The Gen Z Nurse - MacKenzie Simmons, BSN, RN

Frontline Nursing

Frontline Nursing
The Gen Z Nurse - MacKenzie Simmons, BSN, RN
Jul 29, 2026 Season 3 Episode 10
Hosted by Rayna Letourneau, PhD, RN

Love Frontline Nursing? Let us know

This episode features MacKenzie Simmons, BSN, RN, discussing the transition from nursing student to nurse, early career nurse turnover, and her message from Gen Z to seasoned nurses. 

MacKenzie Simmons, BSN, RN, is a cardiovascular intensive care (CVICU) nurse with two years of bedside nursing experience. She serves as the Early Career Director for the Florida Nurses Association (FNA) and is the Chair of the Clinical Practice Council (CPC) at UF Health Jacksonville. Passionate about nursing leadership, professional advocacy, and empowering the next generation of nurses, MacKenzie is committed to advancing the nursing profession through education and policy engagement. She will begin pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of Florida College of Nursing, where she plans to further her impact on patient care, leadership, and healthcare advocacy. 

Links 

Florida Nurses Association 

No One Tells You This podcast 

National Student Nurses' Association

Florida Center for Nursing 

Subscribe to FCN’s newsletter 

Find FCN on social media 

 

The Florida Center for Nursing

The Florida Center for Nursing is established to research and address issues of supply and demand for nursing, including issues of recruitment, retention, and utilization of nurse 

The vision of the Florida Center for Nursing is to ensure that the health care needs of the residents and visitors of Florida are met by a competent and sufficient nursing workforce.

The Florida Center for Nursing is proudly headquartered at the University of South Florida College of Nursing.

Episode Artwork The Gen Z Nurse - MacKenzie Simmons, BSN, RN 27:39 Episode Artwork Nursing Connections - Julianne Colle, DNP, RN 31:08 Episode Artwork Caring for All: From Abu Ghraib to FCN - Sharon Owen MBA, BSN, RN  28:11 Episode Artwork Applying Research to Make Change - Charrita Ernewein, PhD, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, SANE-A, FAANP 23:19 Episode Artwork Preparing Future Nurses - Cathleen Paton, DNP, RN, CCRN 41:15 Episode Artwork What is a State Nursing Workforce Center? - Patricia Moulton Burwell, PhD 23:48 Episode Artwork Nurses Supporting Nurses - Stephanie Philips, DNP, RN, CPPS 32:52 Episode Artwork Proud to Be a Nurse - Jill Van Der Like, DNP, MSN, RNC 33:56 Episode Artwork AI, Virtual Reality, and Nursing Education - Amber Santos, DNP, MBA, RN, CNE 31:40 Episode Artwork Advocate and Educate for Progress – Jayne Willis, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CENP 29:51 Episode Artwork Frontline Nursing: 2025 Year in Review 51:32 Episode Artwork Nurse Scientists: Nursing Beyond the Bedside - Danielle Altares Sarik, PhD, APRN, CPNP-PC, FAAN 41:35 Episode Artwork The Business Side of Health Care - Michael Ipock, MSN, APRN, AGPCNP-BC, FNP-BC 41:04 Episode Artwork All Nurses are Psychiatric Nurses - Tina Goodrow, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC 25:02 Episode Artwork Managing Pain with Care - John Maye, PhD, CRNA, CAPT (Ret) USN 36:14 Episode Artwork Standing Up for the Future of Nursing - Janice Adams, DNP, MPA, RN 32:03 Episode Artwork Why Nurses Make Good Leaders - Sherry Hoback, MBA, BSN, RN 35:51 Episode Artwork What is Leadership in Nursing? – Mamie Williams, PhD, MPH, MSN, APRN 37:09 Episode Artwork Not "Just" an LPN – Kim Cartwright, LPN, WCC, FADLN 33:57 Episode Artwork Preparing Nursing Students for the Real World - Cam Felismino, PhD, RN 34:34 Episode Artwork The Challenges of Becoming Nursing Faculty - Danni Viera, BSN, RN, CWCN 41:16 Episode Artwork Modeling Empathy: The Expert Nurse Witness – Debbie T. Devine, PhD, APRN, FNP, SANE-A 24:45 Episode Artwork Taking Nursing to the Streets – Shannon Shanks, DNP, APRN, NRP 26:12 Episode Artwork The Power of Bilingual Nurses - Mati Vizcaino, RN 30:57 Episode Artwork Disaster Nursing – Nancy Rudner, DrPH, APRN, RN 27:40