In this powerful episode, we explore how a federally funded initiative is shaping the future of healthcare across rural Oklahoma. Joining us are Dr. Susan Dresser, Regents Professor and Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist at the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing, OUHS, and three exceptional DNP students: Cody Bynum, Meagan Wright, and Debra Hawkins—each a recipient of the Oklahoma Workforce Innovations in Nursing grant, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

The grant, awarded in 2023, is a $2.5 million initiative designed to increase access to quality healthcare by preparing Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to serve rural, tribal, and medically underserved communities. The grant supports tuition, clinical placements, interprofessional education, and training rooted in cultural humility and healthcare access.

Together, our guests share:

• Their deeply personal journeys into nursing—from military service and rural ICU caregiving to a lifelong dream reignited after raising families.
• The barriers to healthcare in Oklahoma, including provider shortages, chronic disease, and poverty.
• How Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) bring evidence-based practice to the bedside and improve care at the systems level.
• The impact of immersive clinical training experiences in correctional health, homeless shelters, and Native communities.
• Why telehealth, policy change, and interprofessional collaboration are essential for expanding care in hard-to-reach places.

This conversation offers an honest, inspiring look into how Oklahoma nurses are meeting patients where they are—and how the HRSA grant is helping build a workforce ready to lead, serve, and innovate across the state.