Retired nurse and faculty member of Baptist Health Sciences University Ernestine Chism recently accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Tennessee Nurses Association Gala.
Her award follows a long dual career as a civilian and military nurse, serving as an Army Reserve Nurse Corps officer. Highly decorated, Ernestine retired a full Colonel and received 11 Army commendation awards and a National Defense Service Medal during her career.
Beginning her career in the 1950s, Ernestine spent the next 50 years as a lifelong learner, mentor, teacher, mother and wife. A member of the American Nurses Association for more than 25 years, she earned her Master of Science in nursing with a particular focus on public health. Over the years, she served as a patient care role model for military nurses, a chief nurse and senior officer over the 306th Field Hospital and the 330th General Hospital.
At the same time, her teaching career progressed from a part-time nursing instructor in 1977 to a full-time instructor in 1999, which was followed by an assistant nursing professor assignment at a Memphis school of health sciences.
She served as assistant professor of nursing in the baccalaureate degree program as well as adjunct clinical faculty after her retirement.
Ernestine Chism has served her community with unwavering honor and grace.