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Wow, can you believe it's my 100th episode already? Before I dive into the details of this episode, I want to express my gratitude to you, the listeners! You listen from around the world, from Germany, the UK, the Philippines, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and many more, and of course to the many of you in the United States. Thank you for listening, sharing my work, sending emails, commenting, reviewing, rating, and engaging on social media. I do not take your dedication lightly.
Next, I’m grateful for my amazing guests. I’ve talked with nurses, social workers, physicians, educators, and more. It's been a joy to learn from them as they share their experiences and insights.
My podcasting journey started the last year before retirement. I had not been an avid podcast fan until then and found this medium fascinating. A whole new world opened up to me as a listener. I fell in love with some great podcasts, some nursing, some comedy, some educational and some were just wacky, but that's okay because it takes all kinds of people to make the world go round and I consider myself blessed to be one of those people who have contributed to this space.
Now, about this 100th episode. A few months ago my brother Chris approached me and said what are you going to do for your 100th episode? He suggested that I have someone interview me. You may remember Chris was my guest for episode three of this podcast. He shared what he does as a nurse researcher and I had a ball interviewing him. There are not many people who have my utmost respect but Chris is one of those people so I turned it around on him and said, "Why don't you interview me?"
This is where it gets funny. He suggested we meet so I could tell him what questions to ask me. I said, "That's not how it works! You've got to come up with your own questions." I told him nothing was off limits, he could ask whatever he wanted. So he and Chat GPT formulated an interview and on an early July morning, we met in my recording closet and had a fun and candid discussion. I hope you love it as much as I’ve loved bringing this podcast to you. For Chris' bio and book recommendations, visit my website (link below).
Episode 3: Nurse Researcher, Dr. Chris Patty
Wine Knows Travel website
Dr. Donna Lamb, DHSc, MBA, BSN created the Match Program for physician residents
Sue Kinnick, Nurse,

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"Life is a journey, not a destination." This quote perfectly describes the path of my guest this week, Kim Kish, a surgical oncology nurse practitioner.
Kim's journey started as a lab research associate where she learned valuable skills and even got published. From there, she moved into cardiovascular circulatory support, where she found herself observing nurses, doctors, and patients. She was again picking up crucial work and life skills that would prepare her for her next career in business.
Wait, what? I thought we were moving in the direction of nursing. Yes, but we are enjoying the journey. In her role as a business process design specialist, Kim discovered the joys of traveling, high pay, and process management. But something kept tugging at her, urging her to go around the next bend and discover nursing. So at age 30, she became an adult learner and entered nursing school.
Kim is passionate about providing quality care to the people she serves. She is a leader among her peers, a mentor to new APRN's, and a published author. She told me she loves being a nurse practitioner and will likely retire from this profession. Does that mean she has reached her destination? Not hardly. Something exciting is right around the corner. She is soon launching her career coaching business to help nurses in their journey to lead fulfilling lives.
In the five-minute snippet: Got any travel plans? For Kim's bio, visit my website (link below).


NP for Life LinkedIn
Nurse Your Life Back to Health on Amazon
kknpforlife Instagram

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According to Coachfoundation.com, passion is one of the most important qualities of a good coach. Enter Dr. Ricky Fernandez, a doctor of physical therapy and a burnout coach and I was eager to talk with him for those reasons.
We talked about all the things he does as a physical therapist: his schedule (which is kind of sweet), what his patients need, and the importance of collaboration with allied health professionals.
As we delved into the topic of burnout, his passion became evident. Having experienced burnout himself, Ricky recognizes the significance of establishing boundaries and prioritizing the mental health of healthcare professionals. He pointed out that certain personality traits such as perfectionism (me) people-pleasing (me as well) and martyrdom (again, me) can make individuals susceptible to burnout. Ricky, where were you a few years ago?
While it's too late for me, I found Ricky's insights valuable. If you're experiencing burnout, or better yet, if you'd like to prevent it, Ricky genuinely wants you to practice healthcare in a way that works for you, not against you.
In the five-minute snippet: goodnight. For Ricky's bio, visit my website (link below).
Bounce Back from Burnout LinkedIn
Ricky the Burnout Coach Instagram

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Meet Gwen Sledge, a retired nurse and Certified Enneagram Coach. Gwen has a deep understanding of the Enneagram and is passionate about using her healthcare experience to help nurses understand how their personality, communication style, and behavior affect their relationships.
Not sure what the Enneagram is? I wasn’t either but I learned it’s a personality typing tool that categorizes individuals into nine distinct personality types, each with its own core fears, desires, and patterns of thinking and behaving.
In all honesty, I was initially skeptical but after taking the assessment, I was amazed by the accuracy of this tool. I discovered I am a type two and Gwen is a type six and you’ll hear how our readings are reflected in our practice.
You might be wondering, "Why is this even important?" As nurses, we collaborate closely with a variety of disciplines in stressful environments, and Gwen pointed out that by understanding your Enneagram type, you can gain insight into behavior which can, in turn, lead to deeper connections and more authentic relationships. And that sounds like a win-win situation to me.
In the five-minute snippet: well, what would you do if you grew a tail overnight? For Gwen's bio, visit my website (link below).
Enneagram with Gwen Instagram
Enneagram with Gwen Facebook

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As a student nurse or a new RN, Dave Dovell is someone you should know. Dave is a registered nurse working on a Progressive Care Unit, with a diverse work history that includes being an executive chef, an educator, working in the 911 system and the emergency room. And his story of why he became a nurse? Let’s just say it will put you in an, “I’m not crying, you're crying” situation.
Dave is known as the New RN and his Instagram is chock full of nursing hacks, study tips, and nursing stories to help the new nurse transition to the new role. According to the American Nurses Association, almost 18% of new nurses leave the profession within a year due to stressful working conditions, lack of leadership and supervision, and understaffed facilities.
Dave's book, Brand New Nurse: Surviving Your First Day on the Job, should be mandatory reading for all new nurses as it covers topics like transitioning to night shift, professionalism, communication, organization, and time management. These are aspects that nurses don't learn in school. However, it's also a valuable read for seasoned nurses because whether you've been a nurse for two years or twenty-two years, you can probably recall feeling unsure, inept, disorganized, and exhausted during your first weeks and months on the job. As a profession, we have a responsibility to invest in our nurses and help them have fulfilling careers by mentoring them.
In the five-minute snippet: Bring on the rain! For Dave's bio, visit my website (link below).
The New RN Instagram
The New RN Facebook
The New RN website and Blog
Brand New Nurse on Amazon

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When I hear the words “flight paramedic” I immediately think of aviator glasses, compact spaces, aircraft propellers, jumpsuits, highly trained professionals, and a general sense of badassery.
Enter Samantha Brawley. As a flight paramedic, she cares for the sickest of the sick, and the occasional walking, talking patient, who may just be her favorite, wink, wink.
We discussed the team she works with, the procedures in her scope of practice, the territory she flies, and the mental capacity it takes to process things she can’t unsee. And then she told us about the camaraderie.
Before flight paramedicine, Sam worked for over a decade in fire and EMS. When she left the 911 system, she missed the shared experiences of getting off shift late, hanging out in the charting room, and talking shit with her co-workers. So, she started the very popular 911 Nonsense podcast and now shares that camaraderie with her guests.
And let’s talk about her guests. Sam has clinched some high-profile guests from James Geering, former firefighter turned podcast host of the Behind the Shield podcast to Jenn Hamilton, L&D nurse, women’s health advocate, and Instagram influencer. However, some of the best guests are everyday men and women who serve humanity, like Ryan, a firefighter battling PTSD and advocating for the mental health of his fellow firefighters, Dr. Macias, a wilderness medicine enthusiast, and Kelly, a NICU respiratory therapist who educates healthcare professionals. There’s one thing for certain, any guest on Sam's podcast is bound to be great.
In the five-minute snippet: Sam’s got some explaining to do. For Sam's bio, visit my website (link below).
911 Nonsense Instagram
Website
911 Nonsense Merch
Nine One One Nonsense Facebook Group
Mind the Frontline
The Overwatch Collective
Debriefing the Frontlines

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I recently came across Dora Loun's LinkedIn profile, and her bio as a stem cell transplant nurse piqued my interest. However, when I had a conversation with her, I realized that what I thought she did and what she actually does are vastly different.
Dora's experience in critical care nursing provided her with the perfect foundation for caring for some of the most severely ill patients. I usually ask my guests to walk me through a typical day in their life as a nurse, but Dora took a different approach.
She instead described what her patients go through before, during, and long after a stem cell transplant. This was an intelligent move because hearing about the patients' hopes and dreams for the future, anxieties about the treatment, physical ailments from the medication's side effects, the isolation of loneliness, and the bond they form with their nurses gave me a deeper insight into Dora's work. And Dora's work entails providing hope for the future, care for the present, and comfort when time has run out. In the five-minute snippet: She’s going to need a lot of coffee. For Dora's bio, please visit my website (link below).
Dora's LinkedIn
Be The Match

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My guest this week, Irnise Williams, has been a nurse for 16 years. Starting with her eye on medical school, she opted for nursing school, fell in love, and never looked back. Because if you’re looking back, you can’t look forward, and forward was the direction Irnise wanted to go.
She could have advanced her degree by becoming a Nurse practitioner or a CRNA, two popular paths over a decade ago. Instead, she attended Howard University School of Law, became a lawyer, and established her law firm.
She is now in a unique position. As a healthcare and regulatory compliance lawyer with a nursing background, she has a deeper understanding of healthcare practices and patient care.
With this knowledge, she helps healthcare providers and organizations navigate federal and state regulations, as well as advising small businesses and educating nurses.
As a Top Voice on LinkedIn and a strong Instagram presence as Your Nurse Lawyer, she frequently tackles controversial topics such as documentation, AI, and affecting social change through changing health policy.
I’m so thankful to Tiffany Gibson for recommending her bestie Irnise as a guest on my podcast. Irnise has elevated nurses everywhere by using her law degree to amplify the voices of our profession.
In the five-minute snippet: I’m a big fan of the Golden Rule. For Irnise's bio, visit my website (link below).
Irnise F. Williams, Esq
Your Nurse Lawyer LinkedIn
Your Nurse Lawyer Instagram

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