UCF Assistant Professor Named Among Nation’s Top Nurse Leaders

More than 5,000 nurse leaders gathered in Chicago last month for the American Organization for Nursing Leadership's annual conference, aimed at shaping the future of healthcare and recognizing those who are already driving it forward. Among them: Assistant Professor Joy Parchment '15PhD.

Parchment is one of just two nurse leaders in Florida - and the only one from a Florida university - inducted into the 2026 class of fellows. The distinction honors individuals who've made sustained contributions to nursing leadership and are influencing the future of healthcare.

With more than two decades in the field, including her recent role as corporate director of nursing strategy implementation at Orlando Health, Parchment has guided two hospitals to Magnet Recognition, an honor for quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovation in practice. She's actively mentored nurses and built systems that help them progress. At one multi-hospital health system, her framework supported 62% of clinical nurse leaders in advancing professionally.

Turning Mentorship Into Momentum

Since 2022, Parchment has mentored graduate students at UCF as an assistant professor in the College of Nursing, helping prepare future nurse leaders.

"In my career, I have learned that continual growth and lifelong learning are essential," she says. "As our profession continues to evolve, it is crucial that experienced leaders help guide the path forward, navigate new norms and provide support during times of change."

Filling the Gaps in Leadership Training

Her research - cited nearly 50 times in national and international journals and books - examines professional nursing practice and leadership science, including defining role-specific factors behind workplace bullying among nurse managers and its effects on those in these leadership positions.

One of her most notable contributions is an evidence-based manual for interim nurse managers that addresses a critical gap in leadership training. It equips managers with the skills and resources to lead in complex, demanding environments and has been downloaded nearly 200 times to date. The manual was recognized by the Association for Leadership Science in Nursing as an innovative solution to the nurse manager workforce crisis and adopted by a 357-bed hospital to support its nurse manager transition-to-practice program.

Advancing Nursing at the National Level

Beyond the classroom and research lab, Parchment's influence extends nationally. She serves as the academic commissioner for the American Nurses Credentialing Center Commission on Magnet Recognition and sits on The Nurses Legacy Institute board. She's also an active member of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and the Association of Leadership Science in Nursing, where she co-led three funded national research studies on nursing leadership and system science priorities within healthcare leadership.

"I will continue to advocate for the profession, advance nursing leadership [and] nurture future leaders …"

"It is an incredible honor to be recognized by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, an organization that has encouraged me to seize opportunities and use my voice to inspire transformation across levels of healthcare," she says. "I will continue to advocate for the profession, advance nursing leadership, nurture future leaders and empower them to excel in today's challenging healthcare landscape."

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