Still A Nurse

Episode 48Welcome SaN listeners to the year 2023! Our guest this week is here to encourage any out there who long to be a nurse, but are not sure if they have missed that train. Mindy is a wonderful woman who knew from a young age that nursing would one day be her thing. Life sometimes has a way of sending our plans off course however, and her time for nursing was pushed back. Working first as a dental assistant, then enjoying time as a stay at home mother, she did not begin Nursing school until her kids were all in school and she was 45. Achieving your goals can sometimes take longer than anticipated, and that is not necessarily a bad thing. Mindy's experiences as a dental assistant, and mom all helped her become a more excellent nurse. Her advice to others? Try! Don't give up on your nursing dreams even if they are late in coming! It is better to try nursing than to live with regret for letting the opportunity slip by. Take a listen and be inspired!

Episode 47My guest this week is an incredible woman who started in obstetrics and discovered a passion for nurse leadership and desire to learn more. After earning her MBA she found she had a unique skill set to fix a problem she found while working as a nurse director. The financial reports continuously showed the need for fewer nurses in her units, when her experience working in those areas, and the nurses she was over, told her the exact opposite. Tune in to hear how Heidi is using her natural grit to disrupt hospital reporting to show the actual nurse staffing needs in the obstetrical realm. Join along as Heidi shares with us her fascinating journey into and through the nursing world, and how she is using her experiences to create solutions to a big problem.Show Notes:Website - Parity Healthcare Analytics - Company websiteLinkedIn - Parity Healthcare Analytics - Company LinkedIn PageHeidi E. Morin, RN, MSN, MBA, FABC | LinkedIn - Heidi's LinkedIn PagePARITY DEMO - Link to request Parity Product Demo for Perinatal Nurse LeadersChallenging the Status Quo to Innovate the Future of Nurse Productivity and Benchmarking - Heidi E. Morin - AWHONN Convention Podium Presentation Publication in JOGNN (2020)Development of a Staffing Activity Tool That Works - Heidi E. Morin - AWHONN Convention Poster Publication in JOGNN (2017)

Episode 46Are you searching for an adventure but not sure how to make that work with your nursing career? Travel nursing could be the answer for you! While my guest this week is not a nurse, she is currently the president of RN network, a travel nurse staffing agency that staffs all across the US. With 24 years of experience in this field, Lynne Grosse shares what RN network can offer you and your nursing career. From more flexibility, the opportunity to travel and explore, great benefits, competitive pay, and a fantastic network of support from the company, it seems RN network has it all! Show Notes:https://rnnetwork.com/about-rnnetwork/ To learn more about RN network and connect with one of their recruiters, click here.https://www.linkedin.com/company/rn-network/ To hear some nurse stories and follow RN network on LinkedIn, click here.https://chghealthcare.com/ RN network is under a parent company called CHG Healthcare. Click the link above to learn more about them.

Episode 45*I apologize for my bad sound in this episode. I had technical difficulties and had to use the mic that would work at the moment. Unfortunately it was the laptop mic. My guest however has fabulous sound, so I know you will enjoy listening to him.*If you are a creative thinker, have an entrepreneurial spirit, and like solving problems you see in nursing, then this episode is DEFINITELY for you! My guest this week, Zach, worked at the bedside for 6+ years before taking his nursing knowledge to uncharted waters. He shares why he chose nursing over advertising in college, how he taught himself marketing skills, those skills and his nursing experience to help start successful businesses all aimed at helping nurses. So how does nursing translate into the marketing world? Tune in to find out for yourself!Show Notes:https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-smith-bsn-rn-a781bb30/ To connect with Zach Smith on LinkedIn, click the link above.https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6983912076272427008/ Click here to check out this cool commercial Zach wrote and assistant directed for nursing shoes.https://nursegrid.com/ Click here to check out the nurse Grid calendar app Zach helped launch.

Episode 44We all have areas of nursing that we hope to work in someday. Some of us achieve those dreams and never want to leave. Others work tirelessly, get the job of their dream only to find out that unit is more like a nightmare and leave discouraged. Today's guest falls into another group. Those who fully expect to end up in one area of nursing only to find their true passion somewhere unexpected. Keeley was determined to become a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) until she did her preceptorship in the NICU and fell in love with the work and the patients there. Our nursing dreams do not always turn out the way we plan them, sometimes they turn out better, as is the case for Keeley. Her love of the NICU is clear to hear in her voice as she shares the joyful, and the difficult experiences that come from working in the NICU, and how she has learned to balance her emotions with the situations work throws her way.  Tune in to have your questions about life as a NICU nurse answered!

Episode 43I am not really sure how this season of Still a Nurse ended up with so many L&D nurses, but I am certainly not complaining.  I love hearing all your Labor and Delivery experiences and seeing where they take you in the wonderful world of nursing! Each nurse has shared a unique perspective and insights from their experiences in this realm of nursing that are valuable to our listeners. This weeks episode is certainly no different. Tara, my guest this week on SaN, had a longer and more challenging path into nursing than some, but she eventually found her home base caring for laboring women.  Nursing as a career is a physically and emotionally demanding one, and occasionally brings danger. Just take a listen to Tara's amusing and bizarre stories to see what I mean.   Her stories are something else! Show Notes:https://nursing.post.edu/programs/doctor-of-nursing-practice/ To learn more about the undergraduate and online graduate programs Post has to offer, click here.

I LOVE talking with nurses! Each one has a unique story, career path, and experiences that have taught me so much since starting this podcast. My guest today, Karen Furr is no exception! One question I ask all my guests is why nursing? Of all the careers out there in the world you could have chosen, why this one? Karen's answer is a bit surprising, and I am glad she answered so openly and honestly. (you will have to listen to get the story)Like many RNs, Karen has dealt with surprising setbacks and challenges in life. During those times she was glad to find that nursing is versatile enough to adapt to her needs in various stages of life. However, one of these setbacks opened her eyes to the very real difficulty of burnout. Not only did this remarkable nurse find her own way through burnout to resiliency, but has made it her mission to help others as well.Take a listen to see what tips Karen has to help YOU on your path to becoming a resilient nurse!Show Notes:https://www.rnproject.org/ Karen's website for the Resilient Nurse Project. If you are looking for a helpful resource to overcome burnout and become a resilient individual, click the link.https://paperravenbooks.com/theresilientnursebook Here is a link to check out Karen's book.https://resilientnursebox.com/ CODE: STILL  This is a link to buy Karen's book with a discount code. Don't miss out on this discount!To find/follow Karen on social media, you can find her on Facebook and Instagram under the name  @theresilientnurseproject

Episode 41Welcome back Still a Nurse fans!Today's episode highlights once again, just how versatile the nursing profession can be. My guest Benny, an NP, shares with us how and why he chose to dive into nursing, how he has created a career schedule that allows him to live the life he loves, gives incredible advice to nursing students who may be struggling, and shares a great story of a run away patient. Tune in to hear Benny's wonderful words of wisdom, details to his funny story, and learn from his experiences in the fabulous world of nursing!Show Notes:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bengt-c-lock-fnp-c-144573198 to connect with Benny on LinkedIn, click here.

Episode 40Howdy there Still a Nurse fans, and thanks for tuning in to this weeks episode!My guest this week was actually a professor of mine back in nursing school and a darn good one too!Now, have any of you wondered what that PhD does in the world of nursing? I am pleased to be able to share the answer to that with you all today. Francine does an excellent job in breaking down the why's of getting this advanced nursing degree and even explains what you can do with one as well. She makes a compelling argument for why the nursing field needs more individuals with this credential to really impact nursing as a whole.  Tune in to hear the unique and little known niche of nursing that she is working to improve for a needy population.  Francine is a marvelous teacher and you will be amazed at all you will learn in this episode! PLUS along the way she also shares an embarrassing mix up that you will not want to miss! Show Notes:-https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/nih-almanac/national-center-complementary-integrative-health-nccih#:~:text=October%201998%20%E2%80%94%20The%20National%20Center,105%2D277 Early on in the episode Fran and I discuss how the medical field seems to be integrating traditional medicine and complimentary and integrative medicine. This is a study Fran found to demonstrate this progress.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2946124/#:~:text=Yale%20joined%20the%20Consortium%20of,clinical%20practice%2C%20in%20November%202006 This is another article that Fran found to show how Yale has joined a consortium of complimentary and integrative medicine.

Episode 38Hello SaN listeners! Welcome to the first episode of SEASON 4!It has been such an awesome experience hosting this show and getting acquainted with so many amazing nurses! I am really looking forward to sharing this new batch of experiences, stories, laughs, grimaces, encouragement, and inspiration with you all. All of my guests have wonderful and insightful experiences to share with all of us and I know that I have personally learned and grown a ton throughout this process, and I hope you all have as well!Kicking off this new season we are keeping it very real with night shift Labor and Delivery veteran, nurse Anna. She truly has an amazing message to share with nurses in all areas of care, and some great stories of heartache and growth as well. Tune in to this episode to hear how Anna gets real and dives into the good, the hard, and the necessity of having co-workers you can rely on in nursing. Stay tuned in to the last few minutes to hear a fun and surprising fact about Anna and how she has managed to balance family, night shifts, and personal time for so long.Want to hear your nursing stories featured on the Still a Nurse podcast? Let me know at soelberg90@gmail.com. I would LOVE to hear from you!

Huge shout out to all you marvelous listeners out there for getting Still a Nurse podcast to over 2,500 Downloads! Whoooot! I am so grateful to all of you out there, whether you have just discovered this show or are long time listeners. I have learned SO much on this journey and have truly LOVED getting to chat with and meet so  many fabulous nurses from across a large spectrum in the nursing field. I hope you have enjoyed learning more about what nursing has to offer alongside me! This is NOT the end of Still a Nurse podcast! Season 4 will be coming in a few months so stay tuned! I am currently in my "gathering" phase and seeking more interesting nursing stories to share with you all. With that being said PLEASE contact me! I would love to connect, hear your stories and share them with everyone. You can contact me on Instagram at @still.a.nurseor via email at soelberg90@gmail.com.

Episode 36So you have been in your area of nursing for 20+ years. You are an expert in your specialty and have seniority. And, you are getting bored. It happens. But, as my guest this week shows so well, that do NOT mean you need to leave nursing to find something new to interest or challenge you! Julie is a veteran, pro, superhero, take your pic, in the Labor and Delivery/nursery area. She earned her stripes, went back to school even to get into those management roles and absolutely LOVED being and L&D nurse. But rather than finish out her career where she started, she decided to take a step into the unknown and came to appreciate just how versatile and exciting nursing really is. Tune in to hear funny and touching stories, and all the details of her journey to see where nursing has taken her since stepping out of her L&D shoes!

Epsiode 35Hello Still a Nurse Listeners! Thanks for hanging in there with me for a bit while life got crazy.I am so happy I had a minute with the laptop to bring you a new episode!Burnout. It can happen no matter which area of nursing you are in. So, what does it look like and what can you do to keep it from stripping you of your nursing desires and aspirations? My guest this week, Emily Mazurak, draws upon her own personal experience with burnout and shares exactly how she managed to turn things around and come back as a stronger and more capable nurse. Listen to the end to learn more about the Fill Up Your Cup Project  and how she may be able to help you through your own burnout struggles. Links: http://fillupyourcupproject.com  Click here to explore the Fill Up Your Cup websiteFollow Emily on Instagram @emily.mazurak

Hey Still a Nurse crew!Sorry for the silence on my part here. Life throws some crazy things at us right? Never fear though! More episodes ARE forthcoming in the next few weeks! Once I get my family all settled and cozy in our new home and have access once again to all my podcast gear, I will be back at it and have more nursing stories to share. Coming up in the next few episodes you will hear about life coaching in the realm of nursing and how that can help with burn out. And you will get to hear great stories from a veteran women's health nurse.  So be patient with me a little longer and I will get those up just as soon as I can!

Episode 34This week we have the opportunity to dive into the chaos and stress that was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in a California hospital system. I know, I know, we are all sick if hearing about this darn pandemic. However, I found my discussion with nurse Rylee to be very eye opening. While her nursing career has only been going for 3 years, I have to say she is a true veteran of nursing after everything she experienced in the height of the COVID outbreak. Like so many nurses, she felt burnt out and uncertain about her nursing future.  Upon moving back to Utah from California she heard about a new and very different work situation that would allow for more flexibility. Take a listen to hear about her difficult experiences, amusing stories, and her work situation now, and where Nursa fits in. If you have nursing stories you would like to share, email me at soelberg90@gmail.com!If you are a fan of the show, please share it with your nursing friends, and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts.Links:https://nursa.com/ click here to learn more about Nursa.https://www.uvu.edu/nursing/ Click here to explore the UVU nursing programs.

Episode 33It should be no surprise by now to hear that I LOVE talking to nurses. I learn so much from each nurse I have the privilege to speak to  whether they are fresh out of school or 30+ years under their belts. Today's guest is no exception. With 35 years of nursing experience, Sandra Albrecht of Ontario Canada, has a wealth of knowledge to share with all of us!  Her experiences have an amazingly wide range as well from ICU, and obstetrics, to Charge nurse, ER, and middle management, all the way up to senior management over part of the operations of a hospital. Sandra is a perfect example in where nursing can take you! From the adrenaline rush and stress of an ER and now to healthcare outside of the hospital with digital health, Legal Nurse experience, and more! So get comfortable and take a listen. With so much to learn, you will be happy you took the time for this episode!Links:http://www.nursingthesoul.info/ Click here to learn more about what Sandra does as a life coach and see if she could be a good resource for you.sandra.albrecht@nursingthesoul.info Contact Sandra here is you want to know more about her life coaching.https://www.instagram.com/nursingthesoul_coaching/ Click here to follow Sandra on Instagram

Episode # 32Nursing is such a fascinating career. No matter how many nurses I get to talk with, I always learn something new and interesting. Todays episode is no different. Meet todays guest, Alexa Davidson, MSN, RN and learn from her experiences and expertise in the realm of Pediatric Cardiac ICU. She demonstrates perfectly how nursing can literally take you from coast to coast as she became a travel nurse in the U.S.  Alexa shares what a shift is really like working in the PICU, the perks of travel nursing, and which qualities set you up for success in these roles. It is no surprise that being in a high stress role such as PICU leads many nurses to burn out. Alexa shares her own personal story with this and how she decided to handle the situation and what she is up to now. You do not want to miss the fantastic stories from Alexa's career that will have you laughing, and remind you how awesome nursing truly is. Take a listen and enjoy!If you like what you hear in this episode, tell your friends about us! And please  consider rating our show where ever you listen to podcasts. Thanks!-Tristan   Still a NurseLinks:https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexadavidsonrn/ Click here to find Alexa on LinkedInhttps://www.thearticulatern.com/ Click here to learn more about Alexa's start up.https://www.instagram.com/articulate_rn/ Click here to find Alexa on Instagramhttps://nursekeith.com/ Click here to learn more about the mentor that helped Alexa find her new path in nursing, Nurse Keith.https://savvynursewriter.com/dashboard/ Click here to learn more about the nurse writing course Alexa took from Janine Kelbach

Episode 30Student debt is so prevalent in America today and it is a terrible burden. My episode today strays from the norm as my guest is not a nurse, but a writer for the Wall Street Journal. Rebecca Ballhaus goes into great detail about an article she and her co-author, Rebecca Smith, wrote for the Wall Street Journal about a federal program to help ease the burden of student debt for healthcare professionals. Tune in and learn from Rebecca what this program is called, how it strives to help healthcare professionals, and how it is financially ruining others. Though the full article highlights professionals of various backgrounds, Rebecca and I focus only on the nurses. Check out the links at the bottom if you want to read the full article. Links:https://www.wsj.com/articles/program-to-cut-healthcare-providers-student-debt-sticks-some-with-even-more-11644421910?page=1 Click here to find the article discussed in this episode.https://www.wsj.com/news/author/rebecca-ballhaus Click here to find more articles by Rebecca Ballhaushttps://nhsc.hrsa.gov/ Click here to learn more about the National Health Service Corps

Episode 29I am constantly amazed by what nurses are able to accomplish when they find something they are passionate about. Whether that be working in one specific of nursing for decades, switching to new areas of nursing to broaden their knowledge and abilities, returning to school for further education, or starting a new business within nursing. I have learned that nursing has great variety to be uncovered, and that nurses themselves are a powerful force to be reckoned with. My guest today, Judy, a nurse in Hawaii, is one such individual. While working full time and progressing in her Masters of Nursing program she rediscovered her love of writing. After working for 15 years as a nurse, she decided she is ready to try something new in nursing, something "Fun".  Tune in to learn how she is working to turn this rekindled passion into a side hustle. And perhaps you will find the inspiration you need to turn your skills, talents, or hobbies, into a side hustle of your own!Show Links:judy-campbell.com to learn more about Judy and her freelance writing go to this website. You can find and connect with Judy on Instagram at @nurse.and.writer linkedin.com/in/judycampbellrn -Find Judy on LinkedInCommission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC) (ccmcertification.org) Click here to learn more about case management certification.

Nursing is a labor of love. Love for the patients we care for, love for the profession and skills, love for the ability to truly help people when they are in desperate need. But what do you do when your own health declines and prevents you from being the best nurse you can be?  What if bedside nursing is no longer an option? When the very career you are so passionate about seems to be closed to you, do you give up? Or do you find another way to still be a nurse? Our guest this week is Ashley Hay of Ahaynursing, did the latter and found her way onto a new and little known path of nursing, that of nurse writing.Take a listen as Ashley shares her journey into nursing and how she overcame challenging roadblocks to pivot into nurse entrepreneurship as a writer. If you are like me and had no clue this was even an avenue for nurses, you're in for a treat with this episode! Show Notes:Desired from an early age to become a pediatric nurse in oncology.Ashely admits that her nursing path was "not a straight line".She started off trying out her state college in New Jersey and hated that experience. She was there one semester and dropped out.Instead did her own research and found a small local nursing school and found that a much better fit, and really hit her stride.While she absolutely loved her roles as a bedside/floor nurse, her health eventually prevented her from continuing in that work. First job was in adult oncology at a big hospital in New York.oncology is an area of nursing that often leads to burn out. Ashley was able to beat this by changing jobs within oncology. changing from adults to peds for example.Ashley had the difficult realization that her health was making it so she was not the nurse she would have wanted at her bedside. Her husband helped encourage her to find a different avenue in nursing that would not have such a negative impact on her own health. Stumbled upon nurse writing, found a few fantastic mentors to help her get started.Ashley shares tips on how to get into the medical/nurse writing path.5 years ago started her own freelance writing and clinical consulting business.Her advice: "Just be patient" it takes time for your business to get going, but there are others there to help you out.Links:https://allnurses.com/ Ashley suggests starting here if you are interested in becoming a nurse writer. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahaynursing/ To find Ashley Hay on Linkedin, click here.https://ahaynursing.com/ To learn more about Ashley and her writing business, check out her website here.https://ahaynursing.contently.com/ Ashley was willing to share her writing portfolio to help you get ideas on what you can write about as a medical/nurse writer.https://stillanurse.co/ check out our new and evolving website here.