Voices from the Nursing Frontline
Welcome to the Voices from the Nursing Frontline, proudly sponsored by the Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement. Join host, Dr. Christy Hall, as she shines a spotlight on the remarkable individuals who are shaping the future of nursing.
In this newly rebranded 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 Center for Nursing Advancement in Tennessee, 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.
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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Podcast Index
Healthcare As A Culture: The Impact, Culture, and Community That We Serve with guests Elizabeth York and Max Tunstill, and host, Ferrol Thomas
April 16, 2025 • 47 MIN
Welcome to Voices from the Nursing Frontline, a podcast brought to you by the Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement. Our host for episode 9 is Ferrol Thomas. In this episode, Dr. Thomas interviews two nursing professionals, Max Tunstill and Elizabeth Yorks. This episode features a discussion among them about their personal journeys into nursing, the importance of advocacy, the challenges faced by the nursing profession today, and the future of nursing workforce development. The conversation highlights the significance of mentorship, communication, and community health, as well as the hope for a new generation of nurses who are being prepared to meet the evolving needs of healthcare.
As always, a special thanks to the ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band for our beautiful theme song and introduction music.
Insight, Empathy, and Developing Nurses with Nikki Staples & Ferrol Thomas
April 9, 2025 • 45 MIN
Welcome to Voices from the Nursing Frontline, a podcast brought to you by the Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement. In this episode, our host for episode 8 is Ferrol Thomas as she speaks with Nikki Staples, System Director for Nursing Professional Development at Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation. They discuss Nikki's journey into nursing, the importance of clinical education, the challenges faced by new graduates, and innovative approaches to nurse training. The conversation emphasizes the need for emotional intelligence, customer service skills, and professional development in nursing, as well as the significance of hands-on learning and mentorship in preparing nurses for the realities of their profession.
As always, a special thanks to the ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band for our beautiful theme song and introduction music.
Nursing Connections: Unlocking the Path to Success with Dr. Ferrol Thomas, Ashley White, and Emiko Rodriguez-Sanchez
March 26, 2025 • 54 MIN
Welcome to Voices from the Nursing Frontline, a podcast brought to you by the Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement. In this episode, our host for episode 7 is Ferrol Thomas. She discusses the significance of connections in nursing with two nurses, Ashely White and Emiko Rodriguez-Sanchez! Join us for this enlightening episode full of relatable stories and encouragement!
As always, a special thanks to the ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band for our beautiful theme song and introduction music.
REBROADCAST: Get Motivated: A Path to Happiness in Your Caring Profession with Dr. Ferrol Thomas
March 12, 2025 • 40 MIN
Enjoy this episode from Season 1. The guest is Ferrol Thomas who is one of our new special hosts in Season 3.
Join host Dr. Christy Hall and her guest, Dr. Ferrol Thomas, as they discuss finding happiness in the caring professions. They cover the challenges of recruitment, and dive into Ferrol's initiatives and her focus on the neuroscience of care provision. They share the outlook on motivating future healthcare providers using various pathways to the caring industry not only in nursing but in healthcare as whole; from hospital staff, to unconventional elder students, to mentorship, to the front-line professionals. This episode covers fascinating conversation for all healthcare providers.
'Chats with Nursing Students' with Anna Clark
February 26, 2025 • 18 MIN
In this episode of Voices from the Nursing Frontline, nursing student Anna Clark shares her journey into nursing, inspired by her mother's legacy. She discusses her passion for pediatrics and labor & delivery, the challenges of nursing school, and the importance of self-care to combat burnout. Anna reflects on the impact of nurses in her life and the significance of personal connections in healthcare.
Life's Hidden Purpose: A Mother's Journey from Healthcare Worker to Patient Advocate with Beth Andrews
February 19, 2025 • 37 MIN
In this moving episode, Beth Andrews shares her transformative journey from healthcare worker to full-time caregiver for her daughter with complex medical needs. Through intimate stories of both struggle and grace, Beth reveals how her past experiences unknowingly prepared her for her most important role yet. She offers powerful insights about the critical need for caregiver support, the impact of compassionate healthcare workers, and how every challenge serves a greater purpose. From navigating medical systems to finding creative ways to advocate for change, Beth's story reminds us that our hardest moments often prepare us for our greatest calling.
Coming Full Circle: Nursing Education Practice & Family Ties with Dr. Ferrol Thomas and Dr. Christy Hall
February 12, 2025 • 35 MIN
Don't miss today's new episode of VOICES FROM THE NURSING FRONTLINE featuring Dr. Christy Hall interviewing Dr. Ferrol Thomas, bringing her on board as a Season 3 host! Dr. Thomas will be interviewing colleagues and guests of her own during this exciting season! Listen as Dr. Thomas shares her unique experience of a life-changing meeting with a nurse, experiencing mentorship through life's curveballs, and the distinctive journey of each nurse, this episode tackles the tensions at the heart of modern nursing education.
Don't miss Coming Full Circle: Nursing Education Practice & Family Ties with Dr. Ferrol Thomas and Dr. Christy Hall.
From Roots to Branches: Tutoring and Mentorship in Nursing Education with Guest Nurse Jill
February 5, 2025 • 34 MIN
Welcome to the first episode of Season 3 of Voices From the Nursing Frontline, a podcast brought to you by the Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement.
This season, we will add three host to our lineup, bringing you voices from all across the state of Tennessee. Our hosts will be Christy Hall, Ferrol Thomas, Brad Harrell and Martina Harris! Join us this season as they introduce us to their colleagues, students and professionals covering East Tennessee to West Tennessee.
Today's episode, "From Roots to Branches: Tutoring and Mentorship in Nursing Education, features Dr. Christy Hall with guest Nurse Jill.
As always, a special thanks to the ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band for our beautiful theme song and introduction music.
Season 3 Kickoff
January 29, 2025 • 5 MIN
Welcome to Season 3 of Voices From the Nursing Frontline, a podcast brought to you by the Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement. This season, we will add three host to our lineup, bringing you voices from all across the state of Tennessee. Our hosts will be Christy Hall, Ferrol Thomas, Brad Harrell and Martina Harris! Join us this season as they introduce us to their colleagues, students and professionals covering East Tennessee to West Tennessee.
As always, a special thanks to the ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band for our beautiful theme song and introduction music.
REBROADCAST: Creating Cultures of Safety and Resilience with Dr. Lindsay Munn
December 18, 2024 • 34 MIN
Join us as Dr. Lindsay Munn reveals key factors in creating environments that promote nurse wellbeing based on her recent research and experience as a healthcare leader. She addresses organizational and system-level factors that affect wellbeing, including the important of psychological safety in the work environment. Dr. Munn has more than a decade of inpatient nursing experience and has conducted scientific research to facilitate understanding of the complexities in the nursing work environment. Dr. Munn currently serves as Assistant Professor, Implementation Science, at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
Nurse Impact: A Story from Sydney Briggs About a Nurse Who Made All The Difference
November 20, 2024 • 10 MIN
"Our job as nurses is to cushion the sorrow and celebrate the job, every day, while we are 'just doing our jobs.'" — Christine Belle.
Perhaps all of us have a nurse story to tell. In today's episode, Sydney Briggs shares her story of the worst season of her life made brighter by a special nurse. This content originated from a special project between the Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement, Ballad Health, and StoryCollab. You can view the entire video here: https://www.wevideo.com/view/3605140674.
'Chats with Nursing Students' with Caroline O'Neal
November 13, 2024 • 17 MIN
Join Rachel Throp as she chats with Caroline O'Neal, a nursing student from Chattanooga State Community College. Caroline is a second year nursing student who works at Parkridge Main Hospital in downtown Chattanooga, TN as a tech. She lives on Signal Mountain, loves going on walks, spending time with her sister and her roommate, reading and studying. Listen as she shares some of the joy she found while discovering her calling in the middle of nursing school.
Authenticity, Well-Being, and Resilience; the Cornerstones of Frontline Nursing Leadership
November 6, 2024 • 35 MIN
Join Dr. Christy Hall as she engages in an uplifting conversation with Josh Sims and Sherry Davis, nurse leaders who have recently completed continued education as graduates of the Nurse Leadership Academy at the Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement. They share their experience in the Academy and reflect on several ways that leadership skills guide the success of nursing teams so they can care for their patients in the best possible ways. These dedicated leaders offer insight and encouragement.
This episode of Voices from the Nursing Frontline is dedicated to Boone McCrary, and other victims of the flooding caused by Hurricane Helene in the Appalachian Mountains.
Thank you to the ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band for our theme music.
Who Is Filling Your Glass? Exploring Innovation, Data, Wellbeing, and the Future Pipeline with Dr. Martina Harris
October 30, 2024 • 33 MIN
Join us for a new episode of Voices From the Nursing Frontline as Rachel Throp interviews Dr. Martina Harris, nurse educator and leader who serves as the Dean of Nursing and Allied Health at Chattanooga State Community College. Throughout her career, Dr. Harris has made significant contributions to nursing education and practice.
In this exciting and encouraging episode, Dr. Harris explores innovative technology, covers data, offers advice about nurse wellbeing and shares ideas about the future pipeline of nursing.
Be sure to follow us on social media and listen for new epsidoes every Wednesday morning! Share the podcast with a nurse you love today💛💛💛
'Chats with Nursing Students' with Carrigan White, ETSU
October 23, 2024 • 19 MIN
In Episode 9 of Season 2, Voices from The Nursing Frontline launches the first of a new series of interviews with nursing students across the state of Tennessee. Our first interview with a student is with Carrigan White, a NEW nursing student in her first semester of nursing school at East Tennessee State University.
The second installment of this series 'Chats with Nursing Students' will follow in a few weeks so stay tuned for that!
Be sure to follow us on social media and share an episode with a nurse you love today!
Well-Being Wednesday
October 16, 2024 • 11 MIN
Today's Episode of Voices from the Nursing Frontline is a compilation of several of our esteemed guests sharing the importance of Well-Being. You cannot pour from an empty cup. Listen to the experts, and have a Happy Well-Being Wednesday!
Tack & Jibe: Music from the ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band
October 9, 2024 • 4 MIN
Tack and Jibe was created by the ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band.
Voices from the Nursing Frontline sends a big thank you to the ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band and to Daniel Boner, Program Director.
Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Roots Music Studies is an amazing program at East Tennessee State University. Check out their other songs wherever you stream music; "Sam Jocelyn's Ghost" and "Did You Hear Me Say Goodbye."
Intersecting Technology and Wellbeing; Optimizing Nursing Practice with Lisa Smithgall
October 2, 2024 • 33 MIN
Join our host, Dr. Christy Hall, as she has a great conversation with Dr. Lisa Smithgall. This episode of Voices from the Nursing Frontline covers topics such as future trends in nursing technology, advice for aspiring nursing leaders, and maintaining human connection in patient care; all as a means to optimize nursing practice and nurse well-being. Dr. Smithgall offers advisement and words of wisdom from years of nursing leadership and experience.
Claim Your Power; Nurse as Healer with Kathleen Bartholomew
September 25, 2024 • 30 MIN
Listen as Dr. Hall interviews Kathleen Bartholomew about the power of nurses on this new episode of Voices from the Nursing Frontline. They deep dive into strategies to make effective change to the healthcare system, discuss advocacy for nurses, and share the need for strong nursing leadership.
Do not miss this important and thought-provoking conversation!
Sticking It Out; Reflections on Staying In and Loving Hospital Nursing, with Dr. Hope Diaz
September 18, 2024 • 21 MIN
Join our podcast producer, Rachel Throp, as she interviews Dr. Hope Diaz, a graduate of ETSU, as she shares her passion for hospital nursing, her pursuit of knowledge, and her love for beside nurses. She encourages all healthcare workers in ways to insulate themselves from burnout by connecting to their patients and how to find balance in their life. Don't miss this new episode of Voices from the Nursing Frontline!
Wands & Wellbeing; Wonderful Wisdom for Healthcare from the House of Pharmacy, with Dr. Debbie Byrd
September 11, 2024 • 34 MIN
Join us for a fascinating intersection between nursing and pharmacy on this episode of Voices From the Nursing Frontline. Dr. Debbie Byrd is the Dean of East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy. She is involved with the Nurse Narratives documentary project by Ballad Health and ETSU. In this interview, Dr. Christy Hall and Dr. Debbie Byrd discuss ways the College of Pharmacy is drawing students in and supporting them as they journey through the pharmacy program and remind us how important these areas of healthcare are to one another. Don't miss this uplifting interview!
Taking Your Time; The Importance of Navigating Your Own Journey in Nursing with Mandy Rust
September 4, 2024 • 45 MIN
In this episode of Voices from the Nursing Frontline, Dr. Christy Hall interviews her own sister, Mandy Rust, an RN and participant of an exciting documentary being developed by ETSU and Ballad Health, Nurse Narratives. Mandy shares her motivation for becoming a nurse, her journey through the nursing field, the impact of the pandemic on her and other nurses, and so much more. This episode is a treasure trove of experiences, knowledge, and touching moments for all nurses, and those who love them.
Who's Your Host? A Spotlight on Dr. Christy Hall
August 28, 2024 • 35 MIN
Join Dr. Christy Hall and her younger sister, Mandy, for a deeply personal look into Dr. Hall's own journey as she followed her path through the nursing landscape and into nursing academia, where she is known to "put the FUN in Fundamentals!" and much, much more!
Don't miss this special episode as we kick off our second season of Voices from the Nursing Frontline with our wonderful host, Dr. Christy Hall.
WIT: How Wisdom, Integrity, and Transparency Drives Nursing Leadership with Dr. Lepaine Sharp-McHenry
July 24, 2024 • 36 MIN
Join Dr. Christy Hall as she interviews Dr. Lepaine Sharp-McHenry. Dr. Sharp-McHenry shares her model for effective leadership. She walks us through her framework to become a strong leader, especially in nursing.
Listen in to this discussion on the benefits of nurse mentorship relationships, diversity in healthcare, and finding one's life purpose in a nursing career.
Filling Your Cup; Nurture Yourself to Nurture Others with Bobbie Murphy
July 17, 2024 • 20 MIN
Join Dr. Christy Hall and Bobbie Murphy as they discuss the necessity for nurses to maintain a fulfilling life outside of work and keep a balance for their own well-being in the medical field. This episode is encouraging and we hope you find it helpful in your nursing journey.
Coming Full Circle; Embracing Nursing Simulations and Innovations with Dr. Pamela Jeffries
July 10, 2024 • 41 MIN
Join us for the tenth episode of Advancing Nursing: Coming Full Circle; Embracing Nursing Simulations and Innovations with Dr. Pamela Jeffries and host, Dr. Christie Hall. Listen to this nursing legend and leader. Dr. Jeffries, as she shares the journey of developing the NLN Jeffries Simulation Theory, as well as the ways simulations and innovations have changed nursing.
Reaching the Unreachable: Meeting the Challenge in CNA Research with Deborah Lee & Cathy Cooper
July 3, 2024 • 39 MIN
Join the "dynamic duo" of Dr. Deborah Lee and Dr. Cathy Cooper as they dive deeper into their unique research study on CNAs in the state of Tennessee. They share with host, Dr. Christy Hall, the findings of their research study, many lessons learned in the process, including the joys of partnering with a colleague who shares the same passion as you, and more. Dr. Lee and Dr. Cooper touch on the importance of recruitment, training, and retention of CNAs and much more. Don't miss this second part of the two-part series dedicated to this imperative line of the healthcare workforce.
Not Your Grandmother's Nursing Home: The Importance of Respect in Long-Term Care with Dr. Deborah Lee & Dr. Cathy Cooper
June 26, 2024 • 19 MIN
Dr. Deborah Lee & Dr. Cathy Cooper join host, Dr. Christy Hall, in Part One of a two-part conversation discussing a valuable and necessary research project with a focus on Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) in the state of Tennessee.
This episode dives into their motivation for a study on the necessity of CNAs, their infinite value to the healthcare system, and touches on everything from recruitment, acknowledgement that CNAs make up as much as 80-90% of direct care provision for long-term patients, the difficulties of their tasks, and more. The study reveals the physical and emotional challenges of CNAs but also their deep dedication to their patients.
Don't forget to tune in to next week's episode for Part Two of this interesting discussion
Get Motivated: A Path to Happiness in Your Caring Profession with Dr. Ferrol Thomas
June 19, 2024 • 36 MIN
Join host Dr. Christy Hall and her guest, Dr. Ferrol Thomas, as they discuss finding happiness in the caring professions. They cover the challenges of recruitment, and dive into Ferrol's initiatives and her focus on the neuroscience of care provision. They share the outlook on motivating future healthcare providers using various pathways to the caring industry not only in nursing but in healthcare as whole; from hospital staff, to unconventional elder students, to mentorship, to the front-line professionals. This episode covers fascinating conversation for all healthcare providers.
Embracing Informatics to Drive Healthcare Transformation with Dr. Kelly Aldrich
June 12, 2024 • 37 MIN
Join Dr. Christy Hall and Dr. Kelly Aldrich as they discuss the many technological advances that have become available to and have changed the profession of nursing.
Dr. Aldrich is involved with the research and implementation of informatics, utilizing cutting-edge technology to advance efficiency and accuracy in the world of nursing. From the clipboards of the past, to AI and technology, join us for a fascinating discussion on the technology of nursing.
Nursing Professional Development: Use Your Sphere of Influence to Change the Paradigm with Dr. Dawna Cato
June 7, 2024 • 24 MIN
Join Dr. Christy Hall and guest, Dr. Dawna Cato, as they discuss redesigning our healthcare system, and methods of education to acknowledge the changes in the world of nursing, even since the pandemic. They dive into ideas of creating more interactive strategies of continued education, and learning that progresses a nurse's career and wellbeing as they operate in the healthcare system. Dr. Cato has extensive experience in onboarding nurses and offers a unique perspective in retaining nurses by being proactively empathetic and caring for each nurse's wellbeing as a whole person.
Do not miss this value episode of Advancing Nursing.
Pathways and Pipelines: Securing the Future of Nursing with Dr. Morgan May
June 5, 2024 • 29 MIN
Join Dr. Christy Hall and guest Dr. Morgan May as they discuss several ways to secure the future of nursing on this new episode of Advancing Nursing.
Drs Hall and May discuss the challenges of retaining nurses, especially in the acute care environment, due at least in part, to the changes in the culture of healthcare; historically nurses were required for inpatient care, but now, nurses are needed for care they provide in home, in physician offices, at health departments, and schools, and beyond. Healthcare today has a significant focus on keeping people healthy instead of just treating them when they're sick. Our society's demand for nurses has grown and in this episode, a focus on requirements to retain them in the workforce is discussed.
Charting Your Course in Nursing with Sherry Richardson
May 22, 2024 • 26 MIN
Join host Dr. Christy Hall and her guest, Sherry Richardson, who serves as the Executive Director at the Tennessee Board of Nursing. In this episode they discuss key considerations related to the nursing profession for those in leadership positions in healthcare organizations and government. Additionally, they reveal relevant and practical guidance for those in the profession of nursing on how to navigate one's career in the challenging and changing space of nursing.
Creating Cultures of Safety and Resilience with Dr. Lindsay Munn
May 15, 2024 • 30 MIN
Join us as Dr. Lindsay Munn reveals key factors in creating environments that promote nurse wellbeing based on her recent research and experience as a healthcare leader. She addresses organizational and system-level factors that affect wellbeing, including the important of psychological safety in the work environment. Dr. Munn has more than a decade of inpatient nursing experience and has conducted scientific research to facilitate understanding of the complexities in the nursing work environment. Dr. Munn currently serves as Assistant Professor, Implementation Science, at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
Are You Squared Away? A Focus on Wellbeing with Dr. Robinson
May 6, 2024 • 24 MIN
Are you squared away? Join host Dr. Christy Hall and her guest, Dr. Roz Robinson, as they discuss how to thrive and become a resilient nurse. Dr. Robinson also speaks to the opportunities leaders have regarding recruitment and retention of nursing staff. Doctor Robinson currently serves as the Chief Nurse Officer for ETSU Health, the Associate Dean for Practice and Community Partnerships, and as the interim executive director of the Center for Nursing Advancement.