Celebrating a Compassionate Mother and Daughter Duo Working in York College of Pennsylvania’s Nursing Department

Mother’s Day is a wonderful time to acknowledge the good work being accomplished by a mother and daughter duo in York College of Pennsylvania’s Nursing Department.

Carolyn E. Smith ‘09 and Melissa Schneider ‘98 are a mother and daughter duo working in York College’s Nursing Department. The pair’s passion for nursing stemmed from the number of nurses in the family. Today, they share the same compassion for patients as the other nurses in their family.

“I shadowed my mother on ‘Take Your Daughter to Work Day’ and truly enjoyed the environment and care that I witnessed as a 10-12 year-old,” said Smith when asked about her interest in nursing.

“I was amazed that she jumped right in there to help even at a young age (that included emptying a patient's bedpan),” recounted Schneider.

As alumni of York College of Pennsylvania, both Carolyn and Melissa share how their experiences led them to a career in nursing education. 

Melissa completed her master’s at the College and took a place as an adjunct in Fundamentals of Nursing. “After that I was hooked on nursing education.”

Following in Her Mother’s Footsteps

Carolyn had never imagined she would follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a nursing professor. However, after graduating and working in the field for a while, Carolyn’s passion for teaching grew from educating her peers and patients.

As for working together, Carolyn and Melissa enjoy each other’s company. They bounce a lot of ideas off of each other and have published articles together in nursing journals. Although they do not teach the same course, they worked in the same nursing unit for 15 years. Both Carolyn and Melissa have a keen interest in neuroscience and enjoy discussing it together. 

Inspiring Each Other

Melissa and Carolyn have inspired each other not only in the classroom, but also in the nursing unit. “My mother has big shoes to fill, which motivates me further to continue my education,” said Smith. “She has received several awards during her nursing career, continued her education, and has taken a role as a nursing educator…all while raising our family, which is inspiring not only to me, but for others who follow in her path.” 

As for Melissa, she states, “I am so very proud that Carolyn has followed in my footsteps. Nursing is near and dear to my heart, so I am happy one of my children has taken this path.” Melissa says that some inspiration comes from new ideas and projects shared between them as well.

This Mother’s Day, the pair are going on a family camping trip as a way to relax and enjoy nature.