Adam Francis

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

I pursued a graduate degree because I believe growth as a leader requires continuous learning. I wanted to challenge myself, expand my perspective, and gain the skills to make a greater impact on nursing practice and patient outcomes. Most importantly, I hope to use what I learn to empower nurses and help shape the future of healthcare.

Importance and/or impact of research and work

Throughout my career, I have been involved in projects focused on fall prevention, patient safety, workforce development, early intervention, and the use of technology to improve nursing practice. I am especially interested in research that bridges the gap between evidence and clinical practice while improving outcomes for both patients and nurses. Ultimately, I want my research to produce practical changes that nurses can see, use, and benefit from at the bedside.

Career aspirations

My goal is to continue growing as a nursing leader while creating meaningful opportunities for others to grow alongside me. I want my career to be defined not simply by the positions I hold, but by the nurses I develop, the patients we impact, and the positive change I leave behind.

Who has been influential in your graduate journey?

My mom has been one of the greatest influences on who I am and the person and leader I continue to strive to become. She taught me the importance of hard work, perseverance, caring for others, and never becoming complacent with where I am. Those lessons are at the heart of my “why” and are the same message I share with new graduate nurses . Pursuing my graduate degree is more than an academic accomplishment for me; it is about honoring where I came from, continuing to grow, and using that growth to develop nurses, improve the lives of our patients and families, and leave nursing better than I found it.

Advice for anyone considering graduate school

Start with your why and trust yourself. There will never be a perfect time to go back to school, especially when balancing a career, family, and other responsibilities. Take it one step at a time, surround yourself with people who support you, and remember why you started.

Accomplishments during graduate career

“A Day in the Life: Physical Rehabilitation Nurse”, Daily Nurse, The Pulse of Nursing, 2023.

“Enhancing Patient Experience and Boosting Recovery”, Healthcare Business Review, 2021.

“Male Nurses on Why They Value Their Chief Nursing Officer,” Becker’s Hospital Review: Leadership & Management, 2020.

American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association “Scaling Leadership for a Growing Future: A Blueprint for Nurse Leader Development and Retention in Rehabilitation Care,” 2026

Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, podium presentation on Early Intervention, 2025

CNO Congress, “Empowering Connections: Strengthening Clinical Presence for Improved Patient Access,” 2024

Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, “The Rise of Nursing Leadership: Paving the Way for Excellence in Rehabilitative Nursing,” 2023

Florida State Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, presentations on rehabilitation nursing leadership, transplant care, strategic planning, and emerging nurse leadership, 2022–2024

Developed the Rising Leadership Series and Nursing Leadership Succession Series to support development of future nursing leaders

Association of Rehabilitation Nurses Leadership Award (2026)

Great 100 Nurses of North Florida (2016)

Crowdsourcing Funding Award for Wound Staging/AI Innovation (2023)

Organizations you are part of at FSU

I sit on several Nursing Advisory Boards in North Florida and chair the Excellence in Nursing Awards for North East FL

Hobbies outside academics

Spending time with my wife and children, scuba diving, volunteering in adaptive sports and watching football while smoking meat.