BA, MSN, RN PMHNP , Doctoral (Alumni)
Dr. Nia Adimu-Ceja Josiah is a Doctor of Nursing Practice, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) graduate from Columbia University School of Nursing (CUSON) and a licensed Nurse Practitioner in Psychiatry. Dr. Josiah is Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration SAMHSA MFP/ANA Doctoral Fellow, Jonas Scholar, Columbia Alumni Association (CAA) scholar and CUSON Pathways to Leadership and Advancement in Nursing (PLAN) scholar.
Dr. Josiah is a nursing and student leader and has gained over 10 years of professional clinical experience in psychology and psychiatry combined, ranging from research, teaching, serving in acute care facilities, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, mentally disabled communities, respite-care, and palliative care. Dr. Josiah has gained professional and leadership experience in the medical field climbing the nursing ladder from a home health aide, certified nursing assistant, gerontologic assistant, medicine technician, mastered degree nurse, to now a PMHNP, DNP candidate. Currently, Dr. Josiah is neuropsychiatric travel nurse, teaching assistant (TA) at CUSON, remote TA at GEC Academy in Shanghai, China, and a research assistant (RA) at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing (JUSON). Dr. Josiah served as a PMHNP, DNP intern conducting individual psychotherapy at Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services in Bronx, NY, intern at Four Winds Hospital in Katonah, New York and an outpatient intern for Dr. Fatima Ramos-Marcuse in Mamaroneck, New York.
Dr. Josiah holds positions as a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) Minority Doctoral Fellow, and an inducted member of Sigma Theta Tau International Society Nu Beta at-Large chapter. Dr. Josiah is committed to use her leadership platforms, clinical and research experience, to reach the psychiatric mental health needs of disadvantaged minority populations at the individual, family, and communal level. As a member of the GNYC BNA, Dr. Josiah serves an active role in her community. Amid global pandemic she founded and led the COVID-19 Minority Crisis Support Group and non-profit organization, "Ignite, Unite, Fight," missioned to help find a cure for cancer and other diseases.
Dr. Josiah serves on local, national, and international committees including: CUSON's anti-racism retention committee and BIPOC Deans’ Advisory Group as 2023 graduating class representative, co-founded sub-committee Umoja, ANA, SIGMA Nu Beta Chapter at-Large (Governance) and ISPN (DEI) committee.
Dr. Josiah is a graduate of Johns Hopkins School of Nursing (JHUSON) MSN Entry into Nursing Practice Program. This master’s degree curriculum focused on leadership, quality, safety, and evidence-based interprofessional education. More than 1,000 clinical hours were incorporated into the program. Dr. Josiah rotated and gained special interests on bipolar and schizophrenia units as well as completed her senior practicum on a geriatric psychiatric/pain unit.
Throughout her nursing practice program and directly after graduation, Dr. Josiah worked as a nurse leader on the frontlines amid the COVID-19 pandemic as a full-time COVID-19 vaccine clinic nursing supervisor and a per diem geriatric psychiatric COVID-19 registered nurse lead at a long-term care facility. During that time, Dr. Josiah conducted research and clinical practice publishing in two international clinical nursing journals highlighting racial disparities in vulnerable patient populations amid COVID-19 pandemic.
As a neuropsychiatric travel nurse Dr. Josiah has held assignments at inpatient psychiatric hospitals around the United States (U.S.) working as both charge and medication nurse. In addition, Nia has experience as a psychiatric and medical surgical clinical instructor and a nursing supervisor at a skilled long-term care nursing facility.
In addition to her clinical nursing experience, Dr. Josiah an author, writing spans from creative, poetry, and prose to publications in both national and international nursing journals. Nia uses her social justice advocacy to lobby nursing initiatives impacting marginalized populations at national and international workshops and on leadership panels.
Before embarking on a career in nursing, Dr. Josiah sought opportunities to participate in community outreach and leadership initiatives. Dr. Josiah graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychological and Brain Sciences from Johns Hopkins University. During her technician and assistant positions, she was able to work very closely with each of her patients and residents to build rapport. Dr. Josiah realized in the geriatric population specifically, residents suffered from depression or some other form of mental illness. Dr. Josiah understood that this was an aspect of care that could make a true difference. Through her undergraduate degree, graduate nursing degree, professional leadership roles, and research experience, she discovered her true passion and crystalized her desire to become a psychiatric nurse and DNP PMHNP.
Dr. Josiah’s decade of experience in psychiatric nursing through clinical practice and research have not only awarded her the opportunity to advance her education but apply honed skills into clinical practice. As a nursing leader Dr. Josiah has had the privilege to manage over 250 employees, oversee over 300 patients, lead patient-care operations, delegate staff responsibilities, evaluate performances, counsel employees, and implement quality improvement nurse-led interventions. Dr. Josiah’s clinical, simulation, and classroom experiences have prepared her to think quickly and critically, remain calm in stressful situations, and collaborate on interprofessional teams.
For Dr. Josiah’s DNP project she explored the effects of prescription drug abuse amongst Black
women in disadvantaged communities and the efficacy of trauma informed care. Dr. Josiah’s scholarly writing DNP project highlighted Factors that Influence Self-Care Behavior among African American Individuals Living with Heart Failure: A Discursive Review.
Upon graduation from Columbia University School of Nursing Dr. Josiah plans on working as a provider for an inpatient psychiatric hospital, and obtain a full- time ranked faculty, practice-education track in psychiatric/mental health at a graduate nursing institution. In two years, Dr. Josiah plans to open her own private practice and volunteer her time to help disadvantaged communities at local community outreach centers.