Nursing Scholarly Fireside Podcast

Episode #7 - Mr. Timothy Hamn

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.

Episode #6 - Dr. Adelaide Durkin

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 [https://doi.org/10.1097/01.nurse.0001006268.77409.dc]

Episode #5 - Dr. Lyndsay Wright

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.

Episode #4 - Dr. Kimberly Dunker

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.

Episode #3 - Dr. Ronald Vance

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.