In this episode of the NPD Forecast podcast, Amy Trueblood, senior director of leadership development at AONL, joins our hosts to explore how collaboration between nurse leaders and nursing professional development (NPD) specialists can drive meaningful change in today's complex healthcare environment. Drawing from her experience developing leadership programming—and from past roles navigating care delivery model changes during the COVID-19 pandemic—Trueblood highlights how partnership with professional development practitioners supports successful implementation and sustained impact. The discussion also examines:

• The value of diverse expertise in shaping future programs;
• Common barriers to effective collaboration;
• And why understanding individual needs and fostering psychological safety are essential to moving our work forward.

In this episode of the NPD Forecast Podcast, Naomi Fox, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, CCRN; Stephanie Zidek, PhD, RN, AGCNS-BC, NEA-BC, NPD-BC; and guests Liz Cambier, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, and Mary Smith, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, NC-BC, AMB-BC, C-EFM, CCE, come together to celebrate Nursing Professional Development Week by sharing their personal journeys into the NPD role.

Together, they reflect on:

• What inspired them to pursue a career in nursing professional development.
• The challenges and lessons learned as they grow into the role.
• How embracing vulnerability, curiosity, and continuous learning shapes their practice.
• The pride they feel in supporting nurses and advancing the profession.
• Why NPD Week is a meaningful time to honor the impact of NPD practitioners everywhere.

In this episode of the NPD Forecast Podcast, Mandi Walker, DNP, RN, NPDA-BC, NEA-BC; Sarah Gibbons, PhD, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, NPD-BC, CPN; and Danyel Germain, DNP, RN, CHSE, join host Naomi Fox, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, CCRN, and special guest co-host Jesse Scapinello, MSN, RN, to explore how technology and leadership can empower nurses and transform practice.

Together, they discuss:

· Strategies for integrating technology at the point of care to support clinical decision-making.

· The role of nurse leaders in professional development, mentorship, and career growth.

· How involving nurses in product design and workflow changes improves adoption and outcomes.

· Innovative uses of VR, mobile apps, and embedded resources to enhance education and efficiency.

· The growing impact of AI on nursing practice, safety, and leadership in 2025 and beyond.

This podcast is sponsored by Elsevier.

Live from the ANPD Aspire Convention in Las Vegas, this special episode of the NPD Forecast discusses the roles of the nursing professional development practitioner: learning facilitator, change agent, mentor, leader, champion for scientific inquiry, advocate for NPD specialty, and partner for practice transitions.

Hosts Stephanie Zidek, PhD, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BC, NEA-BC, NPD-BC, and Naomi Fox, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, CCRN, speak with guests Shara Rhodes, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, MEDSURG-BC, NPDA-BC®; Jenny Harshman, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CPN; and Rachel Senefeld Kromer, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, NEA-BE, about how role clarity contributes to advancing the NPD profession, empowers the next generation of leaders, and more.

In this episode of the NPD Forecast Podcast, Charlie Hawknuff, MBA, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CEN, TCRN, NE-BC, NPD-BC, and Cecilia Lopez, MSN, RN, share their experience securing and implementing a grant from the American Nurses Association to support the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing.

Together with hosts Stephanie Zidek, PhD, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BC, NEA-BC, NPD-BC, and Naomi Fox, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, CCRN, they discuss:

• The meaning and impact of grants on achieving improved healthcare outcomes.
• The timeline, goals and challenges of creating the grant proposal.
• How they used their grant funding, including funding NPD specialists to deliver microlearnings.
• How grant writing aligns with NPD roles, especially Change Agent.
• Practical advice for NPD departments with limited grant writing experience or resources.

This podcast is sponsored by Post University.

Nursing professional development practitioners hold a wide range of degrees at the doctoral level, from EdD to PhD to DNP, but until now, none have specialized in NPD. The Ohio State University's new Doctor of Nursing Education program now offers an NPD track, the first of its kind in the U.S.

In today's episode of the NPD Forecast Podcast, learn the details of how this program was developed and what it can offer NPD practitioners. Tara Spalla King, PhD, RN, and Tara O'Brien, PhD, RN, CNE, directors of the program, talk with podcast hosts Dr. Stephanie Zidek and Dr. Naomi Fox about:

• The creation of the DNE program to address gaps in existing doctoral programs and prepare nurse educators for both academic and clinical settings.
• The structure of the DNE program, including its two tracks: Academic Nurse Educator and Nursing Professional Development.
• Examples of student projects that demonstrate the practical application of the DNE program in various healthcare settings.
• Advice for prospective students on the flexibility and benefits of the DNE program, including online delivery and part-time/full-time options.

Listen to the episode in this article or through your favorite podcast app.

In this episode of the NPD Forecast Podcast, Jose Arnold Tariga, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, NPD-BC, NE-BC, CPHQ, FFNMRCSI, an experienced internationally educated NPD practitioner, discusses how NPD practitioners can support internationally educated nurses (IENs) working in U.S. healthcare systems. Hosts Dr. Stephanie Zidek and Dr. Naomi Fox converse with him about his organization, InsightGlobal Health, whose program Grit Academy educates nurses prior to their journeys abroad.

Some of the topics they discuss include:

• Identifying and addressing potential differences in knowledge and skills related to U.S. healthcare practices, technology, and everyday life.
• Dr. Tariga's use of simulation technology to prepare IENs for U.S. healthcare systems.
• The value of structured mentorship programs in integrating internationally educated nurses.
• The importance of cultural competency among all nurses and preceptors to foster understanding and connection with IENs.
• How NPD practitioners can expand their reach and impact through strategic use of social media.

In this episode of the NPD Forecast podcast, in honor of both National Substance Use Prevention Month and National Recovery Month, hosts Stephanie Zidek, PhD, RN, AGCNS-BC, NEA-BC, NPD-BC, and Naomi Fox, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, CCRN, speak with Courtney Hickey, BSN, RN, CCRN. She shares her story of becoming a nurse, struggling with a substance use disorder (SUD), and now advocating for other nurses experiencing the same challenges she had.

At June's American Nurse Association (ANA) 2024 Membership Assembly in Washington, D.C., Courtney presented during a dialogue forum and submitted a policy proposal titled "Breaking Barriers to Nurse Workforce Well-being." These actions served to advocate for changes in the treatment of nurses with histories of substance use disorder in the workforce. This proposal is now an official policy through ANA.

In addition to sharing her story, Hickey shares her takeaways from her proposal presentation and provides guidance to NPD practitioners on supporting nurses experiencing SUDs.

Hickey encourages listeners to become involved with the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation, whose mission is to reduce burnout of health care professionals and safeguard their well-being and job satisfaction.

Stay tuned for an article from Hickey publishing to NPD in Motion that will share more advice for NPD practitioners on supporting nurses.