Found Down

Today I sit back down with Aries Gum, Flight Nurse and Assistant Nurse Manager at Airlift NW. We catch up on his last year and any lessons learned along the way. Of course, Covid-19 has impacted his area of the medical field, as he is often transporting positive patients to a higher level of care. He describes what that is like including dealing with their acuity in flight.

Aries shares a few stories and if you listened to his first episode, you won't want to miss this episode.

Aries gives out a few pieces of important life advice from his unique point of view - "Wear a seatbelt, don't text and drive and get vaccinated!"

I'll be complying.

Thanks, Aries for being on the show!

Stay Safe and Stay Sane,

Nicole

Today I sit down with the co-founders of the Last Pizza Party Movement, Nurse Erica and Nurse Nander. This nurse advocacy movement and non profit was born out of the Covid-19 pandemic. "The Last Pizza Party is dedicated to ensuring safer workplaces for healthcare providers, safer care for patients through legislation, and educating providers on current regulations and protective strategies." In this episode, we discuss the impact of unsafe staffing on patients and nurses, the power of unionizing and what is really going on with the "nursing shortage."

The vision of the Last Pizza Party Movement is big, but not unachievable. But it starts with all four million nurses taking the time to care about what is happening to nurses collectively across the USA. Nurses deserve safe staffing for patient safety and our patients deserve it, too.

Be prepared to get riled up. There are three pieces of legislation that need your attention!

1. The Safe Staffing Act that would mandate nurse to patient ratios nation wide - https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1567/text?r=2&s=1
2. The Pro Act - Protecting the right to Unionize - https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/842
3. The Workplace Violence Prevention Act for Healthcare Workers https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1309/text

If you want to get involved, please go the Last Pizza Party Movement website here. Follow them on instagram @thelastpizzapartymovement or on tiktok @thelastpizzapartymovement. You can join their FB group, as well.

You can follow Nurse Erica and Nurse Nander on Tiktok to stay in the know.

Thank you so much for being on the show! It was a good one!

Stay Safe and Stay Sane,

Nicole

On today's show, I interview Eileen Thompson, a retired nurse with 43 years of experience! We discuss her incredible nursing career with candor and humor. She was a STAT nurse for last part of her nursing career, where she was regularly responding to in-house emergencies, helping nurses and physicians deliver the safest care possible and advocating for patients. She shares what she loved and what was hard about the role.

It was a real treat to catch up with Eileen as we worked side by side for many years.

Thank you so much for being on the show.

Stay Safe and Stay Sane,

Nicole

Today I interview the very talented Diana Page, ACNP - BC about burnout in nursing. She is an outpatient nurse practitioner, the founder of Catalyst For Selfcare as well as a mom and spouse. She also is a self proclaimed "burnout survivor." Diana is a burnout coach who coaches nurses on how to battle burnout and recognize it within themselves. She has a mentorship program as well as tons of resources available to help nurses take care of themselves such as pre-shift and post shift check ins and remembering who they are beyond a nurse. Diana helps nurses stay in the field they love and thrive, rather than just survive.

Diana shares what burnout is, how to stay engaged, how to listen to yourself and when you know it is time to move on among many other things.

Thank you so much for being on the show. It was a joy and a privilege to have this conversation.

Please follow Diana on her Instagram @catalystforselfcare.

Stay Safe and Stay Sane,

Nicole

Today I interview ICU nurse, social media influencer, dad, student and now travel nurse Christiaan Letsinger, RN aka Red Beard RN. We get into how his vision for raising his baby Juniper changed overnight with the stay at home order last March 2020. He also opens up about what getting Covid-19 was like, especially someone who is a diabetic and how terrifying that experience was, especially being a new dad. Plus, he shares how he got seriously burnt out from trying to be this "super nurse", how he remedied that and how he is trying to help others from having that same experience.

This was a fascinating interview. I hope you enjoy it!

Thank you so much for being on the show! I can't wait to have you back on the show to talk diabetes education! Please go follow him on his Instagram @redbeardrn for great nursing content.

Stay Safe and Stay Sane,

Nicole

Hey there,

After a year of putting this weekly podcast out there, I'm taking a break for the month. Thank you for supporting this one woman operation. I truly appreciate it.

If you have ideas for guests or for topics, please email me at [email protected] and I'll check it out.

Until then - I'll see you on July 5th!

Stay Safe and Stay Sane,

Nicole

On today's episode I discuss "Death and Dying in the ICU" with Des Wood, Critical Care Nurse Practitioner, DNP, ARNP, AGPCNP-BC, CCRN. Des is a Nurse Practitioner working in the ICU with over 13 years of experience in Critical Care. She also is a yoga instructor and owns her own business called https://myseattlebeauty.com/ where she provides a holistic approach to the traditional medical spa.  

Today we talk about the prevalence of dying patients in the ICU and the experience of being a nurse and provider and helping someone cross to the other side. We pull back the veil and share some of the most vulnerable feelings that come along with this work.

Warning - This is a pretty raw episode.  

Thank you for always being willing to have these conversations, Des.

Stay Safe and Stay Sane, 

Nicole

Today I interview Nik Hagen an actor, performer and creator about his role as a contact tracer in a global pandemic. Like many people, he had to pivot towards something else and for Nik personally, he had step away from a year of solid theater work in 2020.

We discuss what has been surprising and interesting about contact tracing in a global pandemic, the ins and outs of the work itself and any lessons learned.

Nik also has a huge following on Tiktok @nikhagen where he infuses humor, love and kindness in his videos. I highly suggest you check him out! Thank you for being a light!

Thank you, Nik for being on the show and sharing your experience with us all.

In gratitude,

Nicole

Today I interview Lisa Soltis, MN, RN, CCRN-CSC-CMC, CHFN, PCCN Senior ECMO Specialist about Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) and Covid-19. Lisa has over 26 years working in Critical Care, is an experienced Clinical Nurse Specialist and ECMO Specialist and has contributed greatly to the nursing community. She also was indoctrinated as a Fellow! That is a rare title for a nurse to hold and only 90 other nurses have this distinction!

Lisa discusses what is ECMO, who the intended recipients are, the indications for its use in COVID-19 patients and the outcomes when using this therapy.

This is a really educational episode filled with heart, too. Lisa shares how she went back to the bedside during the beginning of the pandemic and had an experience that will forever stay with her.

Thank you, Lisa for being on the show! I appreciate your wisdom and expertise.

Stay Safe and Stay Sane,

Nicole

Today I revisit one of my favorite episodes with Susan Collins, MN, RN, CCRN a former Fire Fighter and seasoned Trauma ICU nurse. Susan is currently a Magnet Program Coordinator at a level one trauma center. She shares the top activities to avoid in the summer if you want to stay out of the Trauma ICU as well as some stories that have stayed with her.

Thank you, Susan for being so fun to talk to!

You're the best.

Nicole