In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Karen O'Donnell about her journey from emergency nursing into entrepreneurship and what it took to build her own nurse staffing agency.

Karen shares how her career moved from oncology and med-surg into the emergency department, where she found a specialty she loved, and how those experiences eventually helped her develop the confidence and problem-solving skills to start a business. We talk about how she began small, learned the licensing and business side, and grew her agency through local relationships and contracts.

We also discuss what nurses should know before starting a staffing agency, including the financial investment, state-specific requirements, and the importance of making sure the business actually fits the life and career you want to build.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How Karen went from ER nursing to owning a nurse staffing agency
• What nurses should consider before starting a staffing business
• Why nursing experience, relationships, and problem-solving skills can translate into entrepreneurship

About Karen O'Donnell

Karen O'Donnell has been a nurse since 1994, with experience in oncology, med-surg, and emergency nursing. In 2012, she founded Caring Nurses Staffing Agency and has since expanded her work into business coaching, helping nurses explore entrepreneurship and build businesses that fit their strengths and goals.

Connect with Karen

Caring Nurses Staffing Agency Website: https://caringnursessa.com/
Email: [email protected]
TikTok, YouTube, Instagram & Facebook: Caring Nurses Staffing Agency

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In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Sandy Guadan about building a nursing career around your life instead of forcing your life around one job.

Sandy shares how she combines several flexible nursing roles, including concierge nursing, clinical trials, telehealth transitional care, and in-home risk assessments. We talk about how per diem work can create more flexibility, variety, and work-life balance while still allowing nurses to grow their skills and stay connected to patient care.

We also discuss the challenges of juggling multiple roles, the importance of staying organized, and why work-life balance can look very different from one nurse to another.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How per diem nursing can create more flexibility around family and life
• What concierge nursing, clinical trials, and remote transitional care can look like
• Why nurses do not have to choose only one specialty or one traditional career path

About Sandy Guadan

Sandy Guadan, FNP-BC, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner with experience in family medicine, telehealth, transitional care management, urgent care, preventive health, and clinical nursing roles. Before entering healthcare, she spent 12 years working in law enforcement support services, an experience that strengthened her communication, critical thinking, and ability to stay calm under pressure.

Today, Sandy is passionate about patient education, prevention, and individualized care while also creating a nursing career that gives her flexibility for her family and the life she wants to build.

Connect with Sandy

Instagram: @sandyguadan.np

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In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Philip Layog about utilization management and what it really looks like to work from home as a nurse.

Philip shares how he transitioned from more than 10 years of bedside nursing into a remote clinical reviewer role, where he reviews inpatient stays for medical necessity. We talk about the day-to-day work, the flexibility remote nursing can offer, and why “work from home” is a location—not a job title.

We also discuss what nurses actually need to become competitive for remote roles, including how to target the right positions, translate bedside experience, tailor a resume for ATS systems, and avoid spending money on certifications that may not be necessary.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What utilization management looks like as a remote nursing role
• How bedside experience can qualify nurses for work-from-home opportunities
• Why resume strategy, job targeting, and understanding the role matter when applying for remote nursing jobs

About Philip Layog

Philip Layog is a registered nurse, remote nursing advocate, and co-founder of NurseRemotely. After more than 10 years in bedside nursing, he transitioned into utilization management and now helps nurses explore and land work-from-home nursing roles.

Through NurseRemotely and @wfh.nurse.life, Philip shares remote nursing opportunities, job-search strategies, and practical resources for nurses looking for more flexibility in their careers.

Connect with Philip

Website: NurseRemotely.com
Instagram: @wfh.nurse.life

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In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Dr. Danielle Altares Sarik about the role of a clinically based nurse scientist and how nurses can build careers that combine clinical expertise, research, policy, and systems improvement.

Danielle shares her own path from global health policy into nursing, pediatric practice, and eventually research. We talk about what her day-to-day work looks like, how nurse scientists support bedside nurses and health systems, and why curiosity is such an important first step for nurses who may be interested in research.

We also discuss how nurses can begin exploring this path through evidence-based practice, quality improvement, research projects, mentorship, and graduate education.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What a clinically based nurse scientist does and how the role supports better patient outcomes
• How nurses can get involved in research, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement
• What the educational path can look like, including PhD programs and opportunities for funding

About Dr. Danielle Altares Sarik

Dr. Danielle Altares Sarik is a nurse scientist, health services researcher, and Director of Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Her work focuses on pediatric outcomes, health equity, policy, and improving systems of care through research and innovation.

Connect with Danielle

Baby Steps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu8Wn0dN-Os
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daniellesarik
Website: https://www.daniellesarik.com/

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In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Jeannie Nguyen about medical sales and how nurses can use their clinical experience in a completely different way.

Jeannie shares how she transitioned from bedside nursing into the medical sales industry, what a typical day can look like, and why nurses already have many of the relationship-building, communication, and problem-solving skills needed to succeed in sales.

We also talk about the many roles within medical sales, from clinical education and product support to account management and direct sales, and how nurses can begin exploring this career path by looking at the products, devices, and companies they already interact with every day.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How nursing experience can translate into medical sales, pharma, biotech, and clinical support roles
• What medical sales really looks like, including account management, relationship-building, flexibility, and quotas
• How nurses can start exploring the industry through networking, job research, and the products they already use

About Jeannie Nguyen: Jeannie Nguyen is a registered nurse, coach, entrepreneur, and medical sales rep with 14 years of clinical nursing experience. She is the founder of Nurse to Sales Consulting™ and BIMS® (Breaking Into Medical Sales), where she helps nurses translate their clinical experience into medical sales, pharma, and biotech careers.

Connect with Jeannie

Instagram: @nursejeanstar
TIkTok: @nursejeanstar

Website: https://www.nursetosales.com/

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In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Mary Turner about nurse coaching and the many directions this growing specialty can take. Mary is a board-certified nurse coach, business coach, and founder of CoachRN, where she helps nurses become coaches and build businesses that are sustainable.

We talk about what nurse coaching actually is, how nurses can use their existing skills in a coaching role, and why becoming certified is only one part of the journey. Mary also shares what nurses should know about building a coaching business, developing confidence, and transitioning strategically instead of leaving a nursing job before the business is ready to support them.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What nurse coaching is and the different ways nurses can use coaching in their careers
• Why certification, coaching skills, and business skills all matter when building a nurse coaching practice
• How to transition into coaching strategically while building confidence, clients, and a sustainable business

About my guest: Mary Turner, RN, NC-BC, is a board-certified nurse coach, certified EMyth Business Coach, entrepreneur, speaker, and U.S. Air Force veteran. With more than 16 years of coaching experience, she helps nurses, leaders, and entrepreneurs build confidence, strengthen leadership, and create sustainable businesses. She is the founder of CoachRN and is committed to helping change the culture of nursing through coaching, clarity, and personal growth.

Connect with Mary:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryturner-nurse-coach/
Website: https://coachrn.com/

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In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I introduce the SMART Move Framework, a practical five-step process to help nurses make more intentional career decisions.

Whether you are choosing your first specialty, questioning your current role, or considering a change after many years in nursing, this framework will help you understand what needs to change, explore possible directions, and recognize the value of the experience you already have.

Instead of applying randomly and hoping the next job will be better, you’ll learn how to research your options, translate your transferable skills, communicate your value, and take a strategic next step.

In this episode, I talk about:

• How to identify what is really not working before making a career move
• How to research specialties and connect your current skills to new opportunities
• How to reframe your experience and take your next step with strategy

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In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Carla Martin about the depth and complexity of school nursing. After 23 years in the specialty, Carla shares what school nurses really do—from managing chronic conditions and medical procedures to supporting families, collaborating with educators, and advocating for students.

We discuss what a typical day can look like, including caring for students with diabetes, seizures, feeding tubes, tracheostomies, and other complex health needs. Carla also explains the importance of communication, relationship-building, public health, and understanding the education system.

For nurses considering school nursing, Carla offers an honest look at the learning curve, the benefits of the schedule, credentialing requirements, and the many opportunities to grow within the specialty.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why school nursing involves far more than basic first aid
• The clinical, public health, education, and advocacy responsibilities of a school nurse
• What nurses should know before transitioning into school nursing

About Carla:
Carla Martin has worked in school nursing for 23 years and has been a nurse for more than three decades. Her nursing background includes postpartum, antepartum, nursery, NICU, surgery, home care, hospice, and school nursing.

She entered the specialty after learning about school nursing from her sister, a nurse practitioner and school nurse. Carla now serves in a lead nursing role and is passionate about supporting students with complex medical needs, collaborating with families and school teams, and helping nurses grow within the specialty.

Carla believes we never stop growing and that every experience is an opportunity to learn, serve, and make a difference.

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In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Stephanie Suzadail about her path into flight nursing and what nurses should know if they are curious about emergency and transport medicine. Stephanie shares how she started in EMS, became a nurse with a clear goal in mind, and built her career strategically toward flight nursing.

We talk about what flight nursing really looks like, including schedules, rural response, critical transports, outreach work, and caring for patients with limited resources in fast-moving environments. Stephanie also shares the experience, certifications, and mindset that help nurses prepare for this specialty.

This episode offers a real look at both the demands and rewards of flight nursing, from autonomy and critical thinking to self-care, networking, and the value of early exposure through ride-alongs and professional organizations.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What flight nursing looks like behind the scenes, including schedule, transport types, and rural emergency response
• What nurses need to become competitive for flight nursing, including critical care experience, certifications, and strategy
• Why curiosity, flexibility, networking, and ride-alongs matter when exploring this specialty

About Stephanie Suzadail:
Stephanie Suzadail, MSN, MA, RN, PHRN, CFRN, CTRN, CEN, TCRN, CPEN, and CBRN, is a flight nurse, educator, researcher, and nationally recognized leader in emergency and transport medicine. With a background spanning EMS, emergency nursing, critical care, and air medical transport, she is passionate about advancing evidence-based practice, mentorship, and clinician development.

She has served in national leadership roles, including Chair of the Emergency Nurses Association EMS Advisory Council, and contributes to the profession as a board certification item writer, speaker, and educator. Her work focuses on transport medicine, critical care, simulation, leadership, and emerging topics in prehospital care.

Connect with Stephanie:
Instagram: @pyrovixi
Blog: scrubsnsirens.com
LinkedIn: Stephanie Suzadail

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In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Emily Nelson about her role in NSQIP, the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Emily shares how she started her career in the OR, moved into quality and safety work, and now leads a remote team of nurses who review surgical data to help hospitals improve outcomes and patient safety.

We talk about what this role actually looks like day to day, the kind of experience that helps nurses transition into this work, and why titles can be misleading when nurses are exploring nontraditional or remote opportunities. Emily also shares helpful advice for nurses who want remote work and encourages them to stay curious, look beyond job titles, and apply for roles that interest them.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What NSQIP is and how nurses use surgical data to improve hospital quality and safety
• How OR, perioperative, and critical care experience can open doors into remote quality roles
• Why nurses should look beyond job titles and stay open to unexpected career paths

About Emily:
Emily Nelson is an RN who began her nursing career in the operating room and later transitioned into surgical quality and safety. She now works in a regional role supporting NSQIP across multiple medical centers, leading a team of nurses who abstract surgical cases, analyze outcomes, and help drive quality improvement efforts. Her work combines clinical knowledge, data interpretation, and collaboration to improve patient safety on a larger scale.

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