Nurse Dot Podcast

In this week's episode, Cara is joined by Maureen Lal, DNP, RN, to discuss the power of positive work environments in nursing and the impact of the Magnet Recognition Program. Maureen shares how her early experience in a toxic workplace fueled her passion for improving nurse well-being. She explains how Magnet hospitals prioritize nurse engagement, patient care, and data-driven outcomes, with...

In this week’s episode, Cara is joined by Paul Jaglowski, co-founder of Feedtrail, a real-time insights platform transforming patient and employee engagement. They dive into the inspiration behind Feedtrail, born out of frustration with generic surveys that fail to capture meaningful feedback. Shifting their focus exclusively to healthcare in 2018, the company recognized the power of personalized...

In this week's episode, Cat Golden joins Cara to talk about what’s next after stepping away from Nurses Inspire Nurses—and how she’s bringing even more energy and connection to the nursing community through her work with Nurse.com. What makes in-person events so powerful for nurses? And how can a little fun, like trivia nights and bingo, make a tough shift better? Cat shares her passion for cr...

In this week's episode, host Cara Lunsford is joined by Lynette Franklin, RN, to discuss the intricacies of wound care across various care settings. Lynette shares insights into the autonomy and leadership required in home care, emphasizing the importance of effective systems to support patient care when physicians aren’t immediately available. Cara and Lynette explore the value of humility an...

In this week’s episode, Cara is joined by Amber Peach, Regional Account Executive at Nurse.com, to discuss the current landscape of nurse recruiting. Amber shares her experience in nurse recruiting and highlights the importance of nurses feeling valued and cared for, emphasizing how this directly impacts patient care. The two discuss shifts in the travel nursing industry post-COVID, key factors nu...

In this weeks episode, Cara is joined by Jessica Brumley CNM, PhD Prepared Certified Midwife, to discuss midwifery, burnout, and women's health in a post-COVID era. Dr. Brumley addresses the critical issue of burnout in nursing and emphasizes the importance of building supportive professional communities. She shares her journey to becoming a certified nurse midwife, highlighting the vital role...

Cara sits down with Cathy Kennedy, a registered nurse and president of National Nurses United, to discuss the vital issue of nurse staffing ratios and their profound impact on patient outcomes. Cathy shares her journey and the inspiration behind her advocacy for safer staffing standards, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of improving working conditions through union efforts. They explore th...

In part two of this series, Cara Lunsford and America Farrell delve into the evolving landscape of nursing, highlighting the compassionate acts of nurses who go above and beyond for their patients. They discuss the critical importance of providing both immediate support, like extra supplies, and long-term solutions through social services. The conversation also touches on the challenges faced by n...

In part one of this two part series, host Cara Lunsford is joined by America Farrell, a highly experienced nurse and former hospital CEO, to examine the evolution of nursing over the past five decades. America recounts her remarkable career journey, which began in 1975 as an LPN in the ICU and progressed to her eventual role as a hospital CEO. She reflects on the pivotal moments and transformation...

In this week’s episode, Cara Lunsford sits down with Dorrie K. Fontaine, RN, PhD, FAAN, to discuss the Carlyle Group’s $1 billion initiative led by Bill Conway to address the nursing shortage and transform the profession. This remarkable investment aims to empower nurses and strengthen the healthcare system. Dorrie reflects on her inspiring journey in nursing, underscoring the importance of foster...

In this episode of the Nurse Dot podcast, host Cara Lunsford is joined by Dr. Cynda Hylton Rushton and Lucas Welch, Co-founder & CEO of Slow Talk. They delve into the critical state of the nursing profession, highlighting the deep relational strains nurses face with leaders, patients, and peers. Dr. Rushton discusses the Resilient Nurses Initiative, aimed at fostering resilience and well-being...

In this episode of the Nurse Dot Podcast, host Cara Lunsford engages in a profound conversation with Marie McKenzie, a seasoned registered nurse and sexual assault nurse examiner. Marie shares her extensive experience working with sexual assault survivors, highlighting the critical role of forensic nursing in providing compassionate care and justice. The discussion delves into the importance of su...

Cara talks with Dr. Finly Zachariah about his work on Empower Hope, a start-up using AI to promote person-centered care in healthcare. Dr. Zachariah shares his journey and motivation behind founding Empower Hope, especially in supporting end-of-life care. They discuss how the platform offers practical applications for both healthcare workers and patients, easing experiences during critical care. T...

Join Cara for another spooktacular Halloween episode, featuring real-life ghost stories shared by everyday nurses. From eerie conversations with departed patients to unexplained phenomena like call lights flickering in empty rooms, these spine-chilling tales capture the strange and supernatural side of healthcare. Tune in for a hauntingly good time that will leave you with goosebumps! Visit Nurse....

In part two of this series, Cara continues her conversation with Dr. Rob McDermid, MD FRCPC. Rob discusses his view of medicine as a performance art grounded in science, emphasizing the roles of certainty, confidence, and hope in patient care. They explore the importance of being comfortable with discomfort and share impactful stories of patient and family encounters. Rob also reflects on what bei...

In part one of a two-part episode, Cara is joined by Dr. Rob McDermid, MD FRCPC, to discuss the significance of compassionate care in healthcare. Rob shares his personal journey and what motivated him to emphasize the art of medicine and compassion. They explore how incorporating compassion into medical practice can improve patient experiences and the ways healthcare facilities can overcome barrie...

In this week's episode, Cara is joined by Antionette Thomas, MSN, RN, PNP, and Chief Experience Officer at Microsoft Worldwide Health and Life Sciences, to discuss AI in healthcare. Antionette shares her journey from healthcare to the tech industry and her excitement for AI's positive impact on the healthcare community. They address the fears and hesitations nurses have about adopting AI i...

In this week's episode, Cara is joined by her wife Dawn Lunsford to discuss her life growing up with two terminally ill siblings. Dawn shares the emotional journey of discovering her siblings' diagnoses and her memories of their passing. She reflects on living with parents who were constantly grieving and how her perception of her childhood has changed over time. Dawn and Cara explore the...

In this week's episode, Cara is joined by Andrea Dalzell MSN-ed, RN, who shares her unique perspective as a nurse and frequent patient in the healthcare system. Andrea discusses her recent healthcare experience, highlighting the lack of coordination of care and its impact on her recovery. The conversation covers the importance of having a care network, the role of insurance, and the need for h...

In this week's episode, Cara interviews Rob Gregg, CEO and Founder of STAND+ (formerly Gales), about his journey in building a healthcare brand. Rob explains the motivation behind creating a product specifically for healthcare workers and emphasizes the significant impact comfortable shoes can have on nurses' job performance and overall well-being. They discuss the challenges and rewards o...

In this week's episode, Cara is joined by Selona Alleyne, MSN, RN, CMSRN, NPD-BC, who discusses her work in leadership education. Selona shares her own leadership journey and the motivations behind her career path. She explains the learning curve faced by new managers and how it inspired her to create Harris Health's ENRICH program. Cara and Selona explore how providing leaders with better...

In this week's episode, Cara is joined by Felicia Sadler, MJ, BSN, RN, CPHQ, LSSBB, to discuss the evolving field of remote nursing. Felicia shares her comprehensive nursing and education journey, detailing how it led her to the flexible world of remote nursing, which offers diverse opportunities for nurses seeking career changes. They delve into balancing the human element with advanced techn...

In this week's episode, Cara is joined by Dr. Pandora Hardtman, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, to discuss various aspects of maternal health in the US and internationally. Pandora shares her extensive experience working in maternal health both nationally and globally, emphasizing the impact of the diverse US culture on maternal health outcomes. She highlights the importance of maternal healthcare providers...

In this week's episode, Cara is joined by Janice Dolnick, BSN, RN, a Legal Forensic Nurse, about her career in legal nurse consulting. Janice details her journey from traditional nursing to her current role, highlighting the evolution of her career and the gaps in nursing education. She emphasizes the importance of understanding multiple perspectives in her work. Cara and Janice explore the en...

This week, Cara is joined by Joy Hooper, RN, BSN, CWOCN, OMS, WCC, to explore her specialized work in ostomy care. Joy reflects on her nursing journey, detailing how she transitioned into the field of ostomy care. She highlights a pivotal patient encounter that inspired her to create Anatomical Aprons by Joy, a tool aimed at educating patients about ostomies. Cara and Joy delve into the anatomical...