AVON PARK, FL, April 06, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Virginia Fisher Smith Harris, RN, with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Ms. Fisher Smith Harris celebrates many years' experience in her professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes she has accrued in her field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Virginia Fisher Smith Harris' life dream was to become a nurse. She began her career by working as a nursing assistant at Louise G. Wallace Hospital in Lebanon, Missouri during her senior year in high school (1949). She was elected to the National Honor Society in both her junior and senior years of high school. She was awarded the Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award (1949).
A retired nursing leader, Ms. Fisher Smith Harris most recently worked PRN as an internal auditor of the case managers of medical necessity at the Florida Heartland Hospital Division (FHHD). Previously, she came out of retirement to work part-time in the Center for Wound Care in the FHHD. A longtime nurse, she has worked in many different settings over 40 years of service, including emergency room nurse, surgical technician, quality assurance for nursing and physicians, an insurance auditor, hospital supervisor, charge nurse, head nurse, and director of nursing at a nursing home and a correctional institution. She has served several states in the U.S. and notably organized a medication administration team as director, as well as an assessment nurse program. Ms. Fisher Smith Harris was the chairperson for development of a new set of nurses' notes approved by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
Ms. Fisher Smith Harris formerly served as an advisory board member for a home health agency in Sebring, FL, was a physician liaison for Florida Hospital Heartland Division, an assistant to physicians regarding rules and guidelines for the Federal Government Health Care Financial Administration, and often participated in various professional seminars and workshops. She also spent time in her community as a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician and nurse for the Jellico Ambulance Service as well as an instructor for both the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association. She served as a parish nurse for Avon Park Seventh-Day Adventist Church, and as health clinic coordinator and lecturer for a mission in the Philippines in 2004. Currently, Ms. Fisher Smith Harris is the Health Ministries leader for the Fort Meade, Fl Seventh Day Adventist Church and a Creation Health volunteer for the Florida Hospital Heartland Division in Sebring, Fl. She has also received several President's Volunteer Awards for her many hours of volunteer service from President Barack Obama. She just completed a course at the Winter Haven Hospital and Bartow Regional Medical Center to become a Congregational Health Promoter for the Fort Meade SDA Church in Florida (2018).
A member of such organizations as the Florida Association of Health Care Quality and the Case Management Society, Ms. Fisher Smith Harris also served on the board of directors and as president-elect for the Association of Seventh-Day Adventist Nurses. She was a charter member of the National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration in Long Term Care. In 2001, she became a first-time author with her book "Our Heavenly Messenger."
Ms. Fisher Smith Harris was a certified case manager and board diplomate coordinator with the American Board of Quality Assurance Utilization Review Physicians, Inc., is a certified professional in healthcare quality, was a licensed practical nurse in Illinois, Florida and Tennessee and a registered nurse in California, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida, as well as a certified vegetarian food instructor. She graduated with honors and as President of her class from Hinsdale Hospital School of Practical Nursing in Hinsdale, Illinois in 1964, and an AS, with honors, from Polk Community College in 1975 with a GPA of 4.0. Ms. Fisher Smith Harris also studied at South Florida Community College and Florida Southern College.
The recipient of an Outstanding Achievement in Nursing Award by Lakeland Hospital in Florida in 1975, Ms. Fisher Smith Harris has also been highlighted in over 25 editions of Who's Who in America, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare, Who's Who in the South and Southwest, Who's Who in the World, Who's Who of American Women, and Who's Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges. She was awarded Employee of the Year at Lake Wales Convalescent Center (1987); Second Miler Award; and Eagle Award from Florida Hospital Heartland Division, FHHD, (1992). She was also included in International Who's Who of Professionals (1997), which is a trademark of Gibralter Marketing Ltd.
In her heart she knows that God has directed her path and any awards/accomplishments she has received through the years have been through him.
The highlight of her career was at age 80 when she turned in her resignation as Auditor of the Case Managers for Medical Necessity for the second time (it was not accepted and put through the proper channels the first time) something unexpected ad very out of the ordinary occurred. The Director of the department actually dropped to her knees and asked her not to retire, but due to health issues she felt the need to limit her responsibilities. However, she considers it a great honor that her Director valued her work to such an extent.
In recognition of outstanding contributions to her profession and the Marquis Who's Who community, Virginia Fisher Smith Harris, RN, has been featured on the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement website. Please visit www.ltachievers.com for more information about this honor.
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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