Marie Elizabeth Leist-Smith

Dr. Marie E. Leist-Smith, PhD, RN is an Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing and a nationally recognized leader in nursing education and workforce development. She brings over 20 years of experience in clinical care, academic instruction, and healthcare leadership. Her current work focuses on nurse wellness, patient safety, and global health, including leading a student exchange program with Chiba University in Japan. Dr. Leist-Smith has secured national grant funding and serves as principal investigator on multiple research studies. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in leadership, evidence-based practice, and statistics. Previously, she served as a system nursing director, where she advanced Magnet designations and led large-scale retention and recruitment initiatives. Her contributions have been recognized by AWHONN, AONL, and the Health Collaborative. She holds a PhD in Nursing Research from the University of Cincinnati and is an active mentor, speaker, and consultant.

Doctorate of Philosophy: University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio , 2022 (Nursing Research )

Masters of Science in Nursing: Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights Kentucky, 2007 (Nursing Education )

Bachelor of Science in Nursing : Xavier University Cincinnati, Ohio, 2002 (Acute Care Nursing )

RESEARCH AREA OF INTEREST
My research focuses on the development, evaluation, and implementation of interventions that support nurse workforce development, retention, and clinical competency—particularly in high-stress and crisis care environments. I am especially interested in nurse mental health, transition-to-practice programs, and educational strategies that enhance performance and resilience among novice nurses.
Key areas include:

• Nurse Mental Health and Retention: Evaluating interventions that promote psychological well-being and reduce burnout in clinical and academic settings.
• Workforce Development and Faculty Retention: Investigating strategies to enhance orientation, retention, and satisfaction among nursing faculty and clinical staff.
• Crisis Performance and Simulation: Assessing knowledge and skills of novice nurses in high-stakes situations through simulation-based studies.
• Implementation Science in Nursing Education: Designing, piloting, and evaluating educational protocols and practice changes using evidence-based frameworks.
• Perinatal and Labor Management: Improving clinical outcomes and standardizing care practices through protocol development and evaluation in maternal-child health.

08-15-2025 - Assistant Professor , • Interim Director of the RN-BSN Program: develop strategy for recruitment and retention for the #1 BSN program in Ohio • Lead the Chiba University, Japan student Global Health exchange program • Nationally grant funded for Nurse Wellness Research study – ongoing • Implement innovative teaching strategies for undergraduate and graduate programs • Advisory board with a community health system on implementing Highly Reliable Organization principles , University of Cincinnati, College of Nursing

01-01-2025 - Executive Leadership Consultant , • Guide strategy to for women’s health center’s business model and physician/employee engagement • Coach nursing executives on leading and sustaining patient safety initiatives by building interdisciplinary relationships • Design education and simulation models for major health systems to streamline productivity and support teams • Provide evaluation of organizations ability to obtain Magnet Designation and Nurse Residency Accreditations , Marie Leist-Smith Consulting , Cincinnati, Ohio

09-01-2019 -12-31-2024 System Director of Nursing Excellence, Recruitment • Transformed the process for international employment and cultural inclusion for an 95% retention after 2 years and built a pipeline of 600+ nurses and 50 lab technicians. • Executed process improvement for RN employment start times by streamlining the offer to start process resulting in a decrease from 45 days to 17 days offer to start. • Innovated new care models to include Team Nursing and High School Nursing Assistant Training programs. • Led the expansion of nursing school partnerships from 8 partner schools to 14, thus increased the number of new graduates hired from 150 to 275 annually. Workforce Development • Spearheaded AHRQ TeamSTEPPS implementation across the Perioperative setting with a 90% reduction in SREs and marked improvement in engagement. • Pioneered new preceptor and orientation models to support patient care through a pandemic. • Awarded a $750,000 grant to collaborate with local community colleges and high schools to implement employee career pathways in healthcare. In 6 months, 30 individuals were employed and started their career path. • Co-Led the Incident Command Clinical Operations System team during the Covid-19 pandemic. • Standardized nursing education patient experience simulations and leadership rounding models to increase HCAPS from below national median to the top quartile. Retention • Innovated and led the implementation of a system wide-unit based leader model that was recognized by the AONL 2023 Conference • Led the digitization of the Nursing Professional Ladder to increase completions by 150% and a 93% retention rate. • Transformed the nurse residency program to retain 90% of new graduates hired with no contract. Research and EBP • Presenting at the 2023 AONL (May 2023) conference regarding retention, patient experience, and patient safety outcomes from a System Wide-Unit Based Nursing Leadership Model. , Kettering Health System , Dayton, OH

05-01-2014 -09-30-2019 Regional Director of Nursing Practice and Research , Recruitment • Strategically guided nursing recruitment in a highly competitive market to decrease vacancy from 12% to 5%. Business Development • Participated in the creation of the Women’s Health and Breast Center • Provided strategic oversight for the implementation of ANCC Magnet Recognition program standards at 5 acute care hospitals. Completed 3 successful Magnet Designations and redesignation for 1 hospital. • Organized AHRQ TeamSTEPPS implementation across all disciplines to increase engagement, patient safety, and patient experience. Recognized and published by AHRQ as a best practice case study for implementation and outcomes. Retention • Accountable for the development and implementation of the ANCC PTAP Accredited Mercy Health Nurse Residency Education Program. • This led to a cost savings of $9 million from decreasing new graduate nurse turn over from 39% to 8% in one year. • Implemented a Shared Leadership Model for interdisciplinary direct care givers at 5 hospitals. • Developed interdisciplinary career ladders support retention and engagement. Retained 92% of participants in the organization. Research • June 2016-AWHONN National Quality Improvement Award for Women’s Health. I received this award for my research of the Second Stage Labor Management: Implementation of Labor Management Protocol recognized for the quality outcomes of decreasing maternal injury. , Mercy Health, Cincinnati, Ohio

12-31-2009 -05-30-2015 Magnet Program Director and Education Specialist for Perinatal Nursing , Mercy Health-Fairfield Hospital, Cincinnati OH • Led Mercy Health-Fairfield Hospital to achieve ANCC Magnet Recognition April 2014 • Strategically organized and wrote the ANCC Magnet document. • Managed the Magnet Champion Committee to initiate changes to increase patient satisfaction, patient safety and employee engagement throughout the organization. • Successfully led the hospital through the 3-Day Magnet Site Survey. Education Specialist for Perinatal Nursing 12-2009 to 5-2014 Mercy Health-Fairfield Hospital, Cincinnati, OH • Active member of System OB Patient Safety Council where interdisciplinary best practice policy and procedures were developed and implemented to decrease system risk event costs from $40 million annually to $3 million annually. • Nationally recognized (2016) for taking on the challenge to innovate interdisciplinary labor management and statistically improving maternal outcomes. • Leader for TeamSTEPPS implementation as an AHRQ Master Trainer. • Led 60 Labor and Delivery Nurses and 20 physicians to 100% national certification in Electronic Fetal Monitoring. , Mercy Health-Fairfield Hospitals, Cincinnati, Ohio

06-01-2003 -12-31-2009 Direct Care Nurse , - Direct care nurse for Level II Nursery, Labor and Delivery, Postpartum, Triage for a 40-bed maternity unit - Member of the Shared Governance Committee - Relief Charge Nurse - Preceptor for 12 employees - Role transition preceptor for 6 senior nursing students for 6 , Mercy Health-Fairfield Hospitals, Cincinnati, Ohio

06-01-2002 -06-01-2003 Direct Care Nurse - NICU , - Direct care nurse for Level III 86 bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit - Member of special deliver team - Specialized training in micro-preemies and advanced feeding techniques , Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio

Published Abstracts

- Leist-Smith, M., Green, D., & Lipke, J. (2016. ) Effectiveness of a nurse-driven, second stage labor management protocol to decrease obstetric birth trauma .[Abstract]Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 45 (3 ) ,37Author

Electronic Journal

Leist-Smith, M (2022. ) Novice nurses knowledge and skill performance in high crisis situations during the COVID-19 pandemic .OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center,

Leist-Smith, M (2022. ) The correlation of the readability of postpartum patient education materials and the health literacy level of postpartum patients .ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I; ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.,

Lecture

Leist-Smith, M. & Green, D. (03-2025. ) State of Healthcare and Nursing Schools in the United States. Chiba, Japan.

- Leist-Smith, M. (03-2022. ) TeamSTEPPS Principles for Promotion a Culture of Excellence. Manila, Philippines. . Workshop. Level:International

Leist-Smith, M. & Shull, J. (05-2023. ) System-Wide-Unit Based Nursing Leadership Model. .Anaheim, CA. . Conference. Level:National

Leist-Smith, M. & Bennett, S. (04-2019. ) State of Nursing Professional Development 2008-2018 and Creating the Future. .Phoenix, AZ. Conference. Level:National

Symposium

Leist-Smith, M. (11-2021. ) State of Healthcare in the United States and Nursing Quality Improvement Measures. Silang, Philippines.. Workshop. Level:International

Leist-Smith, M. (06-2020. ) State of United States Nursing Professional Development 2008-2018 and Creating the Future. Trinidad and Tobago- Virtual Presentation . Conference. Level:International

01-2022 -06-2023 The Advisory Board Healthcare Executive Leader Fellowshiop One of 40 distinguished leaders across the United States to participate in bi-monthly executive adaptive leadership development for systems thinking and influencing healthcare legislation. The Advisory Board Status:Recipient Level:National

06-2017 Health Collaborative Impact Award. Received recognition for my research improving maternal outcomes. Cincinnati Health Collaborative Status:Recipient Level:Regional

06-2016 AWHONN National Quality Improvement Award for Women’s Health. I received this award for my research of the Second Stage Labor Management: Implementation of Labor Management Protocol recognizing the quality outcomes for decreasing maternal injury. Status:Recipient Level:National Type:Recognition

11-2018 -01-2022: ANPD Simulation and Nurse Residency Taskforce Collaborated with national simulation experts to publish a position statement about simulation use in nurse residency programs to support retention. American Association of Professional Nursing Development, Washington D.C.