Kimberly Malbrough MSN, RN, NPD-BC
Kimberly Malbrough, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, is a dedicated healthcare professional with nearly 16 years of nursing experience and a passion for education and mentorship. Her journey in healthcare began as a pharmacy technician, where she gained early insights into pharmacology, and evolved through LVN and RN training, motivated in part by her personal experience caring for her premature son. Over the years, Kimberly has built a robust clinical background, working in rehabilitation, telemetry, and acute care settings, and serving as a charge nurse and patient navigator for underserved populations.
Currently, Kimberly serves as a Clinical Nurse Educator at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas, where she coordinates a nurse internship program for graduate nurses, guiding them from academic learning to clinical expertise across ER, ICU, telemetry, med-surg, and women's services. She also teaches ACLS, ASLS, BLS, and PALS courses through the American Heart Association, blending her clinical expertise with a focus on professional development. Her previous leadership experience includes a year as Director of Education at a long-term acute care hospital, where she led nursing education initiatives and completed her master’s degree in Nursing Education.
Beyond her professional work, Kimberly is pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, preparing for executive-level roles in healthcare. She integrates faith-driven service into her life, serving as a youth coordinator and women’s group teacher at her church, while also supporting family members as a long-distance caregiver. Kimberly’s approach to nursing emphasizes mentorship, clinical excellence, and compassion, reflecting her belief that nursing is a ministry dedicated to caring for others both in and out of the hospital setting.
• Certified Nursing Professional Developer
• Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
• Registered Nurse (RN)
• American Heart Association Instructor
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center- N.P.D.
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center- B.S.
• Lamar University- M.S.
• Lamar University- A.A.S.
• Lamar State College-Port Arthur
• DAISY Award
• ANA (American Nurses Association)
• TNA (Texas Nurses Association)
• TONL (Texas Organization for Nursing Leadership)
• ANPD (Association for Nursing Professional Development)
• Youth Coordinator at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church (coordinating about 150 children through 8 different ministries)
• Women's Group Teacher at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the Lord, who has given me the ability to push forward and pursue my education. I've gone from having a GED to now getting my doctorate of nursing. When I went to the ANA conference a couple weeks ago, I told people I want to encourage you - you're looking at a person who's going from a GED to a DNP. It can be done. I'm no different from anybody else. But what I know is that the Lord allowed things to happen in my life because He knows that I have a big mouth and that I would bring Him up. If I was ever able to talk and tell my story, the Lord always comes up. He's the reason why I'm where I am now. My son being born at 1 pound 13 ounces was part of that journey - the Lord needed me to leave my comfortable pharmacy tech job, and He knew I wouldn't have left unless this happened. I had said if I ever had kids, I would do anything for my children, and my children would never live the life that I did. The Lord allowed my son's premature birth to happen, knowing that he was going to recover and be okay, so that I would be pushed to pursue nursing. It's not by my power, because I have none. The Lord wanted me to do this so I can be a loudmouth and tell everybody it was Him.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is that you can have a successful and rewarding career regardless of your background, while still inspiring and serving others along the way.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering nursing is to never give up and keep pushing forward—pursue your education no matter where you start, seek out mentorship, and embrace teaching and service. Even nontraditional paths can lead to advanced degrees and leadership opportunities.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Being in a nursing doctorate program while working full-time is one of the biggest challenges. The work itself is not hard, it's just time consuming. This DNP program is stretching me more than anything. I mean, there's a lot I love about my career, but this DNP program is stretching me more than I ever thought that I could be stretched. I'm learning a lot of new skills and the networking opportunities and meeting new people that are doing extraordinary things that I did not know was happening. I'm kind of from a smaller area, so this DNP program is probably the most gratifying thing that I've done so far.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important value to me is my faith in God and using my story to inspire others. I always tell the nurses that nursing is a ministry - God has placed us in these areas so we can lay hands on people that need an actual touch. Without having good health, you can't have good mental health, you can't work, you can't teach other people. Your whole world just stops. I'm also committed to teaching and mentoring, whether it's with new nurses, the 150 children at my church where I serve as youth coordinator, or the women's group where I teach 3 or 4 times a year. I pray with the nurses every time we have class on Mondays. I also believe in serving others and being a caregiver - I serve as a long-distance caregiver to my sister and stepmom who both have cancer, helping them understand their medications and treatments in lay terms. My commitment to my family is also central - I started my whole nursing journey because of my premature son, and I made a promise to God that if I was ever a mother again, I would be the best mother and do anything for my children.