Meet chelsia:

From Small-town roots to a global impact

To Chelsia Harris, human life is precious—no matter the age or stage one might be in. After experiencing two miscarriages, losing her father at a young age, and enduring the tragic death of her nana due to nursing home neglect, she has dedicated her life to helping individuals recognize the inherent value of human life and find resilience in an emotionally and spiritually fatigued world.  

Chelsia firmly believes that God does not call the equipped, He equips the called.  

Raised in a blue-collar family in a small Arkansas community—so small it didn’t even have a traffic light—Chelsia never let her humble beginnings limit her. Guided by a profound sense of divine calling, she lives by the mantra: “If it can’t take my eternity, then it can’t stop me!” This perspective, born out of humility, reflects her belief that while not everyone can be anything, with passion, perseverance, and hard work, everyone can fulfill their purpose and divine calling.

As a nurse practitioner, educator, leader, and executive, Chelsia has embraced her passion for people, serving in roles that span from the bedside to the boardroom. A proud valedictorian of Atkins High School (Class of 2000), she went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Arkansas Tech University, 2004), a Master of Science in Nursing (Vanderbilt University, 2008), and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (Case Western Reserve University, 2015). Yet, ask her about her greatest achievement, and she’ll tell you it’s becoming a mom in 2015.

Chelsia is a sought-after speaker on topics such as compassion fatigue, daily spiritual experience, finding purpose, and integrating faith with rigorous academics. Her work as an author includes peer-reviewed articles for professional nursing journals and the inspirational nursing book, Created and Called: A Journey to and through Nursing.

While nursing is her vocational calling, Chelsia’s passion for nurturing emotional and spiritual resilience shines through her children’s book, Hannah Visits Nana in the Nursing Home, released in November 2018. This heartfelt story inspires young readers while promoting positive character traits and empathy.

Chelsia’s mission is to serve, encourage, motivate, and ignite others. She’s here to help you recognize your worth, maintain your passion and compassion, and join her in declaring: “If it can’t take my eternity, then it can’t stop me!”

EXPERIENCE

Chelsia has been speaking publicly for as long as she can remember, with her first on-stage appearance before the age of two. Born to motivate and inspire through both the written and spoken word, she brings nearly two decades of public speaking experience. With 20 years of nursing experience and 16 years in nursing education and leadership, Chelsia combines her extensive background with a passion for empowering others.

Publications:

Hannah Visits Nana in the Nursing Home

Created & Called: A Journey to and through Nursing

Physician-Assisted Suicide: A Nurse’s Perspective

What are the Challenges for APNs as Educators?

Nursing on Empty: Compassion Fatigue Signs, Symptoms, and System Interventions

Publication Metrics for Nursing on Empty article. Top 25% of all research outputs scored by Altmetric.