Nirla Gomes Guedes

Dr. Nirla Gomes Guedes was inspired to pursue a career in nursing research by her sister, who is also a nurse. "Seeing my sister's passion for the profession deeply encouraged me," she said.

An Adjunct Professor at the Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Brazil, Dr. Gomes Guedes joined Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing as an Affiliate Postdoctoral Fellow in May 2024. Mentored within the program by Dr. Howard Butcher, professor and director of the Ph.D. in Nursing Program, she is expected to finish in May 2025.

Her main research area includes nursing technology in health promotion with an emphasis on standardized nursing terminologies. At Florida Atlantic University, she is working with Dr. Butcher on the integration between nursing theories and nursing taxonomies to care promotion.

Dr. Gomes Guedes noted her post-doctoral program is supported by funding from Ceará State Foundation for the Support of Scientific and Technological Development (FUNCAP), an agency under the Secretary of Science, Technology and Higher Education of the Government of Ceará State, Brazil.

“The postdoc is offering me the opportunity to deepen my knowledge about caring science and nursing theories and their interrelation with standardized nursing languages,” she stated, adding that contributing to nursing science through research in this area is extremely rewarding to her.

“I aim to give back to the Brazilian community by sharing the knowledge I gained during my post-doctorate, continuing my teaching career, and maintaining collaborations with other leading researchers in the field,” Dr. Gomes Guedes remarked.

Dr. Gomes Guedes received her Master of Science (2009) and Ph.D. in Nursing (2011) at the Federal University of Ceara and in 2013 got a Specialization in Health Education for Brazilian Health Unified System’s Preceptors at the School of Public Health, Fortaleza, Brazil.

During her academic training, she was mentored by Professor Marcos Lopes, her supervisor for the master's degree and Ph.D. Today, he is her colleague at the Federal University of Ceará. “His emotional wisdom, simplicity, patience, competence and intelligence inspired me,” Dr. Gomes Guedes shared.