The Self Care Unit

This week, Shannon speaks with Colton Lord about his life as a nurse, advocate, and content creator. They discuss navigating transitions, the importance of community and support systems to take on burnout, and the complexities of finding purpose in nursing. Colton also shares his thoughts on the significance of storytelling in connecting with others, particularly as an advocate for LGBTQ+ representation and mental health awareness For more of Colton, check out Club Nurse and follow Colton on Instagram and Twitter @nursecolton.

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! We were thrilled to have Nurse Sibyl join us this week to discuss the importance of her cultural heritage in shaping her nursing journey — from the bedside to social media. We also talk about what representation means in healthcare and the challenges and rewards of being a nurse, particularly for those from immigrant backgrounds. Sibyl's passion absolutely shines in this conversation, so tune in!For listeners who just can’t get enough Sibyl, she is @sibs.rn on TikTok and @Nurse.Sibyl on Instagram. We hope everyone had a lovely Hispanic Heritage Month!

CW: This podcast contains discussions of mental health that may be sensitive to some listeners.This week, the conversation gets personal, as Micheline discusses her decision to start anxiety medication, specifically Lexapro. Micheline talks about her history with anxiety, her experiences having panic attacks, her initial reluctance to pursue medication, and what it has meant to share her journey and hear from others going through similar experiences on social media. Seeking help is always worth it!

This week, Carley and Micheline review The Pitt, Doctor Odyssey, and St. Denis Medical. All three TV shows portray healthcare and nursing, but how do they actually resonate with nurses? We discuss the ways they depict work at the bedside, laugh at some of the accuracies and inaccuracies, and discuss what makes each show good. The shows are very different from each other, but ultimately, we recommend all three for both medical and non-medical audiences!

CW: This podcast contains discussions of mental health that may be sensitive to some listeners. Suicide"I’m not a therapist, but I know you."September is National Suicide Prevention Month. We were honored to have Dr. Shairi Turner, Chief Health Officer at Crisis Text Line, to learn about their mental health support and crisis intervention services. We also discuss the importance of cultural competency and the ways to challenge stigmas and support each other. By leading with empathy, Crisis Text Line's staff and volunteers have created an invaluable resource. If listeners want to learn more about Crisis Text Line, you can visit CrisisTextLine.org. And if you ever need their support, you can text HOME to 741741. From anywhere across the US. It’s free, confidential, and 24/7.

This week, we learn more about Integrative Health from RN and Integrative Health Practitioner, Emily Gardner! Emily walks us through how balancing conventional and complementary methods can help tackle the root causes of the most stubborn chronic conditions, such as acne, gut issues, and/or hormonal problems. Our discussion focuses on the role of stress, gut health, what functional lab testing can reveal, and the realistic timelines for recovery in integrative health practices!Emily can be found at www.emintegrativewellness.com or @nurseacne on socials!

This week on The Self Care Unit, we dive into the 2025 State of the World's Nursing Report and discuss the challenges faced by the nursing profession. We cover the causes and impacts of staffing shortages, the gender dynamics of the profession, and what mental health support really looks like. What systemic changes are necessary in healthcare to build a brighter future?

This week, Sarah Lorenzini — Rapid Response nurse, host of the RapidResponseRN podcast, and nurse educator — talks with us about rapid response nursing and how to prepare yourself to succeed during emergencies. We discuss what makes her love nursing, how to develop the critical thinking and resilience you'll need in high-stress environments, and the role of intuition in patient care. For anyone who wants the confidence and skills to jump into action in emergencies, tune in!Sarah's an absolute well of knowledge and experience, so if you want to learn more, we highly encourage you to check out the RapidResponseRN courses and podcast!

This week, Micheline, and Carley delve into the world of books, relaying their personal journeys into reading, the influence of social media on reading habits, and why nurses read. They talk about when and why they're drawn to certain genres, how books can impact a nurse’s perspective of themself and their patients, and wrap things up with some solid book recommendations!Book Recs:Micheline: Project Hail Mary by Andy WeirAnything by Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, or Ashley PostonDaisy Darker: A Novel by Alice FeeneyCarley: The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ KluneThe City of Brass by S. A. ChakrabortyHidden Pictures by Jason RekulakJoe: Equal Rites by Terry PratchettCalvin and Hobbes

This week, The Self Care Unit explores the world of cold therapy with guest Aryan Davani, founder of IcePass, a community wellness club in LA. Focusing primarily on the mental health benefits of cold plunging, we get the details from Aryan on why this practice has exploded in popularity in recent years. Whether it's calming our minds, connecting with others, or overcoming our self-limiting beliefs, we learn all the benefits of cold therapy so you can take the plunge!

For this past Nurses Week, our goal was to showcase the nursing community by hearing from nurses directly. So for this episode of the Self Care Unit, nurses generously share their stories on the podcast, including what they love about the job, what motivates them, the challenges they face, and their hopes for the future. In the process, they give a personal insight into what is actually happening in the profession, the pride nurses take in their work, the many paths that a career in nursing can take, and the ways working as a nurse can change you as a person.

CW: This podcast may contain discussions of mental health that may be sensitive to listeners.This week, we are thrilled to have The Pitt’s Katherine LaNasa on the show!  Earning praise from healthcare workers for its accuracy and realism, The Pitt does not shy away from showing the everyday realities of life in the hospital. As Charge Nurse Dana, Katherine is a fan favorite, and she talks with us about the show's authenticity, the nuances she brought to her role, and how she portrays the emotional and physical demands of nursing. As with her work on screen, Katherine’s compassion absolutely shines in this conversation — she may have asked more questions than we did! So, on behalf of all the nurses who have loved watching Dana keep things moving, we are so grateful to Katherine for chatting with us!

CW: This podcast contains discussions of mental health that may be sensitive to listeners.On this week’s episode of The Self Care Unit Podcast, Micheline and Carley had the pleasure of chatting with @minaa_b . Minaa is a social worker, the author of Owning Our Struggles: A Path to Healing and Finding Community in a Broken World, and the founder of I’m So Mature ( @imsomaturemedia ), a media company that explores art and entertainment as forms of healthy escapism. Minaa helps people in areas like resilience, building relationships, and creating a community where well-being thrives. We covered some very tangible and important interventions we can use in our daily lives, especially when we’re going through difficult times.

CW: This podcast may contain discussions of mental health that may be sensitive to some listeners.This week, we tackle the complex issue of bullying within the nursing profession. Carley and Micheline share some personal experiences, discuss how bullying behavior emerges, and give listeners some strategies for handling workplace bullying in direct and indirect ways. What's clear is that we can all work together to create a more supportive profession, especially for new nurses and students!

CW: This podcast may contain discussions of mental health that may be sensitive to some listeners.This week, Sarah and Micheline explore the concept of wellness through a collective lens, emphasizing the importance of community and relationships in achieving overall well-being. We particularly compare this to the more individualized approaches that go viral on social media. We also highlight the importance of community support and peer networks and emphasize the need for education, empowerment, and safety nets outside traditional institutions. Finally, we touch on the role of storytelling in healing and share some ideas or practices we can all pursue to improve our collective wellness!The Yale piece that we reference can be found here For more on eudaemonia as Sarah mentioned, check out Andrew Soren’s work

CW: This podcast may contain discussions of mental health that may be sensitive to some listeners.This week, we discuss nurses getting “fired” by patients and how to build back your confidence! There are many reasons behind these firings, so we need compassion and understanding for ourselves and support fellow nurses facing similar challenges. We also address being fired from jobs or assignments by reading stories and discussing workplace dynamics that can lead to trouble. Nurses are human and make mistakes, but recovery from setbacks is possible!

CW: This podcast contains discussions of mental health that may be sensitive to some listeners.This week, in response to recent events, Carley and Shannon speak with licensed psychotherapist Sam Calvin about recognizing triggers that may emerge from work in healthcare. They explore how workplace experiences and social media can lead to emotional and physical reactions, and how to manage these triggers effectively. They also discuss the distinction between triggers and PTSD, and Sam provides practical strategies for coping with triggers and seeking professional help when necessary.

CW: This podcast may contain discussions of mental health that may be sensitive to some listeners.This week, we discuss the all too prevalent issue of self-doubt among nurses and how it often stems from the rigorous demands and high-pressure of healthcare. Micheline and Carley share their personal experiences and highlight the importance of self-compassion, asking for help, recognizing our personal strengths, and fostering a supportive environment. These feelings are normal, and we can help each other alleviate them!

April Waddell, the founder of NurseMoneyDate, is back to talk with us about financial boundaries! How do we set them? How can we build self-trust in our decisions? What is the significance of specific financial goals? April answers all these questions and more, offering practical tips, a real understanding of the psychology at play, and excellent resources! For more from April, she can be found @nursemoneydate on Instagram or on her website nursemoneydate.com

CW: This podcast may contain discussions of mental health that may be sensitive to some listeners. This week, Joe and Micheline talk about the pervasive issue of cynicism in healthcare. Micheline shares her personal experiences with cynicism and emphasizes the importance of hope and self-care. They also dive into practical strategies to combat cynicism, such as mindfulness, journaling, and the significance of community support. It is possible to break the cycle!