TCU Pulse Check: The DNP Edition

Dr. Meagen Driskill, Vice Chair of Nursing at Mayo Clinic and a TCU DNP graduate, joins Dr. Kimberly Posey and Dr. Paul Biluan on TCU Pulse Check: The DNP Edition.

Meagen shares her journey into executive nursing leadership and explains how DNP education shaped her approach to systems thinking, evidence-based leadership, and complex change. The conversation explores listening to teams, building relationships, leading through influence, and connecting nursing strategy to organizational priorities.

She also offers advice for current and prospective DNP students, including using data to demonstrate impact, seeking mentorship, and beginning to lead before you have the title.

In this episode: • Meagen's path from nursing practice to executive leadership • The DNP connection to strategy, evidence, and systems change • Nursing leadership across a complex, multisite organization • Listening, transparency, relationships, and influence • Practical advice for emerging nurse leaders

Real stories. Real impact. The DNP in action.

Dr. Julie Kennedy, DNP, MBA, APRN, FNP-C, IINHC, is a three-time TCU graduate, Family Nurse Practitioner, and founder of Seed Wellness Co.

In this episode of TCU Pulse Check: The DNP Edition, Julie joins Dr. Kimberly Posey and Dr. Paul Biluan to talk about her journey from clinician to entrepreneur and why she chose to build a different model of care.

The conversation explores functional medicine, whole-person wellness, and the importance of looking beyond symptoms to better understand the factors influencing health. Julie also shares her experience building Seed Wellness Co. and discusses entrepreneurship, innovation, and the many ways DNP-prepared nurses can use their clinical expertise and leadership to shape healthcare.

In this episode: • Julie's journey from TCU graduate to practice founder • Functional medicine and whole-person care • Moving beyond symptom management • Nurse practitioner entrepreneurship • Innovation and the DNP role in creating new models of care

Listen now and hear how one DNP-prepared nurse practitioner turned her approach to care into a practice of her own.

Nurses see firsthand how policy decisions affect patients, practice, and the nursing workforce—but are we using our collective voice to influence those decisions?

In this episode of TCU Pulse Check: The DNP Edition, Dr. Serena Bumpus, CEO of the Texas Nurses Association, joins Kimberly Posey and Paul Biluan for a conversation about nursing leadership, advocacy, health policy, and why nurses need a seat at the table.

Serena shares insights from her journey from staff nurse to nurse executive and discusses the power of nurses' voices in shaping policy. The conversation explores workforce challenges, workplace protections, safe staffing, nursing education, and practical ways nurses can become more engaged in advocacy. Serena's leadership at the Texas Nurses Association has included advocacy for nursing education funding, workplace violence protections, workforce support, safe staffing, scholarships, and loan repayment programs.

For DNP-prepared nurses, the conversation is also a reminder that leadership extends beyond individual patient care—to systems, organizations, communities, and policy.

In this episode:

• Why nursing needs a stronger voice in policy
• How policy decisions affect bedside practice
• Nursing workforce and safe staffing issues
• How nurses can begin engaging in advocacy
• The role of DNP-prepared nurses in systems and policy leadership

🎙️ Real stories. Real impact. The DNP in action.

In this episode of TCU Pulse Check: The DNP Edition, Dr. Kimberly Posey and Dr. Paul Biluan welcome Dr. Dru Riddle, PhD, DNP, CRNA, FAAN.

Dr. Riddle is a nurse anesthetist, educator, researcher, and leader whose work connects clinical practice, translational research, evidence-based decision-making, and health policy. In this conversation, we discuss DNP leadership across nurse anesthesia, research, practice, policy, and systems-level change.

This episode is a great listen for DNP students, CRNAs, advanced practice nurses, nurse educators, nurse leaders, and healthcare professionals interested in leadership, evidence-based practice, translational research, and the real-world impact of the DNP.

TCU Pulse Check: The DNP Edition explores the power, purpose, and pulse of the Doctor of Nursing Practice through conversations with nurse leaders, innovators, faculty, students, and alumni.

In this episode of TCU Pulse Check: The DNP Edition, Dr. Kimberly Posey and Dr. Paul Biluan welcome Dr. Megan Carter, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, nurse executive, consultant, and founder of MC Health Care Consulting.

Known for her "Chaos Whisperer" work, Dr. Carter helps healthcare and nurse leaders address burnout, overwhelming workloads, meeting overload, and the constant complexity of healthcare leadership. In this conversation, she shares practical insight on simplifying work, leading with purpose, and moving from overwhelm to impact.

This episode is a great listen for DNP students, nurse leaders, healthcare executives, and anyone interested in leadership, systems thinking, workforce well-being, and real-world nursing impact.

TCU Pulse Check: The DNP Edition explores the power, purpose, and pulse of the Doctor of Nursing Practice through conversations with nurse leaders, innovators, faculty, students, and alumni.

In this episode of TCU Pulse Check: The DNP Edition, Dr. Kimberly Posey and Dr. Paul Biluan are joined by Dr. Vicki S. Good, Chief Clinical Officer of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

Dr. Good shares insights on nursing leadership at the highest level, healthy work environments, patient safety, resilience, and the role of nurse leaders in shaping better healthcare systems. This conversation highlights the real-world impact of nursing leadership and the importance of preparing future nurse leaders through the Doctor of Nursing Practice.

TCU Pulse Check: The DNP Edition is a nursing leadership podcast for current and prospective DNP students, nurse educators, advanced practice nurses, healthcare leaders, and anyone interested in healthcare innovation and the impact of the Doctor of Nursing Practice.

🎧 Listen and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.

Real stories. Real impact. The DNP in action.

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Welcome to TCU Pulse Check: The DNP Edition!

In this launch episode, hosts Dr. Kimberly Posey and Dr. Paul Biluan introduce the purpose behind the podcast and share what listeners can expect from the season ahead. This podcast was created to give current and future DNP students, nurse leaders, faculty, alumni, and healthcare professionals an inside look at the power and impact of the Doctor of Nursing Practice.

Throughout the season, we will explore nursing leadership, innovation, policy, evidence-based practice, interprofessional collaboration, and the real-world ways DNP-prepared nurses are transforming healthcare. Listeners will hear from nurse leaders, faculty, students, alumni, and healthcare innovators who are shaping the future of nursing practice.

Whether you are considering a DNP, currently in a DNP program, or interested in the future of nursing leadership, we invite you to follow along.

Real stories. Real impact. The DNP in action.