when you have to deliver a devastating diagnosis such as a brain tumor.

What do you see changing in health care in the next 5 to 10 years? I hope to see more treatment options available for brain tumors. Unfortunately, I feel that insurance companies are going to continue to have bigger control over treatment options in the future.

What advice would you give someone looking to become a nurse practitioner? Really do some introspection before you set your trajectory. There are many different specialties available, choose one that you feel may be your passion. It is a lot easier to do a job every day if you are passionate about it. Be open to new experiences. I never realized I would enjoy the operating room as much as I do.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work? I like to spend time with my family playing games. I like to read and go to movies- I especially like Disney movies, horror, and action. I try to travel to Disney World yearly. I also enjoy going to the beach.

What advice would you give to someone who is going to be a patient in a hospital for a long period of time? Don’t be afraid to discuss your plan of care with your providers, your nurses and your whole care team. Set daily goals for yourself whether that is walking 50 feet or increasing your water intake.