Jodiey Bondurant

Jodiey Bondurant is the recipient of the Joan L. Conroy Scholarship.  Jodiey received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees from the University of Missouri – St. Louis and is currently attending the Doctor of Philosophy program at the University of Colorado – Anschutz. 

Jodiey’s career journey began by caring for people’s furry family members as a veterinary technician and pet sitter. Once starting nursing school, Jodiey looked for a job where she could help people in the community, which led to a Student Nurse Technician position in a high-acuity emergency department. Upon graduation, Jodiey accepted a staff nurse position in the float pool at a nearby children’s hospital. Being a bedside nurse was incredibly rewarding, and she was able to learn about many types of health conditions while caring for critically ill children and their caregivers. From there, Jodiey completed a nurse practitioner program focused on pediatric primary care and acute care. These programs furthered her ability to apply and integrate nursing knowledge to enhance the health of these vulnerable populations. 

The choice to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy degree at the University of Colorado – Anschutz was based on the University's specialty coursework focused on Healthcare Systems Research.  Jodiey dreamed of delivering collaborative and sustainable outcomes-focused research that would fulfill the unmet health care needs of underserved communities. The support provided by the school and her advisor has ensured a comprehensive education while individualizing her research trajectory. 

As an Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing at Oregon Health & Science University, Jodiey teaches graduate nurse practitioner students. She also continues to work clinically as a pediatric hospitalist caring for newborns. Jodiey recently served on a task force to further nurse practitioner education about emerging health threats to infants. Her volunteer work includes serving as a medical director for a non-profit pregnancy clinic in an underserved community. 

By obtaining a PhD, Jodiey hopes to use her new research skills to advance nursing knowledge and further practical clinical applications related to emergency care so that she will be able to identify and address healthcare system issues affecting vulnerable, underserved populations within the emergency department and beyond. 

Receiving the Joan L. Conroy Scholarship through NEF allows Jodiey to attend school with peace of mind knowing she is more financially secure. Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. and those who contribute to its endowment believe in supporting nurses and in furthering their education, which is of tremendous value to nursing and healthcare in general.  Jodiey is honored and incredibly grateful for the support provided by the Joan L. Conroy Scholarship.