Andrea Smith, MSN-FN, RN, LNC, SANE Fellow

Andrea Smith is a registered nurse, nursing educator, and forensic nursing professional with more than 36 years of nursing experience. Her career has included clinical practice, nursing leadership, care coordination, hospice and home health, senior living, quality improvement, and healthcare education. She is also a U.S. military veteran and began her nursing career during Desert Storm.

Andrea currently teaches nursing and is passionate about preparing nurses to think critically, advocate for patients and families, recognize gaps in healthcare systems, and use their voices to improve patient outcomes. Her professional interests include forensic nursing, care coordination, workplace violence prevention, nursing leadership, patient advocacy, and trauma-informed care.

She earned her Associate Degree in Nursing from International College of Health Sciences (2018), Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Aspen University (2020), Legal Nurse Consultant 2020, and Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Forensic Nursing (MSN-FN) in 2025.

Andrea continues to expand her expertise through professional development and is a member of the SANE Fellow Cohort 2026–2027. She is committed to lifelong learning and to developing nurses who are knowledgeable, confident, compassionate, and willing to use their voices to create meaningful change in healthcare.

Andrea is also an emerging speaker in forensic nursing and nursing safety. Her professional presentations have focused on recognizing and responding to sexual assault in older adults, the need for a Geri-SANE platform, and on workplace violence prevention and preparedness for nurses. She has shared her expertise with nursing professionals and leaders through symposium and leadership events, bringing together her clinical experience, forensic nursing education, and commitment to equipping nurses to recognize risks, advocate for vulnerable populations, and use their voices to promote safer healthcare environments.