This episode of the NLN Nursing EDge Unscripted Saga track celebrates the life of Loretta Ford. Dr. Ford was a trailblazer who recognized the need for advanced nursing roles in rural communities and co-developed the nurse practitioner role to address this gap. She started the first pediatric nurse practitioner program in 1965, which combined clinical care and research to provide comprehensive patient care. As the founding dean of the University of Rochester School of Nursing, she implemented the unification model of nursing, integrating clinical practice, education, and research. Dr. Ford's legacy includes transforming nursing practice and education, making primary health care more accessible, and inspiring the growth of nurse practitioner programs nationwide.

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