Nursing Scholarly Fireside Podcast

Podcast Episode Summary

In this episode, Carlos Serrano shares his journey into nursing—a path shaped by empathy, self-doubt, and the steady influence of mentors who helped him see his potential. From pediatric intensive care to primary care and higher education, Carlos reflects on how embracing scholarship and research transformed his practice and identity as a nurse. His story highlights the power of mentorship, perseverance, and curiosity in advancing evidence-based nursing and inspiring the next generation of nurses.

 

Guest Bio
Carlos Serrano, MS, APRN, CPNP-PC, CNE, is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner, nurse educator, and assistant professor of nursing at Passaic County Community College with more than 20 years of experience across diverse pediatric and educational settings. He currently practices college health at Bloomfield College of Montclair State University and serves on the Board of Directors for the American Association for Men in Nursing. Passionate about mentorship, equity, and lifelong learning, Carlos is dedicated to advancing nursing education and supporting students and colleagues through scholarship and compassionate practice.

 

Podcast Episode Summary

Timothy Hamn reflects on his career in nursing and on nursing scholarship. Beginning in medical-surgical nursing and later transitioning to home health, Timothy developed a passion for wound care that led him to become a nurse practitioner, completing his advanced training in an accelerated 16-month program while working full-time. He emphasizes bridging research and practice through evidence-based, patient-centered care, encouraging nurses to question existing practices, stay curious, and advocate boldly for their patients. Timothy also discusses the challenges and rewards of starting a private practice, highlighting lessons in ethical leadership and the business of healthcare. Overall, his story underscores nursing’s transformative impact through critical thinking, empathy, and continuous professional growth.

Guest Bio

Timothy Scott Hamn, NP, FNP-BC, FNP-C, CWS, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Certified Wound Specialist specializing in mobile primary care and advanced wound management across Oregon and Washington. His clinical focus includes complex chronic wounds and optimization of systemic contributors in medically complex, homebound populations. His transition into advanced practice was accelerated during the early COVID-19 pandemic in response to provider shortages in home health, leading to completion of his training at age 34. He maintains a strong commitment to evidence-based practice through daily review of current medical literature and clinical guidelines.

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.