Natalie C. Smith, MSN, APRN, NP-C

Natalie has worked at Texas Children’s Hospital since 2009 where she started as a graduate nurse on the Neurology/Neurosurgery Inpatient Unit. She was honored to be the first recipient of the Inaugural Nursing Excellence Award as Nurse Preceptor of the Year in 2013. Natalie enjoyed caring for Neurosurgery patients and had a strong desire to pursue an advanced degree. She graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch in 2014 and received the Master’s Leadership Award from her graduating class. After graduating, she followed her passion and felt very fortunate to join the Neurosurgery Department at Texas Children’s Hospital.

Her innate nurturing spirit thrives on challenges, accomplishment, and educating parents. Natalie enjoys teaching about neurosurgical diagnoses with families in a creative way. She has a clinical interest in positional plagiocephaly, craniosynostosis, post-operative surgical care, and sacral dimples.

She also has an interest in research and evidenced-based practice. Natalie was selected to speak at the Children’s Hospital Association of Texas Pediatric Nursing Conference and honored to be one of the first advanced practice providers to speak at the Edmond T. Gonzalez Surgical Research Day. She serves at the Research Coordinator for the APP Neurosurgery Department.