From Bedside to Bold Reformer
Keith Rischer, PhD, RN, CEN, spent over 25 years as an expert bedside nurse before stepping into the classroom as a novice educator.
MEET KEITH
What he experienced as a new nurse educator changed everything.
- Lengthy care plans with precisely worded 3-part NANDA statements
- Lectures packed with “infobesity”
- A culture focused on NCLEX, not practice readiness
So he took action.
Drawing from his current clinical practice, Keith integrated Tanner’s Clinical Judgment Model and Benner’s Educating Nurses research to create a new kind of case study:
- Grounded in clinical reasoning.
- Built with real-world relevance.
- Designed around open-ended thinking, not multiple choice, so students could safely practice decision-making.
That first case study launched KeithRN in 2012.
Today, Keith is a recognized thought leader in nursing education, author of the Think Like a Nurse workbook series, and creator of hundreds of clinical reasoning case studies in our Think Like a Nurse membership, a platform used by thousands of educators.
His core belief validated by educators, hasn’t changed:
When you put first things first, by teaching for practice readiness,
NCLEX success follows.
MEET MARIA
What began as a hesitant step into teaching evolved into a lifelong passion.
Over the past two decades, Maria has taught at every level, directed nursing programs, and consulted with schools nationwide. Her mission has always been clear:
Help overwhelmed faculty succeed.
With a background in med-surg and geriatric nursing, Maria brings a deeply relational lens to everything she does — along with a fierce commitment to preparing educators to lead with clarity and purpose.
As KeithRN’s Nurse Educator Consultant, she helps faculty move from survival mode to student-centered, clinically grounded teaching.
She specializes in:
- Active learning strategies backed by learning science
- Curriculum alignment that supports clinical judgment
- Practical support that meets educators where they are
Outside of work, Maria finds joy in travel, photography, and caring for her ever-growing family of four-legged companions.
Advocate for Nurse Educators
Maria Flores-Harris, DNP, RN, CNE, knows how challenging the transition from clinician to educator can be — because she has lived it.
OUR WHY
Restoring the Heart of Nursing Education
At KeithRN, we exist for one purpose:
To equip nurse educators to teach the way nurses actually practice.
While most vendors focus on helping students pass the NCLEX, we focus on helping you — the educator — prepare students for practice.
Because passing a test isn’t enough.
Graduates need professional identity, compassionate care, and the confidence to make safe decisions at the bedside.
Our tools aren’t just convenient.
They’re transformational — rooted in how students actually learn and think.
We help you:
- Teach clinical reasoning with clarity
- Save time with ready-to-use case studies
- Build confident, competent, practice-ready nurses
Today, thousands of educators trust KeithRN to close the academic-practice gap and return nursing education to its original purpose:
Forming nurses who deliver compassionate, patient-centered care.
Ready to Teach the Way Nurses Practice?
Join thousands of educators inside KeithRN resources who are transforming how they teach. Explore our time-saving tools that engage students and build confident, practice-ready nurses.
Explore Our SolutionsKeithRN for Good
It’s estimated that each year, 30,000 women and girls are trafficked across the border of Nepal to India. When you choose KeithRN, you become part of the solution.
Together, KeithRN and nurse educators are creating a safer world for women and children. We are proud to partner with Venture, a nonprofit providing anti-trafficking and women empowerment programs. A portion of your purchase directly supports their life-changing work.