Nursing Scholarly Fireside Podcast

Podcast Episode Summary Adelaide Durkin reflects on her journey from Brazil to a more than 30‑year career in nursing and nursing education. She discusses how her diverse clinical background informs her teaching and scholarship, addresses common barriers nurses face when engaging in research, and emphasizes collaboration, persistence, and integrity. Dr. Durkin also shares thoughtful perspectives on using emerging tools—such as generative AI—to support, rather than replace, the human elements of nursing scholarship. Episode resources include the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (https://lifestylemedicine.org/) and Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation (https://www.healthynursehealthynation.org/). Guest Bio Adelaide Durkin, DNP, MS, RN, CNE, DipACLM, is a professor of nursing at Kettering College, where she chairs and teaches in the RN‑to‑BSN program, and has served as a nurse educator for over 20 years. Passionate about distance education and lifestyle‑based self‑care, she recently participated in a multidisciplinary pilot study on fecal and vaginal environments in healthy reproductive‑age women, presented at the 2025 American College of Lifestyle Medicine conference. She is the primary author of a scholarly work titled Sleep Quality and the Intention to Modify Sleep Behaviors Among Night-shift Nurses. You can read more about it here: https://doi.org/10.1097/01.nurse.0001006268.77409.dc

Podcast Episode Summary Dr. Lyndsay Wright shares her journey from working as a CNA to becoming a bedside neurology nurse and ultimately an assistant professor of nursing with a focus on lifestyle medicine. She reflects on how her passion for teaching, prevention, and chronic disease management shaped her academic and clinical path. Dr. Wright highlights the critical role of scholarship and evidence-based practice in strengthening patient outcomes and nursing education, offering encouragement for nurses at all stages of their careers to stay curious, ask questions, and pursue their passions to advance the profession. Guest Bio Lyndsay Wright, DNP, RN, CMSRN, CNE, DipACLM, NBC-HWC, is an assistant professor of nursing at Notre Dame of Maryland University, where she teaches fundamentals and adult health nursing across multiple undergraduate program formats. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree with a concentration in Lifestyle Medicine and is dedicated to promoting healthy self-care behaviors among nursing students. In addition to mentoring and precepting graduate students, Dr. Wright practices as a certified medical-surgical nurse at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, where she was recognized as Nurse of the Year in 2022.    

Podcast Episode Summary Dr. Kimberly Dunker shares her journey from bedside nurse to nationally respected nursing educator and scholar. She reflects on how her family’s legacy in nursing inspired her early career, her deep passion for acute and critical care practice, and the pivotal moments that drew her into education and research. Dr. Dunker highlights the role of mentorship, collaboration, and perseverance in building a scholarly career, offering practical encouragement for nurses at every stage to embrace evidence-based practice and remain engaged, empowered leaders in the profession. Guest Bio Kimberly Dunker, PhD, DNP, MSN, RN, CNE, CNEcl, is a full professor and certified nurse educator and clinical nurse educator with more than 25 years of experience serving patients, students, and faculty. She currently serves as Director of the MSN/DNP Program at Loma Linda University and has practiced across multiple critical care specialties, including surgical oncology, neurology, and cardiac care. A published Sigma author, Dr. Dunker’s doctoral work centers on faculty empowerment and student–preceptor relationships, and her leadership is grounded in authentic transformational leadership, faculty development, and advancing nursing scholarship.

Podcast Episode Summary Dr. Ronald Vance reflects on more than three decades of nursing practice and education, tracing his journey from a high school nursing assistant to a leader in undergraduate and graduate nursing education. He shares how embracing AI-enabled teaching strategies and experiential, interprofessional learning has transformed student engagement, professional identity, and clinical judgment. Dr. Vance also offers thoughtful guidance for emerging nurses, encouraging intellectual curiosity, evidence-based practice, and a passion-driven approach to shaping the future of the profession. Guest Bio Ronald Vance, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, is an Associate Professor of Nursing whose work focuses on nursing leadership and the scholarship of teaching and learning. His teaching and research examine how innovative approaches—including AI-enabled active learning and community-based, immersive experiences—support professional identity formation, clinical judgment, and interprofessional collaboration among nursing students. A leader in curriculum redesign aligned with the AACN Essentials, Dr. Vance has developed signature learning initiatives such as the Marine Corps Marathon medical volunteer pilot, reflecting his deep commitment to preparing compassionate, adaptable nurse leaders for an evolving healthcare landscape.

Podcast Episode Summary Dr. Christopher Smith shares his deeply personal journey into nursing, reflecting on a challenging upbringing, early academic struggles, and the moments that ultimately led him to discover a passion for science and patient care. Drawing from a wide range of clinical experiences—including acute care, private practice, and perioperative nursing—Dr. Smith highlights how scholarship became central to his professional identity. He discusses overcoming self-doubt, reframing scholarship as a mindset of curiosity and resilience, and offers practical advice for nurses to start small, integrate scholarship into everyday practice, and use their lived experiences to create meaningful change for patients and communities. Podcast Bio Christopher (Chris) M. Smith, PhD, MSN, RN, GCQM, is an Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He earned his PhD in Nursing Science and a post‑master’s certificate in Quantitative Methods for Social and Behavioral Sciences from East Carolina University, developing expertise in psychometrics and latent variable modeling. Dr. Smith’s research focuses on cardiometabolic health in rural populations, with particular attention to metabolic and inflammatory mechanisms influencing cardiovascular and blood pressure outcomes. He was recognized with the 2024 Emerging Leader in Science award from Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences.

Episode Summary In this episode of the Nursing Scholarly Fireside Podcast, Andrew J. Richards reflects on his journey from bedside nurse to nurse scholar, exploring how his understanding of scholarship evolved over the course of his career. Interviewed by his son, Flynn, Richards discusses why scholarship matters not only for nursing educators but also for nurses in practice, emphasizing curiosity, lifelong learning, and evidence-based care. He also examines the emerging role of generative AI in nursing scholarship, offering thoughtful guidance on using these tools ethically and responsibly while preserving critical thinking, professional judgment, and ownership of one’s work. Guest Bio Andrew J. Richards, PhD, RN, CNE, is a professor in the School of Nursing at Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee. He is the host of the Nursing Scholarly Fireside Podcast, a monthly show featuring informal conversations with nurses about scholarship, learning, and professional growth. Through teaching, mentoring, and podcasting, Dr. Richards seeks to encourage nurses at every stage of their careers to engage in meaningful scholarship that improves practice and advances the profession.  

Dr. Carolyn J. Godfrey is a professor of nursing at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park (MO), where she has spent the past 21 years teaching maternal–newborn nursing. With a career that began in labor and delivery, she went on to earn her PhD in Nursing Education and has since been recognized with awards such as Teacher of the Year, the Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award, and the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Heroes Award. Dr. Godfrey is passionate about the art of scholarship in nursing education, mentoring both students and new faculty. She is also the founder of OB Clarity with Dr. Godfrey, where she shares her expertise and encouragement through teaching, mentoring, and a podcast created to support nursing student success.

Joseph Wright, MSN, RN, CMSRN, is a nurse educator at Tulsa Community College. He helped establish the first official American Association for Men in Nursing chapter in Oklahoma and encourages his students to engage in scholarship and advocacy. 

Jeffrey Williams, DNP, APRN, CCNS, CCRN, CNE, has been an RN for 32 years and an APRN for 24 years. He teaches in the undergraduate nursing program and the DNP program at Texas Woman's University, in Dallas, Texas. 

Alphonzo Baker Sr, DNP, MSN, RN, PAPA, FASPAN, is an experienced nurse leader with over 27 years of experience in psychiatry, critical care, surgical, and peri-anesthesia nursing. He is the current president of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses. In 2024, he was inducted as a Fellow of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (FASPAN).

Dr. Chris Martin, PhD, MSN, RN, is an assistant clinical professor and teaches pharmacology and professional practices courses again in the undergraduate nursing program at Auburn University.  Mr. Clay Young, MSN, RN, FNP-C, is an assistant clinical professor and teaches primarily senior-level nursing courses, including critical care and leadership, at Auburn University. 

Chad O'Lynn, PhD, RN, ANEF, is the Director of Institutional Assessment and Accreditation at Chamberlain College of Nursing.  His nursing career spans nearly four decades. He has worked in various adult health clinical roles and settings, including the past 25 years in nursing education. His research has explored rural nursing and the Dedicated Education Unit but has focused primarily on the experiences and needs of men in nursing. He has published his research in numerous research journals and edited and authored two books on men in nursing, earning the American Publishers Award for Professional and Scholarship Excellence. He has been a long-standing member of the American Association of Men in Nursing serving in various committee and Board positions and serves as a reviewer for three peer-reviewed nursing journals.

Mark Hand, PhD, RN, CNE, is a clinical professor at East Carolina University. He received the 2023 NC Nurses Association Education Nurse of the Year. He has published in multiple nursing journals and presented at several local, national, and international nursing conferences. His research interests include LGBTQ+ health education, men as nursing faculty, and nursing student success. He is the current treasurer of the NLN and an editorial board member for Nursing Education Perspectives. 

Normajean Colby, PhD, RN, CNE, CPN, is certified as pediatric nurse and a nurse educator. She has held various leadership positions in multiple professional organizations, including the Eta Beta Chapter of STTI. She currently is a full-time nurse educator at Widener University in Philadelphia, PA, teaching undergraduate and graduate students. Her research and teaching interests include interprofessional education, perspectives of men in nursing, the transition of new-to-practice nurses, and the long-term effects of pediatric patients treated for oncological disorders.  

Steven Palazzo, PhD, MN, RN, CNE, ANEF, is a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) with over 20 years of nursing experience. He enjoys all things curricula, including developing, implementing, and evaluating new programs. His career has led him to practice critical care, teach in nursing education, and conduct multiple research studies. In 2023, Dr. Palazzo was admitted as a fellow into the Academy of Nursing Education and is a member of the editorial board of Nursing Education Perspectives.

Joy Kieffer, PhD, RN, CCTN, NEA-BC, is a clinical education specialist at Carteret Health Care, in North Carolina. She has worked in intensive care, specializing in organ transplant care, and as an administrator in academic and clinical nursing. She has taught in undergraduate and graduate education and shared her expertise on research at conventions and symposiums. Her passion is helping the next generation of nurses excel academically and clinically through evidence-based practice. 

Stephanie Gedzyk-Nieman, DNP, RNC-MNN, is the interim assistant dean of the ABSN program at the Duke University School of Nursing. She is certified in maternal-newborn nursing and maintains a clinical practice. She is a faculty advisor to the Duke Chapter of the American Association of Men in Nursing. Her scholarly work focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in nursing education and practice. She has multiple publications and presentations at national and international conferences.

Vernon Langford, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, is a home-based primary care family nurse practitioner in Florida. He is a long-standing member of Sigma who encourages future nursing leaders and promotes scholarship. He works to increase diversity and inclusion within the nursing profession. He lectures at conferences nationwide about high-quality nursing care, burnout, self-care, evidence-based guidelines, APRN advocacy, and social determinants of health.

Welcome to the Nursing Scholarly Fireside Podcast! The purpose of this podcast is to share conversations I’ve had with fellow nursing colleagues on their experiences engaging in scholarship. I hope these conversations inspire you to engage in scholarly activities and incorporate scholarship into your professional practice.