Ignoring the odds, Kiwi nurses fool friend at first (9)
I believe the answer is:
initially
'at first' is the definition.
('initially' can be a synonym of 'at first')
'ignoring the odds kiwi nurses fool friend' is the wordplay.
'ignoring the odds' indicates alternate letters (letters in odd-numbered positions are removed).
'nurses' indicates putting letters inside.
'fool' becomes 'nit' (I've seen this before).
'friend' becomes 'ally' (I've seen this before).
The alternate letters of 'kiwi' are 'ii'.
'ii' enclosing 'nit' is 'initi'.
'initi'+'ally'='INITIALLY'
(Other definitions for initially that I've seen before include "At first" , "Firstly" , "In the beginning" , "To begin with" , "How laser, for example, was put together" .)