Nurses For Justice

In this episode we delve into pregnancy criminalization. We are joined by Lindsey English Hull, a trained nurse in labor and delivery, and attorney with research experience in perinatal substance use, the application of fetal personhood to laws that uniquely punish and surveil pregnant people.  Lindsey English Hull, RN, JD, (she/her) obtained her Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University...

In this powerful episode, Davon Crawford sits down with birthworker, future midwife, and community healer Jadea for an intimate conversation about the ways our stories shape us, and ultimately save us. Together, they explore how trauma, both personal and collective, impacts the work of Black doulas and the communities they serve. Jadea shares her journey into birthwork, the challenges she has face...

In this episode we delve into weight stigma and size bias in health systems. We dispel some myths that equate a person’s body size with their health, and explore how nurses can mitigate the harms of these assumptions through research and practice.  We are joined by two nurse-midwives who research, write, and practice at this intersection: Dr. Ellen Solis and Elizabeth Muñoz. Dr. Ellen Solis, DNP,...

Asia Brown, a nursing student at Emory, co-founded a nonprofit called  601 for Period Equity , to promote menstrual equity and mitigate period shame in the Black community. Asia leads the nonprofit’s community pantry, Rosie's Pantry , which distributes essential hygiene products, diapers, and menstrual supplies to families in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Asia’s work in period equity and reproductiv...

Omisade Burney-Scott (she/her) is a Black southern 7th generation native North Carolinian feminist, social justice advocate and creative with decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, and social justice. She is the Creator of the  Black Girl’s Guide to Surviving Menopause , a multimedia culture and narrative shift reproductive justice project. In today’s episode we dive into the...

In this digital abortion suppression conversation, NSRH spoke to Martha Dimitratou, who works with several media advocacy groups like Women on Web , Plan C Pills , and Repro Uncensored.  The politicization of abortion at the hands of those in power has created numerous barriers to our ability to seek our reliable and accurate information. Repro Uncensored is a coalition of reproductive health and...

A'magine is a sexuality educator, speaker, writer, film-maker, and Gynecological Teaching Associate (GTA). Her award-winning film  At Your Cervix , examines patient consent and bodily autonomy in gynecology and medical education, aiming to end unethical practices that harm both patients and medical students.  In this episode, we talk about consent in pelvic care, trauma-informed patient intera...

Dr. DeShawn Taylor (MD) is a physician-activist whose work as an abortion provider in Arizona is deeply informed by her Christian faith. In her recent book,  Undue Burden , she describes what it means to be a Black, Pro-Abortion, Christian doctor. She explores myths around pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting and interrogates faith amidst extremism and attacks on reproductive justice within U.S. h...

In this episode we’re joined by Heather Adams, a resident of NSRH’s Abortion Nursing Corps program. Heather is a family planning and ICU registered nurse with 10+ years of experience traveling in hospitals and clinics. Heather was matched with Trust Women in Wichita, Kansas in 2023 and decided to extend her time there by another 8 weeks!  She speaks to her experience, passion for providing abortio...

In this episode, Kelley Dennings with the Center for Biological Diversity speaks on the intersection of environmental and reproductive justice!  “Toxic chemicals can disrupt fertility and sperm counts and make it harder to avoid unplanned pregnancies due to changes in your menstrual cycle, causing at least the fertility awareness based method to be problematic, but other forms of birth control som...

Today we are joined by award-winning documentary photographer Heather Whitten, who co-founded The Abortion Project which aims to demystify and destigmatize abortion through photography. Heather has been photographing in the birth space for over a decade and comes into abortion doula work after her own experience in 2019.  Her work focuses on the intimacies and nuances of the times in people’s live...

Did you know that We Testify was conceived in Frida Kahlo’s backyard in Mexico City? We sat down with Emma Hernández, the Communications Manager at We Testify, an organization that amplifies diverse abortion narratives and is shifting the way media understands abortion care.  Emma’s passion for abortion storytelling, especially for people of color, stems from her own multiple abortions. She also s...

In this episode, we are joined by historian, author, and scholar, Donna J. Drucker. We spoke with Donna about her most recent book, Fertility Technology . Donna is the assistant director of Scholarship and Research Development at the Columbia University School of Nursing. She holds a master in library science degree and PhD in history from Indiana University. She is the author of numerous articles...

Happy Pride! Regardless of the time of year, reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ rights are inextricable. Laws, policies, healthcare discrimination, and stigma negatively impact LGBTQ+ people's access to safe and comprehensive sexual & reproductive healthcare. Tune in to learn how SRH advocates and nurses can stand in support of LGBTQ+ patients and ensure they receive healthcare that is tailore...

As part of Nurses Week, we sat down with Stephanie Tillman also known as the "feminist midwife." Stephanie is a midwife, writer, advocate, speaker, and PhD student in Health Care Ethics at Saint Louis University where she studies consent in intimate exams. We spoke about consent in clinical settings amidst asymmetrical power dynamics, trauma-informed and queer inclusive care, full-spectr...

In this episode, we’re joined by Shanti Moore, SisterSong’s Birth Justice Coordinator, who walks us through her pathway to reproductive justice, as well as her personal connection to this work. Shanti spent the early stages of her career in mental health nursing, then as a licensed massage therapist, and finally as a birth justice activist. Shanti has many heart-warming stories to share about her...

Abortion Provider Appreciation Day is celebrated annually in recognition of the heroic work of resilient and compassionate abortion providers! APAD was established in 1996 and highlights the essential work of abortion providers who provide care in the face of increased restrictions, violence, and stigma. In today’s episode, we recognize the importance of bodily autonomy as well as those who c...

Megan (she/her) is working on her Accelerated Second Degree BSN program at Oakland University in Michigan, and has recently established a new NSRH chapter at the school. She has a background in bodywork and sexual assault crisis support. Once she is an RN, she plans to continue her education to become a Certified Nurse Midwife. In this episode, Megan speaks to her experience volunteering as a clin...

In this episode, we sat down with Dr. Stephanie Mitchell who founded the first midwifery owned and led birth center in Gainesville, Alabama. The birth sanctuary works to honor the ancient wisdom of people giving birth, as well as modern experiences to create comprehensive care. Dr. Mitchell is a passionate advocate of midwifery and has been practicing since 2016. Dr. Mitchell spoke to the need for...

In this episode, we’re joined by NSRH’s Education Director, Anna Brown, who dives into some of the educational opportunities and resources that arose from curriculum gaps in formal nursing education. We also hear about Anna’s own journey to both becoming a dedicated sexual & reproductive health leader and joining the NSRH team! Many of the professional programs discussed in All Things Educatio...

In this episode we sit down with Leslie Chase, a participant in our pilot cohort for the Karen Edlund (KE) Future Nurse Leader Fellowship . This program fuels nursing students to leverage their power and become leaders in SRH, reproductive rights (RR) and Reproductive Justice (RJ). We believe that through intentional support and development of historically excluded nurses, we can shift the power s...

In this episode we dig into opportunities for student organizing and campus activism through NSRH . We sat down with Lana Keusch, a student member who started a chapter at Duke University. Last year, Lana was awarded the Karen Edlund Future Leader Award.  NSRH gives this annual award in honor of Karen Edlund (RN, BSN), a public health nurse and lifelong advocate for sexual and reproducti...

In this episode we speak with two of NSRH’s Training in Abortion Care (TAC) Residents about the importance of abortion training opportunities for nurses and paramedics, how the TAC residency expanded their understanding of abortion provision and has impacted their career pathways.  TAC residency is the only clinical training program in the nation for registered nurses to gain hands-on experie...