The Functional Nurse Podcast - Nursing in Functional Medicine

In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager, DNP, shares her favorite takeaways from the 2023 Thought Leaders Consortium hosted by Dr. Jeffrey Bland, founder of the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute. This Cutting Edge conference, held in Seattle, focused on the neuroimmune connection and explored crucial topics like long COVID, mitochondrial health, nutrition, autoimmun...

In this episode, Brigitte Sager, DNP, IFMCP talks with Dr. Holly Lucille, nationally recognized naturopathic doctor and registered nurse about how RNs and NPs can safely and effectively use supplements in functional nursing practice. They discuss clinical decision-making, scope considerations, supplement quality, patient education, and the workflow strategies that help nurses build clear, consiste...

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing™ (IFN) Learn more:  https://www.fxnursing.com Watch the Functional Nursing Program™ info session: https://learn.fxnursing.com/InfoSession Explore our Functional Nursing Membership™:  https://learn.fxnursing.com/the-functional-nursing-membership   Listen to the Functional Nursing Podcast™:  https://www.fxnursing.com/podcast Trying to figure out your...

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing — Learn more at  www.fxnursing.com What happens when a burned-out hospital RN discovers root cause care? In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager, DNP, IFMCP, interviews Lauren Briggs, RN, board certified nurse coach, about her transition from traditional hospital nursing to private practice using functional medicine and nurs...

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more at  www. fxnursing.com     Functional medicine lab testing can be a powerful clinical tool, but when used too early or too often, it can also increase cost, delay care, and create unnecessary anxiety for patients. So how do nurses decide when testing truly adds value and when it’s better to focus on foundations first? In this episode, B...

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing (IFN) Learn more:  https://www.fxnursing.com Functional Nursing Program info session: https://learn.fxnursing.com/InfoSession Membership & community:  https://learn.fxnursing.com/the-functional-nursing-membership   Podcast home:  https://www.fxnursing.com/podcast In this episode, we explore how nurses can use functional medicine, holistic nursi...

In today's episode, Brigitte Sager, DNP, explores one of the most essential aspects of functional medicine: evaluating and understanding patient readiness and motivation for change. Learn how to assess where patients are on the readiness spectrum, adapt your approach, and use coaching techniques to guide them toward lasting lifestyle transformations. Brigitte also shares real-life examples from he...

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more at  fxnursing.com   What happens when a bedside RN experiences firsthand what it feels like to be dismissed in conventional healthcare, and then discovers functional medicine? In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager interviews Ashley Braaten, BSN RN, who shares how functional medicine transformed her personal hea...

In this episode, Brigitte Sager, DNP, tackles a concept many of us struggle with—perfection. As healthcare professionals, the pressure to be perfect in both our personal lives and careers can be overwhelming. Brigitte shares her personal journey with letting go of perfectionism in practicing functional medicine and encourages nurses to embrace progress over perfection. From balancing healthy choic...

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at  fxnursing.com Lab work is a cornerstone of functional medicine, but many patients are told their results are “normal” even when symptoms persist. In this episode, Brigitte Sager explains how functional medicine interprets labs differently by looking for optimal ranges and early patterns that can reveal insulin res...

In this episode, Brigitte Sager, DNP, addresses the question many registered nurses face: Do you need to become a nurse practitioner to practice functional medicine? Brigitte shares her personal journey from RN to nurse practitioner, explores the unique scopes of practice for both RNs and NPs, and offers insights into why RNs might not need to pursue the NP route to excel in functional medicine. I...

In this episode, Brigitte Sager, DNP, discusses why some nurses may prefer the term functional nursing over functional medicine when describing their practice. Brigitte explores the evolving role of nurses in functional healthcare, highlighting how nurses can deliver holistic, root-cause-focused care without stepping outside their scope of practice. She also delves into the history of functional m...

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing – explore our transformative training programs at  fxnursing.com Are you a nurse curious about the differences between functional medicine, integrative medicine, and lifestyle medicine? Wondering which model aligns best with your nursing values, scope of practice, and passion for holistic care? In this insightful episode of The Functional Nurse Pod...

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing — Learn more at www.fxnursing.com   What if many breastfeeding challenges aren’t just about latch or milk supply—but about maternal health and root causes?   In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager, DNP, IFMCP, interviews Katie Oshita, RN, IBCLC, lactation consultant and functional medicine nurse. Together, they explore how...

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing (IFN) — empowering nurses to transform healthcare through functional medicine education and training. Learn more at  www.fxnursing.com   Where can a functional nurse make an impact? Everywhere. In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager, DNP, IFMCP, reveals 12 surprising places where functional nurses are creating real change i...

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing – Explore IFN's courses and programs at  fxnursing.com In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager, FNP talks with Jill Jefferson, RN, a board-certified holistic nurse and nurse coach, about her transition from corporate healthcare to a holistic, functional medicine-based practice. Jill shares how she moved from feeling disillus...

In this episode, functional medicine nurse practitioner and educator Brigitte Sager explains how to effectively evaluate evidence in healthcare, specifically within the realm of functional medicine. Brigitte shares strategies for identifying reliable research, reviewing studies critically, and finding the most up-to-date, relevant data for best practices. From understanding the hierarchy of studie...

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing – Learn more at  fxnursing.com Is functional medicine just “alternative” care—or is it truly rooted in science and evidence-based practice? It’s one of the most common (and controversial) questions nurses ask—and in this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager, FNP and functional medicine educator, provides a grounded, clinical answ...

In this episode, functional medicine nurse practitioner and nurse educator Brigitte Sager answers a critical question often asked by her students: "Can a registered nurse practice functional medicine?" Brigitte dives into the scope of practice for RNs, emphasizing that education, advocacy, and promoting wellness are well within the scope of a registered nurse. While this episode is not a substitut...

In this episode, functional medicine nurse practitioner and nurse educator Brigitte Sager shares her personal journey to becoming a nurse and a functional medicine practitioner. Brigitte dives into her early experiences in healthcare, the frustrations she faced with the limitations of traditional nursing practices, and how discovering functional medicine transformed her career. She discusses the s...

What is functional medicine—and why are nurses turning to it now more than ever? In this foundational episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager, DNP, IFMCP, nurse educator and functional medicine practitioner, breaks down what functional medicine really is—and what it isn’t. If you're a nurse or nurse practitioner feeling frustrated by the limitations of conventional care, this episo...

A podcast that explores the unique role nurses and nurse practitioners RNs and NPs play in practicing the healing art of functional medicine. The show explores many aspects of functional medicine practice, emerging research, and the unique blessings and challenges that nurses experience when practicing functional medicine. Hosted by Brigitte Sager- a family nurse practitioner, board certified func...