Voices from the Nursing Frontline

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Welcome to the Voices from the Nursing Frontline, proudly sponsored by the Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement. Join host, Lisa Beasley, as she shines a spotlight on the remarkable individuals who are shaping the future of nursing. In this new season, we’re diving deeper than ever into the heart of the nursing profession. From innovative practices and groundbreaking research to the real-life stories of resilience and dedication, we’re here to bring you the voices that matter most in the world of nursing. Each episode invites you to explore compelling stories and practical advice tailored to enhancing nurse well-being, optimizing recruitment and retention efforts, pioneering innovative teaching methodologies, and leveraging cutting-edge data and technology. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner, a nursing student, a healthcare leader or executive, or involved in academia, there’s something here for everyone. Get ready to embark on this exciting new season with us. Together, we’ll celebrate the heroes in scrubs and the advancements driving the future of care. Voices from the Nursing Frontline is sponsored by The Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement, an innovative initiative uniting academic and clinical nursing, healthcare leadership, and governmental agencies to tackle the pressing challenges facing the nursing profession and healthcare industry for all nurses in the state of Tennessee. Tune in, subscribe, and embark on a journey of growth and empowerment with Voices from the Nursing Frontline! We would like to give a big thank you to the ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band for our beautiful theme music!

  1. Bridging the Gap: Forensic Nursing and Education in Rural Communities with Carrie Bailey

    1D AGO

    Bridging the Gap: Forensic Nursing and Education in Rural Communities with Carrie Bailey

    In this episode of Voices from the Nursing Frontline, host Dr. Lisa Beasley sits down with Dr. Carrie Bailey, Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee College of Nursing and an experienced Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE). Dr. Bailey shares insights from more than two decades in nursing education and clinical practice, discussing how simulation, trauma-informed care, and real-world clinical experiences prepare students for today’s healthcare environment. She also highlights her work expanding SANE services across rural Tennessee and the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration to ensure survivors of sexual assault have access to compassionate, specialized care. The conversation explores nursing education, rural healthcare challenges, mentorship, and the critical role nurses play in bridging the gap between classroom learning and patient care.

    47 min

  2. MAR 4

    Prevention Starts Early: Nursing’s Role in Changing Lifelong Health Outcomes with Chris Owen

    In this episode of Voices From the Nursing Frontline, host Dr. Lisa Beasley speaks with Chris Owen, MS, ACNP, a nurse practitioner whose 34-year nursing career spans trauma and ICU care, vascular surgery, education design, prevention science, and legislative advocacy. Chris shares her professional journey from associate-degree nurse in a Level I trauma center to surgical ICU nurse, vascular nurse practitioner, and ultimately Director of Innovative Design and Simulation in the Education Division at the American College of Cardiology. In her current role, she helps shape education for more than 60,000 cardiovascular professionals across in-person, online, and simulation-based platforms—while continuing to practice clinically. The conversation explores the power of prevention across the lifespan, from child passenger safety and injury prevention to vascular disease, hypertension, and cardiovascular risk reduction. Chris emphasizes that atherosclerosis and chronic disease develop over decades, making early education, lifestyle changes, and community-level interventions critical to improving long-term outcomes. Dr. Beasley and Chris also discuss gaps in clinician education—particularly where nursing and advanced practice provider workflows differ from physician-centered models—and the importance of practical, bedside-relevant education that supports transitions of care from hospital to clinic and back again. The episode concludes with a powerful discussion on nursing advocacy. Chris reflects on her experience working with legislators, including helping write Maryland’s booster seat legislation, and encourages nurses to recognize their influence beyond direct patient care. Her message is clear: curiosity, courage, and persistence can open doors nurses may never have imagined—and those doors can lead to meaningful change for patients, families, and communities.

    35 min

  3. FEB 25

    Understanding Theory as it Applies to Nursing Communication with Joy Goldsmith and Marie Gill

    In this episode of Voices from the Nursing Frontline, host Dr. Lisa Beasley is joined by Dr. Joy Goldsmith and Dr. Marie Gill. They discuss the intersection of palliative care and nursing theory, emphasizing the importance of communication in nursing practice. They explore the concept of health as expanding consciousness, the role of nurses in navigating patient narratives, and the significance of primary palliative care. The discussion highlights the challenges nurses face in engaging patients meaningfully, especially during chaotic times, and the need for ongoing education in communication strategies. The conversation concludes with reflections on the complexities of life-saving measures and the necessity of integrating patient values into care.

    48 min

  4. FEB 18

    Inside the NICU: Precision, Advocacy, and the Heart of Neonatal Nursing with Dr. Tosha Harris

    In this episode of Voices from the Nursing Frontline, host Dr. Lisa Beasley is joined by Dr. Tosha Harris, a neonatal nurse practitioner and assistant professor in the College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Dr. Harris offers an inside look at the realities of neonatal intensive care, emphasizing that the NICU is not a nursery, but a high-acuity environment where precision, vigilance, and teamwork are essential. She describes the immense responsibility of caring for patients who may weigh as little as one to two pounds and explains how NICU clinicians develop a “micro-assessment” mindset—detecting subtle changes that can prevent life-threatening crises. The conversation explores the balance between speed and accuracy, the technical skills neonatal nurse practitioners must master without hesitation, and the critical role of communication across interdisciplinary teams and with families. Dr. Harris also highlights trauma-informed, family-centered advocacy, stressing the importance of presence, empathy, and intentional communication during one of the most overwhelming experiences a family can face. As a national leader in neonatal nursing, Dr. Harris addresses workforce challenges, scope-of-practice concerns, and the growing demand for neonatal advanced practice nurses. She underscores the need to protect and strengthen the neonatal nursing pipeline while preparing the next generation not only to practice, but to lead. This episode is a powerful reminder of the skill, compassion, and advocacy that define neonatal nursing—and why these clinicians are indispensable to babies, families, and the future of healthcare.

    22 min

  5. FEB 11

    Tyra Girdwood and host, Dr. Lisa Beasley

    In this episode of Voices from the Nursing Frontline, host Dr. Lisa Beasley speaks with Dr. Tyra Girdwood, PhD, RN, assistant professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing and health services researcher, about the high-risk and often overlooked process of transitions of care for young adults with chronic conditions. Dr. Girdwood distinguishes transition from simple transfer, emphasizing that effective transitions require early planning, readiness development, coordinated handoffs, and post-transfer support—especially during the vulnerable ages of 18–23, when patients face major life, insurance, and healthcare changes. Drawing from clinical experience and research, she highlights common breakdowns in care, the shifting role of caregivers, and the powerful impact of social determinants of health, particularly in rural and under-resourced communities. The conversation explores equity-centered transition models, evidence-informed strategies such as transition coordinators and joint pediatric–adult visits, and the need for standardized policies and scalable interventions. This episode, produced by the Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement, is a compelling call to action for nurses, healthcare leaders, and policymakers to strengthen care coordination during one of the most critical transitions in a patient’s life.

    42 min

  6. FEB 5

    Burnout Is Not Your Destiny: Shaunda Jones, RN and host, Dr. Lisa Beasley

    In this episode of Voices From the Nursing Frontline, host Dr. Lisa Beasley talks with Shaunda Jones, RN—founder of The Burnout-Free Nurse—about why burnout in nursing is not a personal failure, but a systemic challenge. Shaunda shares her personal journey, dispels common myths about burnout, and offers practical strategies for setting boundaries, reclaiming agency, and building a sustainable nursing career.

    29 min
  7. St. Jude's: A Commitment to Excellence, hosted by Lisa Beasley, with guests Morgan Melancon, Sarah Currie, and Suzette Stone

    JAN 28

    St. Jude's: A Commitment to Excellence, hosted by Lisa Beasley, with guests Morgan Melancon, Sarah Currie, and Suzette Stone

    This conversation features leaders from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Morgan Melancon, Sarah Currie, and Suzette Stone discussing with Lisa Beasley. The group explores together the innovative approaches to nursing excellence St. Jude's is utilizing, including their Magnet designation, transition to practice programs, and strategies for retaining new nurses and advanced practice providers (APPs). The discussion highlights the importance of community, belonging, and professional identity development in fostering a supportive environment for new healthcare professionals.

    41 min
  8. The Science of Nursing: Health as Expanding Consciousness Theory

    JAN 21

    The Science of Nursing: Health as Expanding Consciousness Theory

    In this episode, Dr. Merian Litchfield discusses her research on nursing as a distinct discipline, emphasizing the importance of relational engagement and the evolution of nursing education from apprenticeship to scholarship. She reflects on the Grand Theory movement and its impact on nursing's role in healthcare, advocating for a shift from authoritative to authorship perspectives. The conversation also explores the significance of dialogue in nursing education and the challenges of integrating medical science with compassionate care.

    46 min
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About

Welcome to the Voices from the Nursing Frontline, proudly sponsored by the Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement. Join host, Lisa Beasley, as she shines a spotlight on the remarkable individuals who are shaping the future of nursing. In this new season, we’re diving deeper than ever into the heart of the nursing profession. From innovative practices and groundbreaking research to the real-life stories of resilience and dedication, we’re here to bring you the voices that matter most in the world of nursing. Each episode invites you to explore compelling stories and practical advice tailored to enhancing nurse well-being, optimizing recruitment and retention efforts, pioneering innovative teaching methodologies, and leveraging cutting-edge data and technology. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner, a nursing student, a healthcare leader or executive, or involved in academia, there’s something here for everyone. Get ready to embark on this exciting new season with us. Together, we’ll celebrate the heroes in scrubs and the advancements driving the future of care. Voices from the Nursing Frontline is sponsored by The Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement, an innovative initiative uniting academic and clinical nursing, healthcare leadership, and governmental agencies to tackle the pressing challenges facing the nursing profession and healthcare industry for all nurses in the state of Tennessee. Tune in, subscribe, and embark on a journey of growth and empowerment with Voices from the Nursing Frontline! We would like to give a big thank you to the ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band for our beautiful theme music!

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