As we continue to build our impact on nursing education in and around the Nashville area, Casa Loma College is so excited to welcome our new Director of Nursing: Lieutenant Commander Akeeka S. Davis (Retired), PhD Candidate, MSN-Ed, MBA, AMB-BC.
Hailing from Glenside, Pennsylvania, Davis has over 30 years of service in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps and the Military Health System, making significant contributions to nursing education by developing curricula, establishing programs, and designing specialized certification pathways to prepare nurses for the evolving challenges of healthcare.
“I’m a trauma nurse, step-down ICU, sedation — you name it, I’ve done it all because, y’know, the military. We have to,” Davis says. “I, too, entered in nursing in a two-year program, so I am that student. I am them. I understand what that means because I’ve been through it. Not only have I been through it, I worked full-time while doing it. Nursing was my second career. I entered into the military in 1993 when I was 17 years old.”
Davis’s journey toward a nursing career began early on in her life.
“From a young age, I was profoundly moved by the compassion and resilience exhibited by nurses who cared for members of my community and family,” says Davis. “Witnessing the profound impact that a skilled and empathetic nurse could have on someone’s life ignited a passion within me to serve others through healing. Nursing, to me, represented a unique blend of science and humanity — a profession where one could employ critical thinking and advanced skills while offering comfort and advocacy to those in need.”
The breadth of Davis’s experience is honestly a little difficult to pack into a single article. Her clinical background includes trauma nursing, step-down critical care, ambulatory care, moderate sedation and endoscopy nursing, mental health, medical-surgical nursing, and post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) nursing. She holds board certifications in Ambulatory Care Nursing, Managed Care Coordination, and Medical Informatics.
She’s worked at two of the largest naval hospitals in the country, the premier training ground for doctors and nurses in the Navy. This includes running the biggest nursing simulation lab in the country at the Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, and working as a critical care nurse at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center where she took care of the president at the time, as well as Colin Powell.
“Choosing to join the United States Navy Nurse Corps amplified this calling [to be a nurse],” Davis says. “It allowed me to merge my desire to provide exceptional care with a commitment to serve my country. Throughout my 31 years of military service, I have had the honor of caring for service members and their families in some of the most challenging environments. These experiences have not only strengthened my clinical expertise but have also taught me invaluable lessons about leadership, perseverance, and the importance of teamwork.”
Currently, Davis is pursuing her Ph.D. at the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing at Villanova University, where she’s focusing on integrating teaching strategies that combine academic theory with practical application and a keen focus on NCLEX-RN boards prep. Preparing the nursing students she mentors for their boards through practical, logical approaches is a point of passion.
“Nursing has been more than a career — it has been a journey of continual growth and learning,” says Davis. “It has provided me with opportunities to make a tangible difference in people’s lives, to lead and mentor others, and to contribute to the advancement of healthcare on a larger scale. The ability to touch lives during their most vulnerable moments is a privilege that continues to inspire and motivate me every day.”
Welcome again to Casa Loma College, Lieutenant Commander Akeeka S. Davis. We’re excited to build the future of nursing education with you.
Written By Rebecca Gutzmann
