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.