Nursing the System

🎙 Episode Overview Hey there, changemakers! In this episode, I’m diving into a career path that doesn’t get talked about enough for nurse leaders— working at a scale-up . If you’re feeling stuck in a bureaucratic system or frustrated by the slow pace of change in healthcare, this episode will give you a fresh perspective. I’ll share insights from my own journey into the scale-up world, how these c...

🎙 Episode Overview Today, we’re talking about one of my favorite strategies for avoiding burnout and sustaining long-term productivity: the Deload Week . Borrowed from the world of weightlifting, this concept has become a core part of how I structure my work and energy throughout the year. Whether you’re juggling multiple roles, running a business, or just feeling like you never get a true breathe...

🎙 Episode Overview Today’s episode is a little different—I’m recording straight from my bed, under the covers, because inspiration struck and I had to get this out of my brain. I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes look at preparing for and delivering my first big keynote —to an audience of 2,000 at a national nurse practitioner conference. From pre-speech jitters to the moment I walked off stage, I’m u...

🎙 Episode Overview Today’s episode is a special sneak peek from my private podcast series: The Changemaker Case Files . This private series takes you behind the scenes into real coaching conversations with nurse changemakers — nurses just like you — who are navigating career pivots, leadership challenges, and everything in between. In this episode, I’m sharing the 8-step process I personally use t...

🎙 Episode Overview The healthcare landscape is evolving at breakneck speed—but the career advice nurses are still being given is stuck in the past. In this episode, we’re getting brutally honest about why the “stable job, climb the ladder, collect degrees” mindset is no longer enough—and how it’s actively hurting your ability to build a career that lasts . If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing eve...

🎙 Episode Overview Stepping into a leadership role—whether you’re new to an organization, promoted within your unit, or stepping up as a charge nurse—can feel like drinking from a firehose . You’re excited, a little overwhelmed, and wondering, Where do I even start? The truth? New leaders often feel like they’re failing before they’ve even begun. But leadership isn’t about having all the answers—i...

🎙 Episode Overview If you’re thinking about grad school—or you’re already in the thick of it—there’s a lot you probably wish someone had told you. Many nurses see grad school as the natural next step for career growth, but without a clear “why,” they often end up burned out, frustrated, or questioning if it was worth it. In this episode, I’m breaking down the six biggest mistakes nurses make when...

🎙 Episode Overview: In this episode I discuss how I am stepping into a leadership role where I was hired for my leadership skills—not my subject matter expertise. In this episode, I’m sharing how I prepared for my new role and the seven things I did six weeks before my first day to set myself up for success. If you’re navigating a leadership transition, this episode will give you tangible strategi...

Breaking Down the Silos in Healthcare: How to Start at Your Level 🎙 Episode Overview: Silos in healthcare are everywhere, from departments that don’t communicate to shifts operating in isolation.  In this episode, I’m diving into why breaking down these barriers is critical for collaboration, patient care, and building a healthier workplace culture.  I’ll walk you through practical steps...

🎙 Episode Overview:   When you're in a meeting discussing a complex problem, have you ever wondered how everyone can be looking at the same issue but seeing it completely differently?  In this episode, we dive into systems mapping—a powerful visual tool that helps get your entire team on the same page. You'll learn how to use this approach to break down complex problems, create shared un...

🎙 Episode Overview In this deeply personal episode, I share how an unexpected pull toward living in the Netherlands challenged my carefully planned life path—and what that taught me about navigating vision shifts. Whether you're feeling a tug toward something new or wrestling with seemingly conflicting goals, this episode offers a framework for aligning your shifting vision with your life and care...

🎙 Episode Overview: When you hear the word “resilience” paired with “nurses,” how does it make you feel? Frustrated? Defensive? Just plain tired? You’re not alone. In this episode, we’re breaking down one of the biggest myths about burnout: it’s not a personal problem—it’s a systems problem. Bubble baths and yoga might offer momentary relief, but they won’t fix the core issue: healthcare systems b...

🎙 Episode Overview: Season 2 is here—and we’re taking this podcast public. In this kickoff episode, we’re tackling one of the most frustrating dynamics in healthcare: the “Us vs. Them” mindset . Whether it’s staff vs. leadership, nursing vs. admin, or bedside vs. boardroom—it’s a pattern that keeps teams stuck, burned out, and spinning their wheels. But it doesn’t have to. This episode is about ad...

🎙 Episode Overview: In this season finale, I tackle the false choice between self-care and systems change, sharing why becoming a systems thinker is actually the ultimate form of both personal and organizational care. 🔑 In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why separating self-care from systems work creates unnecessary tension How systems thinking benefits both personal wellbeing and organizational chan...

🎙 Episode Overview: I share my apartment-hunting story in the Netherlands to illustrate how shifting from competition to collaboration can unlock unexpected solutions and build meaningful connections. 🔑 In This Episode, You'll Learn: How competitive mindsets shape healthcare, education, and organizations Why partnership often yields better results than competition My approach to finding collabora...

🎙 Episode Overview: I share my personal composting story to explore why we sometimes act against our values, and how environmental design impacts our ability to do what we believe is right. 🔑 In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why good intentions often aren't enough to drive lasting change How to identify environmental barriers blocking desired behaviors My framework for making positive changes easie...

🎙 Episode Overview: In this episode, I share a vulnerable story from my early days as an ER nurse that taught me a crucial lesson about capacity and burnout. Through what seemed like a simple incident with my car mirror, I discovered important insights about recognizing and managing our limits as healthcare leaders. 🔑 In This Episode, You'll Learn: My perspective on identifying warning signs befo...

🎙 Episode Overview: In this episode, I share a crucial lesson learned during a 2021 ER triage redesign project: the importance of identifying and including all stakeholders in system changes. Through my experience of forgetting to include the CT department in our communications, I explore why asking "who's missing?" is vital for successful change implementation in healthcare. 🔑 In This Episode, Y...

🎙 Episode Overview: In this episode, I dive into a challenging truth: while it's easy to blame "the system," we're actually part of it. Through stories and examples, I explore how healthcare professionals often distance themselves from system problems, and why reclaiming our power and responsibility is crucial for creating real change. 🔑 In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why the "big, bad system" na...

🎙 Episode Overview: In this episode, I'm breaking down an important way to think about your professional experience in healthcare: the deep and wide framework. Through stories of my clients and my own career journey, I explore how understanding your experience makeup can help shape your professional growth and decision-making. 🔑 In This Episode, You'll Learn: How I define "deep" experience (like...

🎙 Episode Overview: In this episode, I'm sharing a personal story about how I nearly lost sight of my original healthcare mission while following the "expected" path in nursing school. Through this story, I explore how social narratives and expectations shape our choices—both in our personal lives and in healthcare systems—and why sometimes taking the path of more resistance leads to our most mean...

🎙 Episode Overview:  Can transforming healthcare actually be enjoyable? In this episode, Claire shares a personal story about a disappointing leadership training experience and explains why making change initiatives fun isn't just nice to have—it's essential for success. Through her journey from bored participant to engaging facilitator, she explores how bringing joy into change work can tran...

Introducing Nursing the System: Where Sociology Meets Healthcare Change 🎙 Episode Overview:  Meet Claire Phillips, a nurse with a unique perspective shaped by sociology, emergency medicine, and systems thinking. In this introductory episode, Claire shares her journey from sociology student to ER nurse to healthcare change specialist, and explains why she's passionate about helping healthcare...