The FreshRN Podcast with Kati Kleber

In this episode, we dive into the art of giving and receiving nursing reports during your shift—especially when the pressure is on. Whether you're dealing with nit-picky nurses, feeling intimidated by experienced colleagues, or handling less-than-friendly handoffs, this episode is for you. We'll share realistic examples of challenging moments, offer strategies for managing your emotions and reacti...

Are you preparing for a nursing job interview? Before you accept that offer, make sure you're aware of the red flags that could signal a toxic work environment, burnout, or lack of support. In this video, we'll uncover the most important warning signs every nurse should look out for during an interview—from vague answers about staffing ratios to comments about workload and training. Whether you're...

In today's episode, expect to learn 10 different smart questions to ask in an interview. We first will discuss questions to ask during a screening interview with a general hiring manager, and then more specific questions for an interview with a nurse manager who could potentially be your next boss! Make a great impression with these thoughtful questions.  If you want to have a written version of t...

In today's episode, expect to learn 10 different smart questions to ask in an interview. We first will discuss questions to ask during a screening interview with a general hiring manager, and then more specific questions for an interview with a nurse manager who could potentially be your next boss! Make a great impression with these thoughtful questions.  If you want to have a written version of t...

We dig into a reader question for a newer charger nurse + some encouragement for those of you thinking of quitting. 0:14 Why I do this 1:46 My college journey and the price tag 3:44 Encouragement from Leah, RN 5:09 A helpful nursing resource 5:33 Career experience from Joy, RN 6:11 Encouragement from Jennifer, RN 6:46 Charge RN question from "Sarah" 8:54 Stepping into your earned authority 10:04 D...

This episode is part of a PodSwap, where we swap episodes so each of our audiences can learn from one another! We are swapping episodes with Nurse Mo, MSN RN from Straight A Nursing. She currently works in the PACU, teaches in a BSN program, and manages her educational platform for nursing students. In this episode, Nurse Mo is sharing all the reasons why older nursing students can (and do!) thriv...

We sit down with Will Kelly, MSN FNP-BC, who has experience as a telemetry nurse, ER nurse, ER nurse practitioner, and inpatient hospitalist. We discuss: Our first codes and lessons we learned Advice for students in clinical Tips for rapid response situations and calls How to be calm and collected in the face of controlled chaos For ALL of our ICU nursing content: ​​ https://www.freshrn.com/critic...

In this interview, Kati chats with Jeannie Cisney, MSN RN. She is a 20+ year veteran of the CVICU (cardiovascular intensive care unit). We discuss: The types of patients you'll see in a CVICU Her favorite and least favorite types of patients A walkthrough of the patient pathway of a typical CABG patient New grad vs. experienced nurse orientation experience into CVICU Unexpected challenges of CVICU...

In this episode, we are re-sharing an episode where we sit down with Sean Dent, DNP ACNP APRN, a highly experienced ICU nurse practitioner. We dig deep into the types of equipment you'll run into in the ICU. These include: Arterial lines Different options for monitoring fluid status Cooling devices CRRT Hemodialysis catheters Impellas and aortic balloon pumps Internal pacing Proning devices  These...

In this episode, Kati interviews Elizabeth Fields, MSN FNP APRN, a nurse practitioner specializing in orthopedics. She sees patients in the hospital after they undergo ortho surgery, so she works closely with acute care ortho nurses! In this episode, we discuss: What new ortho nurses struggle with most Common surgeries acute care patients undergo Why ortho nursing is so great How to impress provid...

In this episode, Kati and two nursing professionals who interview new grad nurses for a well-known accredited nurse residency program walk through four common interview questions. We explore a bad and sub-par response as well as examples of dazzling responses. The questions we outline are: Tell me about a mistake you have made. What are you most excited about, and what are you looking forward to m...

Giving and receiving hand-off from an experienced nurse is pretty overwhelming to a nursing student or newly licensed nurse. In this previously released episode, Kati and Elizabeth discuss: What nursing report is for an acute care nurse Unspoken nursing report etiquette Basics of what should be communicated during a normal full hand-off report Notes of this episode: https://www.freshrn.com/nursing...

This interview comes from the archives! Kati interviewed Beth Hawks, MSN RN-BC, a highly experienced and amazing nursing professional development specialist and preceptor, on tips for new nurse preceptors. Expect to learn: How to give feedback in a constructive manner Tips for nurses going into the precepting role who are not yet confident in their own skills How to support nurses through reality...

Previously, Kati had a series of episodes on nursing communication. This mega dose combines all episodes into one for easy listening! The topics include: How to talk to your nursing colleagues, CNAs, and medical unit receptionists and deal with things like how to navigate when your urgency level changes or challenges in working together Learning what everyone on the healthcare team actually wants...

In this episode, we are re-sharing our most popular neuro episodes from the archive in one massive episode. Kati Kleber, Elizabeth Mills, and Melissa Stafford (all experienced neuro ICU nurses) discuss: When to worry about your neuro patient The most common disease processes for acutely ill neuro patients Common neuro meds Frequent diagnostics How neuro patients are monitored Common neuro surgerie...

Almost two-thirds of nurses (62%) experience burnout in the U.S. And it's especially common among younger nurses. In this episode, Kati interviews Dr. Kate King, an associate professor in the clinical psychology doctoral program at William James College, and they discuss: signs of burnout, and whether this is destined to happen to every nurse the importance of being proactive balancing the desire...

Maybe you've heard the term "clinical nurse specialist" or "CNS" before but are not exactly sure how that differs from a nurse practitioner or nurse educator. In this episode, Kati interviews Dr. Mitzi Saunders, PhD, APRN, ACNS-BC, the President of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists, and they discuss: The definition of a CNS and how the CNS supports the bedside nurse CNS vs. NP...

In today's episode, we chat with Sheri Walsh, MSN RN, a highly experienced nurse manager of a cardiac progressive unit that has over 100 staff members. We pull back the veil between employee and manager and discuss things like: Reasonable and unreasonable things to discuss with your manager Practical tips for new nurses on giving and receiving feedback in a tactful way How to handle the "Where do...

In this episode, Brittney Wilson role plays as a new grad RN and asks me the most common questions I get via email and social media from new nurses all over the country. Get weekly tips, encouragement, stories from the bedside and more - just for nursing students and new nurses at  freshrn.com We have a full library of courses to support new nurses, including our new All-Access Pass! Check it out...

In this episode, we dig into practical tips for functioning in a high-pressure environment, like the hospital, if you already deal with anxiety. We discuss: Nervousness vs. anxiety How to lower your baseline level of anxiety Routines to outsmart your brain Responding to anxiety flares or freezes at work   When to seek professional help To check out the full guide, click here: https://www.freshrn.c...

In this episode of the FreshRN Podcast, Kati interviews Morgan Melancon MSN, RN, CCRN-K and Annabeth Davis, MSN, RN, NPD-BC. It's Part II of our two-part interview. Morgan is the director of Nursing Education and Professional Development at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, and Annabeth is the manager of Transition to Practice within the department of Nursing Education of the same...

In this episode, Kati Interviews  Morgan Melancon MSN, RN, CCRN-K and Annabeth Davis, MSN, RN, NPD-BC. Morgan is the director of Nursing Education and Professional Development at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, and Annabeth is the manager of Transition to Practice within the department of Nursing Education of the same organization.  We discuss specific details of their unique nur...

Join Brittney Wilson, BSN RN, founder of The Nerdy Nurse , as she interviews Kati about where FreshRN started, why she created it and is so passionate about helping new nurses, and where she sees the brand going over the next 10 years.   Right now, all of Kati's courses and bundles are 30% off to celebrate her 10-year brand-iversary! Head to https://courses.freshrn.com and use promo code 10YEARS t...

In this episode, I interview Sarah Lorenzini from the Rapid Response RN Podcast about delirium. We discuss a powerful experience Sarah had with delirium in the ICU, common mistakes new nurses make regarding delirium, and tidbits about new nurses working with RRT nurses.  This episode is part of a Nurse Podcrawl focused on the topic of delirium. Head to  upmynursingame.com/podcrawl to check out all...

If you're a nurse working in a hospital who cares for intubated and sedated patients (ICU nurses!) or on units in which your patients were intubated and sedated (med-surg RNs, I'm talking to you!) you're going to want to listen to this episode. We dig into some mind-blowing and humbling facts about delirium in the ICU, and how we might actually be making things worse. "Sedation is NOT sleep. Propo...