The Ashley O Show

Today we are chatting about my most asked question: how do you build more confidence as a nurse? We are not talking about a few simple affirmations or an overnight fix, but instead, the actual WORK you need to put in to build that muscle and trust yourself and your abilities enough to know that you are capable. Get out of your comfort zone, and step into confidence. I can’t wait to hear what you t...

This week we are turning the tables a little bit. We chat about what it's like to be in a relationship with a healthcare worker, the challenges that come with this profession, the impact it can have on our love lives, and the support that we truly need. If you are a nurse, I hope that this episode will help shift your perspective on what your partner may be struggling with in your relationshi...

GANG...I don't know about you, but for most of my life, the holiday season has equated to all of my goals going out the window. I have always entered into the end of the year assuming I will gain weight, feel like crap, drink too much, move further from my goals, and lose all momentum.  What if instead, we spent the last 75 days of the year investing in ourselves? Cultivating more joy, genera...

A quick chat about what's going on in life, building a business, and updates in the Nursing Co-op realm! A RAW, real episode about frustration, imposter syndrome, existential crises, and EXCITEMENT going on in my world. Because at the end of the day, I want you guys to know the person on the other side of this microphone (aka. ME!). Love you guys! When you are done listening, go check out som...

If you are not living under a rock, then you likely have spent much of your life BOMBARDED with the newest diet, weight loss scheme, or miracle pill. AKA - fad diets. There are new diets or quick fixes marketed every day, and it can be confusing to figure out what is legitimate and what is harmful. On this episode, we chat about the red flags that we can use to assess the "newest diet" m...

Okay so you survived nursing school, got the degree,  passed the NCLEX, started the job, but...now what?! Maybe you feel like your unit is not the right fit, maybe you aren't sure where you even want to go next, maybe you HATE your current position, maybe the schedule is sucking the life out of you...we could go on and on. You know that this job or unit isn't the right fit, but how do yo...

BURNOUT. As HCWs, we have all heard about the plague that can impact even the most resilient nurses. Burnout can end careers faster than almost anything else. Let's talk about how to identify the biggest red flags of impending (or already occurring) burnout. My hope is that this episode might resonate with you or for someone you love, so that you can get ahead and recover quickly. If you thin...

Today we’re talking about tactical ways for you to build and strengthen your critical thinking muscle! This is arguably one of the most important skills we need to develop as nurses, and we can all benefit from a few practices that can improve our ability to think a few steps ahead. Critical thinking is one of the things that separates a nurse from a machine. We are not here to simply "follow...

In today’s episode we’re chatting about building a lunch bag that will help you dominate your 12 hour shift (or any shift length)! It's all about the variety and the SNACKS. Check out this tangible, simple episode to elevate your meal prep this week. I cannot wait to hear your thoughts on it! When you are done listening, go check out some of my FAVORITE brands to elevate your health and SAVE...

In today’s episode we’re chatting about practicing the SELF-advocacy that we preach to our patients. As nurses, it is so natural for us to teach our patients how to ask questions, fight for care, and care for themselves, but we struggle to utilize this skill in our own lives and careers. This is a really FIERY, tangible episode that we can ALL use in our nursing practice. I cannot wait to hear you...

In this week's episode of Wellness Wednesday, we are chatting about my go-to method to detox your body...SPOILER: there is no cleanse, diet, fast, pills, or magic elixir that will "detox" your body any better than your body's built-in detox system. So let's debunk some bogus claims for quick-fix systems that are typically just code for laxatives, diuretics, restriction and...

In today's episode, we are chatting about how to be the kind of team member you WISH you had on your unit, because as we know, nursing is a TEAM sport! And the key to building a better team is BEING a better member of that team. My hope is that this episode will help you understand and practice the most important factors to establishing an incredibly cohesive, caring unit that you feel lucky...

Short on time? No equipment? Traveling? Feeling indecisive with the structure for your workout? Let's chat about some key techniques for building an efficient and effective workout on the fly!  Follow along and join the Nursing Co-op community on Instagram @ashley_nursingcoop and on Facebook in The Nursing Co-op Huddle! We would love to see you there! As always, message me with any feedback,...

It might sound negative, but in medicine, we always have to be ready for things to go wrong. Falls, strokes, codes, rapids, field trips, violence...the list goes ON! The best exercise we can do every shift is taking time to consider what could go wrong, and what your plan of action would be if they do. This is also an incredibly powerful practice for improving your skill in critical thinking. We c...

Back issues have almost become synonymous with nursing. We twist, bend, lift, stand, hunch, and pull our ways to injuries. Sometimes it becomes the difference between a long career and a career cut short by a lasting injury. So let's chat about a few key methods you can use right now to SAVE YOUR BACK. You can thank me later. Follow along and join the Nursing Co-op community on Instagram @ash...

Let's talk about how to give a quick and dirty report for those times when someone else is watching your patients for the short term. These situations don't require a lengthy, in-depth report with every detail about their history, but instead involve the high-value, high-impact aspects of their background and assessment. We chat about each important piece of this report that you don&apos...

Spoiler: it's not about fat burners, waist trainers, drinking tons of water to stretch your stomach, or "willpower." The quick fixes aren't it, sis. Your hunger is a tool and a message from your body about what it needs. Let's talk about how to ACTUALLY deal with your hunger.  Follow along and join the Nursing Co-op community on Instagram @ashley_nursingcoop and on Faceboo...

You know the old saying: “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime." As nurses, we all know that one of our most important job is to advocate for our patients. But what if we could also teach them how to do that for themselves? It would be even more powerful. Teaching our patients to stand up for themselves, ask more questions,...

I realize that this may not seem like wellness Wednesday content, but asking your manager for what you need is CRITICAL to protecting your physical and mental health. And unfortunately, these conversations are not easy. Today we chat about a few key tips to remember when you want to discuss a conflict, make a request, or set boundaries with your manager.  Follow along and join the Nursing Co-op co...

What are your nursing values? Altruism? Autonomy? Human dignity? There are so many ideals that can guide the decisions we make as nurses, but are they all truly serving us? Some of the values we choose may actually lead us to sacrifice ourselves and our health further, and others may support us in our quest to build a sustainable practice. Let's chat about how to think about the values that m...

Sometimes, it's small practices that make huge differences. This week, let's chat about MORNING PAGES. This is a practice invented and normalized by Julia Cameron. Her work focuses on creativity and expanding the mind. Morning pages are designed to clear the cobwebs and ease the overwhelm. As random as it may seem, let's discuss how these pages can change your practice for the bette...

Let's talk about some simple, but powerful ways that we can prioritize ourselves and our mental/physical wellbeing in a culture that encourages self-sacrifice. Nursing is often centered around selflessness and altruism, which can lead us to burnout if we aren't careful. The reality is, you cannot pour from an empty cup, so let's talk about a few ways that we can fill back up, so tha...

As nurses and HCWs, we LIVE on caffeine. We believe that caffeine is our vital energy source to survive and thrive in our profession. Here's my surprise to you: caffeine is not the answer. The answer to more energy is not sexy or fun. It's not something you would see on an infomercial. It is simple, real life advice: more fuel, more sleep, more movement.  Follow along and join the Nursin...

Have you heard about the recent policy changes at some hospitals that do not allow nurses to wear their hair in a messy bun?! This goes right along with dress codes that prevent piercings, tattoos, different colored hair, or other individual aesthetic choices that have NO IMPACT on our abilities to do our jobs. Last I checked, I can still run a code in a messy bun. This action is truly reflective...

In our culture, we are so conditioned to worry about what we need to FEAR, AVOID, or ELIMINATE. We are highly skilled in the art of restriction and making ourselves LESS. Today, let's chat about how we can shift our perspective and focus on what we can add instead of what we need to take away. Deprivation leads to obsession which leads to bingeing, in our diet, exercise routine, and our menta...