In this episode, Shermel gives us insight into her journey as a staff nurse to nurse faculty and what she is doing to support her students. Shermel Edwards-Maddox, MSN, RN, CNE, RN-BC, currently serves as a Professor of Practice at the University of Houston in the College of Nursing and a relief charge nurse on a medical-surgical unit at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.  In her current role, she is responsible for ongoing curriculum development and evaluation, classroom and clinical instruction in the undergraduate nursing program using on-site, simulation, online, and distance education strategies. Previously, she was a clinical nurse educator for a medical-surgical unit and oversaw the training and development of newly hired and new graduate nurses, and lead and supported performance improvement and evidence-based practice projects throughout the hospital. She has worked as a medical-surgical nurse for over nine years and has 14 years of experience in education working in both K-12 and higher education.

During this episode, James offers his perspective as a male nurse leader. In addition, he helps us understand how mentors are crucial to reaching nurse career goals. James began his career as a Certified Nursing Assistant and is currently a Nurse Manager on a Medical Telemetry Unit. 

In this episode, Commander Payton sheds light on faith, creating a healthy work-life balance and incorporating lifelong learning into a nursing career.  Tanya Cherii Payton is a Master’s prepared Registered Nurse with over 30 years of experience in the health care industry and 19 years of experience in the United States Navy (USN) Nurse Corps. She received her undergraduate degree in nursing from William Carey College and her Master’s degree from Loyola University. She is a Commander in the USN. She has held several positions in both careers.Tanya C. Payton career highlights include Dialysis, Medical-Surgical (Charge Nurse), Operating Room Level 1 Trauma (Charge Nurse), Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit (Charge Nurse), Post-Anesthetic Care Unit (Charge Nurse), and Utilization Review Nurse. USN: Clinic Division Officer, Nurse Corps Liaison, Officer-in-Charge Intensive Care Unit Northern Lights Global Medic, Healthcare Clinical Governance Unit Coordinator in Afghanistan, and Senior Nurse Leader.Achievements: In 2011, she received a Navy Achievement Medal for her tour in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2019, recognized in the state of Louisiana as Great 100 nurse out of 6,000 nurses. Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Graduate of Leadership Development Institute, and the Improvement Advisor Academy from Veterans Health Administration (VHA).Currently, Nurse Payton is practicing as an RN Lean Healthcare Facilitator in Systems Redesign and is the Improvement Advisor for her facility. In addition, she serves on the nursing guild at her church and volunteers for health fairs in her community. She is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Association of the United States Navy, and the Navy Nurse Corps Association.