Frontline Nursing

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This episode features Dr. Rudner discussing her work as a volunteer nurse providing disaster relief across the globe. She also talks about looking at the bigger picture, prevention as a tool to strengthen communities, and the power of nurses to influence policy. 

Dr. Nancy Rudner is an independent scholar and volunteer nurse practitioner. She has focused her career on improving health through the lifespan through patient care, population health, and policy. Her work has included improving health through policy and advocacy for modernized nurse practitioner regulations, population health initiatives, disaster nursing, and international collaborations. She has provided disaster care in Florida, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and the Texas-Mexico border. Her publications address nursing regulations, disaster care, environmental health, and worker heat protections. Her work has been recognized with awards from Farmworker Association of Florida and the Florida Nurse Practitioner Network. She will be inducted into the Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners in June. She is working on the Nursing Action Coalition of Florida’s efforts to strengthen disaster nursing preparation. 

Additional Links 

FQHC 

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster 

Nurse Licensure Compact 

Dr. Loretta C. Ford 

Florida Center for Nursing 

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The Florida Center for Nursing

The Florida Center for Nursing is established to research and address issues of supply and demand for nursing, including issues of recruitment, retention, and utilization of nurse 

The vision of the Florida Center for Nursing is to ensure that the health care needs of the residents and visitors of Florida are met by a competent and sufficient nursing workforce.

The Florida Center for Nursing is proudly headquartered at the University of South Florida College of Nursing.

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In this episode, Dr. Farah Laurent talks about reshaping public perception of nurses, coaching new nurses, and the refusal to accept the word ‘no.’ 

Dr Laurent is transforming the landscape of nursing by empowering new graduate nurses and aspiring nurse entrepreneurs to build powerful personal brands, land high-paying dream roles, and launch purpose-driven businesses. Through her dynamic coaching, mindset development, resume optimization, and digital visibility strategies, Dr. Laurent is helping nurses gain the confidence, clarity, and tools they need to thrive both in their careers and as entrepreneurs.  

 As the founder of Farah Laurent International Nurse Coach LLC, Dr. Laurent brings unmatched expertise and insight to the nursing industry. A former emergency nurse, educator, and leadership expert, she has helped over 100 new nurses land high-paying roles in competitive specialties such as labor & delivery, maternal-newborn, OR, emergency, and critical care. Under her guidance, nurses have achieved starting salaries of $100K–$175K+ and advanced to leadership roles in hospitals across the country.   

Links 

Farah Laurent International Nurse Coach LLC 

The Nursing Dose with Farah 

Florida Center for Nursing 

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The Florida Center for Nursing

The Florida Center for Nursing is established to research and address issues of supply and demand for nursing, including issues of recruitment, retention, and utilization of nurse 

The vision of the Florida Center for Nursing is to ensure that the health care needs of the residents and visitors of Florida are met by a competent and sufficient nursing workforce.

The Florida Center for Nursing is proudly headquartered at the University of South Florida College of Nursing.

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This episode features Jose D. Castillo III, PhD, MSNA, CRNA, APRN, FAANA, discussing the Florida Board of Nursing and its work investigating fraudulent nursing schools, his goals for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, and the importance of giving back. 

Dr. Castillo earned his PhD in Instructional Design and Technology from Keiser University in 2016. He previously completed his BSN at West Visayas State University in 1994 and his MS in Nurse Anesthesia at Wolford College in 2007. Currently, Dr. Castillo is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) practitioner in Florida and has been a full-time Nurse Anesthesia faculty member for over 16 years. In 2023, he was appointed as a tenured Associate Professor at Texas Wesleyan University. 

Dr. Castillo has held several significant leadership roles, including past President of the Florida Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, recent Chair of the Florida Board of Nursing, and current President-Elect for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. His dedication to the nursing profession has earned him the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology 2021 Ira P. Gunn Award for Outstanding Professional Advocacy and a 2024 Fellow designation. On a national level, Dr. Castillo frequently presents scholarly topics relevant to CRNAs and nursing.  

Links 

National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) 

Florida Board of Nursing (FBON) 

FBON Nurse Compact FAQs 

Florida Association of Nurse Anesthesiology 

Florida Center for Nursing 

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The Florida Center for Nursing

The Florida Center for Nursing is established to research and address issues of supply and demand for nursing, including issues of recruitment, retention, and utilization of nurse 

The vision of the Florida Center for Nursing is to ensure that the health care needs of the residents and visitors of Florida are met by a competent and sufficient nursing workforce.

The Florida Center for Nursing is proudly headquartered at the University of South Florida College of Nursing.

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In this episode, Shamisca Jean Baptiste, RN, talks about celebrating her two-year nursiversary, choosing a nursing school, and preparing for the NCLEX. 

Shamisca is a dedicated registered nurse with a strong commitment to providing exceptional patient care. With experience in various health care settings, she excels in delivering compassionate support and expert medical assistance. Shamisca is skilled in both clinical and administrative tasks, ensuring that her patients receive the highest quality of care.  

Links 

Florida Board of Nursing NCLEX Pass Rates 

Florida Center for Nursing 

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Find FCN on social media 

The Florida Center for Nursing

The Florida Center for Nursing is established to research and address issues of supply and demand for nursing, including issues of recruitment, retention, and utilization of nurse 

The vision of the Florida Center for Nursing is to ensure that the health care needs of the residents and visitors of Florida are met by a competent and sufficient nursing workforce.

The Florida Center for Nursing is proudly headquartered at the University of South Florida College of Nursing.

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This episode features Jose D. Castillo III, PhD, MSNA, CRNA, APRN, FAANA, in discussion with Florida Center for Nursing Executive Director Rayna Letourneau, PhD, RN, about his role as a CRNA, finding the nursing role that fits you, and asking the hard questions. 

Dr. Castillo earned his PhD in Instructional Design and Technology from Keiser University in 2016. He previously completed his BSN at West Visayas State University in 1994 and his MS in Nurse Anesthesia at Wolford College in 2007. Currently, Dr. Castillo is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) practitioner in Florida and has been a full-time Nurse Anesthesia faculty member for over 16 years. In 2023, he was appointed as a tenured Associate Professor at Texas Wesleyan University. 

Dr. Castillo has held several significant leadership roles, including past President of the Florida Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, recent Chair of the Florida Board of Nursing, and current President-Elect for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. His dedication to the nursing profession has earned him the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology 2021 Ira P. Gunn Award for Outstanding Professional Advocacy and a 2024 Fellow designation. On a national level, Dr. Castillo frequently presents scholarly topics relevant to CRNAs and nursing. 

Links 

National Council of State Boards of Nursing 

Florida Board of Nursing 

Florida Association of Nurse Anesthesiology 

Florida Center for Nursing 

Subscribe to FCN’s newsletter 

Find FCN on social media 

The Florida Center for Nursing

The Florida Center for Nursing is established to research and address issues of supply and demand for nursing, including issues of recruitment, retention, and utilization of nurse 

The vision of the Florida Center for Nursing is to ensure that the health care needs of the residents and visitors of Florida are met by a competent and sufficient nursing workforce.

The Florida Center for Nursing is proudly headquartered at the University of South Florida College of Nursing.

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In this episode, Cynthia Drew, DNP, APRN, talks about the role of autonomous nurse practitioners, the value of precepting, and encouraging the next generation of nurses. 

Dr. Drew’s education consists of a DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) in leadership at University of Texas Arlington and a Master of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of South Florida. She is a nationally certified geriatric nurse practitioner through ANCC and licensed and practicing as an autonomous nurse practitioner in Florida. Her experience as a nurse practitioner in the past 36 years has involved mainly primary and secondary care with cardiology and internal medicine patients. She has been involved with nursing policy at the state and national level since 2006. She is currently on the board of the Sarasota County Nurse Practitioner Association, educational committee of the Florida Nurse Practitioner Network, and member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.  

Links 

Sarasota County Nurse Practitioner Association 

American Association of Nurse Practitioners 

Florida Nurse Practitioner Network 

Florida Center for Nursing 

Subscribe to FCN’s newsletter 

Find FCN on social media 

The Florida Center for Nursing

The Florida Center for Nursing is established to research and address issues of supply and demand for nursing, including issues of recruitment, retention, and utilization of nurse 

The vision of the Florida Center for Nursing is to ensure that the health care needs of the residents and visitors of Florida are met by a competent and sufficient nursing workforce.

The Florida Center for Nursing is proudly headquartered at the University of South Florida College of Nursing.

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This episode features Susan Parda-Watters, DNP, MMOAS, MSN, APRN/ACNS-BC, CMSRN, discussing learning to be a leader, the reality of being a military flight nurse, and the alphabet soup of her credentials. 

Dr. Parda-Watters is a global leader with extensive experience as an Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist and in expeditionary command and control leadership. She is a board-certified Clinical Nurse Specialist and a retired Lieutenant Colonel with over 20 years of active-duty service and 31 years of nursing expertise in aeromedical evacuation/flight nursing, aerospace physiology transport, critical care, emergency/trauma response, planning and coordination, hyperbaric, and psychiatric medicine. Her exposures and opportunities as a nurse built her up and prepared her to be where she is today, and she is currently a member of a USF research team as an Advanced Practice Provider.  

Links 

USF Health Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment (HBOT) Clinical Trial 

Military Order of the World Wars 

Florida Center for Nursing 

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Find FCN on social media 

The Florida Center for Nursing

The Florida Center for Nursing is established to research and address issues of supply and demand for nursing, including issues of recruitment, retention, and utilization of nurse 

The vision of the Florida Center for Nursing is to ensure that the health care needs of the residents and visitors of Florida are met by a competent and sufficient nursing workforce.

The Florida Center for Nursing is proudly headquartered at the University of South Florida College of Nursing.

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In this episode, Anthony J. Silva, MSN, RN, CNOR, AMB-BC, ROT, discusses his work on the frontlines and in the classroom, the importance of relationships in his career, and more.  

Anthony Silva is an orthopedic scrub nurse and ambulatory registered nurse at Naples Comprehensive Health in Naples, FL. He is faculty at Rasmussen University in Fort Myers, FL, as an adjunct clinical nursing instructor. He is a custom infusion nurse at The Wellness Lab in Naples, Florida. He is currently pursuing his DNP: Family Nurse Practitioner at the University of Miami.  

Links  

Global Surgical Volunteers 

FNA Special Interest Group for New Graduates 

Florida Center for Nursing 

Subscribe to FCN’s newsletter 

Find FCN on social media 

The Florida Center for Nursing

The Florida Center for Nursing is established to research and address issues of supply and demand for nursing, including issues of recruitment, retention, and utilization of nurse 

The vision of the Florida Center for Nursing is to ensure that the health care needs of the residents and visitors of Florida are met by a competent and sufficient nursing workforce.

The Florida Center for Nursing is proudly headquartered at the University of South Florida College of Nursing.

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In this episode, Dakota Redd, RN, discusses his work as a Chief Nursing Officer, the importance of listening as a leader, and maintaining a focus on helping nurses thrive. 

Dakota Redd’s health care journey started more than forty years ago with eighteen years of critical care nursing, focusing on Cardiovascular Nursing. He then took on roles in nursing leadership, moving from Nursing Supervision to Department Director, Chief Nursing Executive and Chief Nursing Officer. Beginning in 2021, he started his current role as the Chief Nursing Officer for Hendry Regional Medical Center in Clewiston, Florida. In 2023 he was recognized by the Florida Rural Health Association, as a “Healthcare Hero” for his leadership and courage in transforming his hospital’s culture.  

Links 

Florida Rural Health Association
Florida Center for Nursing 
Subscribe to FCN’s newsletter 
Find FCN on social media  

The Florida Center for Nursing

The Florida Center for Nursing is established to research and address issues of supply and demand for nursing, including issues of recruitment, retention, and utilization of nurse 

The vision of the Florida Center for Nursing is to ensure that the health care needs of the residents and visitors of Florida are met by a competent and sufficient nursing workforce.

The Florida Center for Nursing is proudly headquartered at the University of South Florida College of Nursing.

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In the second part of the conversation between Florida Center for Nursing Executive Director Rayna Letourneau, PhD, RN, and Francine Bono-Neri, PhD, RN, APRN, PNP, Dr. Bono-Neri talks about self-care, shares data gathered by her organization Nurses United Against Human Trafficking, and offers tips for nurse advocacy. 

Francine Bono-Neri, PhD, RN, APRN, PNP is a pediatric nurse practitioner, academic nurse educator, trained sexual assault nurse examiner, researcher, published author, invited speaker, and nurse leader. She served as a Director-at-Large for the American Nurses Association for the State of New York, and as President for the Long Island Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. Dr. Bono-Neri is the recipient of the prestigious 2019 Jane Eleanor Knox N.E.F. National Scholarship. As a way of giving back, she has established a scholarship in perpetuity through N.E.F., The Francine Bono-Neri Scholarship, which will be awarded annually to a master’s or doctoral nursing student pursuing clinical expertise or scholarly work in the area of human trafficking and anti-trafficking measures. Dr. Bono-Neri was awarded a Nassau County Legislature Citation and was recognized at the United Nations, receiving the 2024 Inspiring Global Nurse Award and the 2024 International Ceca Award. She was selected to be inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) this upcoming Fall. Dr. Bono-Neri is the Co-founder and President of Nurses United Against Human Trafficking, P.A., a global professional association created for the sole purpose of combatting modern-day slavery by educating, equipping, and empowering healthcare professionals on human trafficking and anti-trafficking measures.  

Links  

Nurses United Against Human Trafficking  

National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA)  

Florida Center for Nursing  

Subscribe to FCN’s newsletter  

Find FCN on social media  

The Florida Center for Nursing

The Florida Center for Nursing is established to research and address issues of supply and demand for nursing, including issues of recruitment, retention, and utilization of nurse 

The vision of the Florida Center for Nursing is to ensure that the health care needs of the residents and visitors of Florida are met by a competent and sufficient nursing workforce.

The Florida Center for Nursing is proudly headquartered at the University of South Florida College of Nursing.