Real Experience. Real Passion. Real Impact: The Faces Behind Alliant Nursing
Published on: 02/09/2026 | 3 minute read
By: Elizabeth Quinn
Meet the faculty who’ve walked in your shoes and are dedicated to guiding your journey.
Ashley Kinder
Instructor
Years of nursing experience: 16
Favorite medical TV show: Grey’s Anatomy, seasons 1-10. After that, it got crazy.
When did you know nursing was the right profession for you? My dad was a Tempe firefighter, and he used to let me do ride-alongs with him in the ambulance when I was a kid. I saw him intubate a patient and save his life when I was about 12. That’s when I knew I had to do something in the healthcare field. Nursing seemed like a great fit because I wanted to spend time with people and have a real human connection. The first time I saw a baby being born, I was hooked.
What was your favorite clinical rotation when you were a student? I was dreading Labor and Delivery because I had never been around childbirth, and I thought it would be dramatic and gross. And it was… BUT it was also the most miraculous thing I had ever witnessed. Suddenly, the patients weren’t sick or scared; they were full of joy, pride, and true fulfillment. It was a privilege to witness.
Nicole Lynch
Associate Professor
Years of nursing experience: 29
Favorite medical TV show: The Pitt—finally, a show that feels realistic and truly highlights the essential role of nurses and other providers.
When did you know nursing was the right profession for you? In the early 90s, I remember caring for a 65-year-old patient undergoing gender reassignment surgery. She identified as female, and she and her wife were committed to continuing their 40-plus-year marriage. After assisting with her diabetes management and pre-operative preparation, her wife thanked me for the compassionate care I provided. It confirmed that nursing was the right path for me.
What was your favorite clinical rotation when you were a student? I ultimately found my home in Labor and Delivery, where the blend of operating room, emergency, medical–surgical care, and vaginal deliveries—along with the privilege of caring for women and children—aligned perfectly with the kind of nurse I aspired to be. Every day in that specialty allowed me to live out that commitment to compassionate, meaningful care.
Tina Orr
Assistant Professor
Years of nursing experience: 28
What was your favorite clinical rotation when you were a student? Medical Surgical. This is where I learned the foundation, and now it is my expertise. 😁
When did you know nursing was the right profession for you? I knew at around 10 years of age. I always desired to become an RN or teacher, and now I have the best of both professions.
Kelsey Scott
Instructor
Years of nursing experience: 14
Favorite medical TV show: Grey’s Anatomy for the drama. The Pitt for the medicine!
When did you know nursing was the right profession for you? When I watched the magic of a baby being brought into the world.
What was your favorite clinical rotation when you were a student? Maternal/Newborn. That’s where I fell in love with nursing. The magic of birth, combined with high acuity medical problems, is the perfect combination.
