CON alumna earns director role, discusses nursing family legacy

This month, we’d like to highlight nursing alumna, Angela Hornsby, MBA, BSN, RN, OCN. Hornsby, class of 2016, is an experienced oncology nurse that has served Augusta University for over 20 years working in both the Emergency Department and Georgia Cancer Center. She earned her BSN from the Augusta University College of Nursing while working as an RN in the Infusion Suite. This degree allowed her to transition into a Charge Nurse role. In 2021, she earned her MBA in Healthcare Management from Western Governors University.

Though her childhood dream was to become a physician, Hornsby obtained her associate’s degree in nursing after marrying her high school sweetheart and moving around frequently for his military service. What started as a quicker path to get into healthcare became a calling that spoke to her heart. “Over the twenty years [since earning my associate’s] I took prerequisite courses, jumped at every opportunity to learn, sharpened my skills, and led several teams of nurses. But I still wanted more.” This is what led her to the RN-BSN program at Augusta University. Hornsby knew that she wanted to change the world of oncology, and this was the first step.

Hornsby became the Nurse Manager of Outpatient Infusion for the Georgia Cancer Center in 2019 where she managed two chemotherapy and two non-oncology infusion centers. “In this role, I began to see a business side of healthcare that I had no true understanding of. I decided that an MBA in Healthcare Management would serve me best and help me grow as a leader.” During her time at the Cancer Center, Hornsby helped to expand the GCC-Downtown location, West Wheeler, and Aiken Woodside Infusion. In April 2024, she was appointed as the Director of Outpatient Oncology at WellStar MCG, previously a career goal of hers. This new role will impact WellStar in many ways as they pull from her wealth of oncology experience and her twenty-two years of employment at the institution.

“First and foremost, I will provide leadership, guidance, and be the voice for the entire cancer service line as we transition into a fully integrated WellStar facility and onboard the new EPIC EMR,” Hornsby stated. Her new role requires collaboration with physicians, stakeholders, and teammates to develop best practice processes that align with the organizations’ strategic goals. Hornsby approaches this new opportunity with a focus on building trust, honesty, shared visions, and the highest level of safety and quality for patients. “As a nurse leader, I will always promote and participate in activities that will enhance the nursing practice and make key decisions using evidence-based research. I am also the current president of the Oncology Nurses Society and use this platform to engage other leaders in our field, and to fulfill my constant need for education.”

The passion for nursing seems to run in the family. Her sister, daughter-in-law, and all three sons are nurses or future nurses. “I am honored that my boys have all decided to follow in my footsteps.” Each explored different options in college and tried different paths, but ultimately, their journeys led them all to nursing. “They realized that nursing offered a great career opportunity, the ability to travel, and multiple different areas to work in.” Zachary and Joshua graduated from Augusta University as a BSN class of 2019 and MSN class of 2023 respectively. Zachary currently works at the Emergency department in Piedmont and Joshua is completing his nurse residency program at Piedmont Atlanta in the Neuro ICU. Her son Michael is just beginning his nursing journey and is hoping to start in the University of North Georgia’s program for the Spring of 2025. However, he has not ruled out the family tradition of attending Augusta University. Their father, Jesse, is also an AU alum from the Hull College of Business in 2008.

The CON is proud to have Hornsby as an alum and eagerly awaits her future accomplishments. “I am so honored to be an oncology nurse leader. I love that I can support the staff who become an integral part of the journey that cancer patients must endure once they are diagnosed. I hope that I can use my expertise and new role to impact their care in a positive way.”