Nurse Dot Podcast

This week, Cara is joined by Sara Bliss, author and brand consultant, to discuss her book *Take the Leap*. Sara offers valuable advice on how to avoid getting stuck in your current career and ways to evolve within your profession. Cara shares her personal journey of career evolution, highlighting the challenges and triumphs she encountered. Together, they delve into the identity crisis that often...

In this week's episode, Cara is joined by Tamara AL-Yassin and Hannah Berns from The Nursing Beat to explore their entrepreneurial journey. They delve into their motivations for starting the venture and the obstacles encountered along the way. Emphasizing the significance of branding and networking, they stress the need to showcase one's brand effectively. Additionally, they highlight the...

In the Season 4 premiere of the NurseDot Podcast, host Cara Lunsford is joined by author Melissa Pritchard to explore the captivating realm of Melissa's newest book, "Flight of the Wild Swan." Melissa reveals the inspiration driving her to craft this narrative centered on Florence Nightingale, a pioneer in modern nursing. Reflecting on her writing journey, Melissa discusses the motivat...

In the Season 3 finale, Cara is joined by Alice Benjamin, also known as “Nurse Alice,” to discuss Alice’s upcoming partnership with Nurse.com and her extensive career in nursing, media, and politics. Alice opens up about the motivations that led her to pursue a nursing career and shares insights on her foray into media and politics, eventually earning her recognition as “America's Favorite Nur...

In a conversation with Sandhya Prashad, MD, Cara explores Ketamine — its pros, cons, and controversies. Dr. Prashad discusses her introduction to ketamine treatment and the diverse therapeutic approaches she employs. Emphasizing the positive impact on patients with 'treatment-resistant' depression, they discuss the nuanced customization levels associated with ketamine treatment. Dr. Prasha...

In the latest episode, Cara is joined by Dr. Bette Bogdan, PhD, MSN, PHN, RN-BC, and Kylie Daron, MSN, RN, to explore the education’s impact on addressing the nursing shortage. The conversation delves into the ideal number of clinical years a nurse should accumulate before transitioning to a teaching role. Kylie and Bette discuss the considerations involved in deciding to pursue additional educati...

In this week's episode, Cara is joined by Vince Baiera, BSN, to explore his distinctive nursing career that ultimately grew to an entrepreneurship. Vince discusses his background and the strengths he’s gained through having diverse roles. The two also discuss the value of embracing discomfort and having a solution-focused mindset. Together, they reflect on the significance of steering clear of...

In the latest episode, Cara is joined by emergency physician Will Sanderson to discuss the current state of healthcare. Drawing from his experiences in the emergency department, Will sheds light on the challenges faced by healthcare workers in such environments. The conversation explores the nuanced distinctions between private and social medicine, encompassing aspects like wait times, primary car...

Cara is joined by Courtney Hogenson, RN, CMC, ALNC, to explore the critical aspects of delivering affordable, secure, and impactful care to patients. Courtney draws on her nursing and entrepreneurial experience as she shares the motivation behind founding Call Light. The conversation emphasizes the significance of establishing trust and compatibility between patients and nurses and explores how te...

Cara is joined by Melanie Perry, the founder of The Circulating Life and the First Case Podcast, for a conversation about leveraging social media in the healthcare sector. Melanie shares her motivation for venturing into blogging and social media, as well as her initiation into the First Case Podcast . Their discussion delves into the pivotal role of social media in addressing gaps in healthcare e...

Cara is joined by Dr. Renee Thompson, CEO and founder of the Healthy Workforce Institute, to discuss the concerning issue of bullying within healthcare. Renee shares her motivation for establishing the Healthy Workforce Institute, emphasizing the high-stress nature of healthcare as a breeding ground for bullying. Cara and Renee explore the crucial role of emotional intelligence in effectively addr...

In this episode, Cara is joined by Christina Casas, LVN, and Benniesha Scott, BSN, RN, CCHP-RN, to discuss their experiences in the field of correctional health. Christina and Benniesha offer insights into their backgrounds and the paths that led them to this specialized area of health care. They also highlight the unique skills they've developed while working in correctional facilities. The t...

In the second part of this special two-part series, Cosmo and Barb open up about the distinct challenges they've encountered in their respective roles as a patient and spouse. Stacey and Cara emphasize the significance of a robust support system and the role of gratitude in a patient's healing journey. Additionally, Cosmo shares poignant moments that have left a lasting impact on him durin...

In a special two-part series, Cara is joined by Stacey Boetto, FNP-C, NRCME, and Attorneys Barbara Morton and Cosmo Tedone, as they share their incredible journey through Cosmo's battle with cancer. The conversation delves into Cosmo and Barbara's life since the diagnosis in 2007, highlighting the positive impact Stacey has had on their journey. The trio reflects on the evolution of their...

Cara is joined by Shandra Scruggs, RN, a Certified Doula and the founder of Simply Birthed, an online platform dedicated to providing comprehensive maternity wellness resources and childbirth advice. Shandra recounts her nursing journey and the inspiration behind launching Simply Birthed. Their conversation centers on the challenge of inconsistent childbirth policies in healthcare facilities and t...

In a Halloween-themed episode, Cara features ghost stories shared by NurseDot Podcast listeners, setting a mysterious tone for the occasion. The tales encompass a variety of eerie experiences, such as nurses having conversations with deceased patients and inexplicable events like call lights turning on in empty rooms. These unsettling narratives vividly illustrate the supernatural incidents that h...

Cara is joined by Felicia Sadler MJ BSN RN CPHQ LSSBB, Holly Kalua, BSHA, BSM, RN, CHBC, and Andrea Dalzell, MSN-ed, RN, to explore ideal nursing roles. They discuss the criteria they consider when evaluating job advertisements and offer insights on how recruiters can better assist their staff. Additionally, the guests reflect on how their definition of the perfect job in nursing has evolved over...

This week Cara is joined by Alisha Diggs, Nurse Entrepreneur and Founder/CEO of Nurse On The Move, to explore Alisha's extensive work in local and international community outreach. Together, they discuss the rewarding and challenging aspects of providing health care in remote communities worldwide. Alisha and Cara emphasize the profound impact of basic healthcare education and how it can trigg...

In the Season 3 premiere, Cara is joined by Maggie Ortiz MSN, RN, and CEO of Advocates for Nurses to explore the crucial topic of advocacy in nursing. Maggie shares her personal nursing background and how she became involved in nurse advocacy. The discussion encompasses techniques for establishing professional boundaries aimed at safeguarding a nurse's employment and reducing the likelihood of...

In the Season 2 finale, Cara is joined by Nicole Angemi, the visionary behind the Gross Room, as they delve into Nicole's remarkable journey through clinical pathology. They explore the inception of The Gross Room and its profound influence on enhancing healthcare education, discussing the various aspects of clinical pathology that Nicole encounters on a day-to-day basis. Nicole shares the asp...

Continuing from Nurse Preceptors Part I, Larissa introduces different preceptor models while Cara, Tiffany, and Larissa engage in a discussion about whether bedside nurses should be the exclusive facilitators or if other nurses can also take up the role. Tiffany and Larissa emphasize the significance of relationship building, underscoring its positive effects on camaraderie and morale within the n...

In the first part of this two-part series, Cara is joined by Larissa Africa, President & CEO of Versant Healthcare Competency, and Tiffany Labig, RN, Versant Preceptor, to delve into the significance of nurse preceptors in the healthcare system. Drawing from their personal experiences, Larissa and Tiffany emphasize the vital role of preceptorship and explore the transformative effects of prece...

In this episode, Cara is joined by Abby Rose, BSN, RN, Enterprise Account Manager with NURSING.com, as they delve into the upcoming NCLEX next generation exam. Cara and Abby reflect on their own nursing school experiences and discuss the various challenges they faced along the way. Abby provides insight into the changes introduced in the new exam, specifically its improved ability to assess a nurs...

Cara is joined by Yolanda Fintor, a mother of three children, two of whom succumbed to Cystic Fibrosis, to discuss the diagnosis and lives of her two children before their passing. Yolanda and Cara discuss the dynamics of having two terminally ill children while also raising another child who did not face the same health challenges. The conversation delves into the transformative impact of losing...

This week Cara is joined by Georgina Villarreal, MSN, RN, to discuss the significance of prioritizing health and fitness in the nursing profession. Georgie shares her journey into nursing and her inspiration for pursuing health coaching. They highlight the difficulty nurses face in finding programs and resources for physical health maintenance, and Georgie provides advice on making small changes t...