Public health nurses are often the invisible backbone of community care – meeting patients where they are, breaking down barriers, and preventing serious health issues before they escalate.

In this episode, we speak with Jan Stralkus and Loletha Johnson about what public health nursing really looks like on the ground. From home visits in rural South Jersey to statewide cancer programs, they share powerful stories about access to care, patient trust, and the life-changing impact of education and connection.

We also explore the challenges public health nurses face, the importance of partnerships, and why this field is more critical than ever as healthcare increasingly moves into the home.

Key Takeaways

• Public health nursing happens outside traditional clinical settings – in homes, communities, and local environments
• Access to care remains one of the biggest challenges, especially in rural areas
• Building trust and relationships with patients can lead to life-saving outcomes
• Education and navigation support are just as important as clinical skills
• Strong partnerships across sectors are essential to improving population health
• Public health nursing offers diverse and growing career opportunities

Relevant Links

• New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing (NJCCN): https://www.njccn.org
• The State of New Jersey, Civil Service Commission: https://www.nj.gov/csc/
• New Jersey Association of Public Health Nurse Administrators: https://www.njaphna.org
• Visiting Nurse Association Health Group: https://vnahg.org
• Visiting Physician Services: https://vnahg.org/visiting-physicians-services
• Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey: https://www.vnannj.org

Medical-surgical nursing is often called the backbone of the hospital – but it’s also one of the most misunderstood specialties in healthcare.

In this episode of Nursing Insights, Susan and Daria speak with experienced Med-Surg nurses Brooke Roth and Luz Parris about what it really takes to thrive in one of the most demanding areas of nursing.

From managing multiple high-acuity patients at once to making split-second decisions about who needs help first, Med-Surg nurses operate in an environment where prioritization, teamwork, and adaptability are essential.

Luz shares a powerful story from the COVID era when she was responsible for ten patients in a single shift – including several critically ill patients and multiple emergencies happening at the same time. Brooke explains why strong clinical judgment and constant awareness are critical when caring for patients whose conditions can change quickly.

They also discuss the realities of night shifts, including the so-called “bewitching hour” when unexpected events often happen between 3 and 4 AM – and why the idea that hospitals sleep at night couldn’t be further from the truth.

If you’ve ever wondered what makes Med-Surg nurses such versatile and resilient professionals, this conversation offers an honest look at the skill, pressure, and dedication behind the specialty.

Key Takeaways

• Medical-surgical nurses care for a wide variety of patients and conditions, making them some of the most versatile clinicians in healthcare.
• Strong prioritization skills are essential because patient conditions can change rapidly, and multiple needs often compete for attention.
• Teamwork between nurses, physicians, and support staff is critical to managing complex and unpredictable situations. 
• Hospitals are rarely quiet at night – many nurses say the most intense moments often happen in the early morning hours.
• Experience in Med-Surg nursing builds a strong clinical foundation that supports many other nursing specialties.

Relevant Links

• New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing (NJCCN): https://www.njccn.org
• Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses: https://www.amsn.org

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of trauma, disaster, displacement, survivor’s guilt, and medical distress, including descriptions related to wildfire evacuation, loss, and a medical emergency involving a child. Some listeners may find these topics emotionally difficult. Please listen with care and take a pause if needed.

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What happens when the trauma expert becomes the trauma survivor?

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Nursing Insights, psychotherapist and psychiatric mental health clinical nurse specialist Donna Gaffney shares her experience living through the January 7, 2025 California wildfires in Pacific Palisades.

For decades, Donna has supported children, families, nurses, and communities through some of the most devastating crises in recent history – from 9/11 to Hurricane Katrina to COVID-19. But this time was different.

This time, she was in the middle of it.

Donna takes us through the moment she realized she had to evacuate, the shock of displacement, the heavy weight of survivor’s guilt, and the emotional toll of returning to a neighborhood reduced to ash. She introduces the concept of “shared traumatic reality” – when healthcare providers are living through the very same disaster as the people they serve.

Key Takeaways

• Trauma feels different when you are inside it, not observing it.
• “Shared traumatic reality” occurs when healthcare providers and patients experience the same crisis.
• Survivor’s guilt can surface even when you did not lose everything.
• Healthcare professionals are not immune to destabilization during disasters.
• Being called “strong” is not always helpful – vulnerability matters.
• Community, storytelling, and meaning-making are essential for healing.
• Self-compassion is not optional – it is necessary.
• Recovery is not a return to what was, but a movement forward.

Relevant Links

• New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing (NJCCN): https://www.njccn.org
• Kristin Neff – Self-Compassion Research: https://self-compassion.org
• Vivek Murthy – “My Parting Prescription for America”: https://fcsinterventions.com/resources/my-parting-prescription-for-america/
• Suleika Jaouad: https://suleikajaouad.com
• Murthy, V. H. (2022). Confronting health worker burnout and well-being. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/health-worker-wellbeing-advisory.pdfand https://www.vivekmurthy.com/partingprescription
• NJ-NEW https://njnew.org/programs/virtual-schwartz-rounds/
• Meaningful Work Matters Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/7FCvG2GBgVA66PhCks0g4r
• Don’t Clock Out https://www.dontclockout.org/
• Introspective Spaces  https://www.introspectivespaces.com/
• The Relentless School Nurse https://relentlessschoolnurse.com/
• Courageous Well-Being for Nurses: Strategies for Renewal https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/12847/courageous-well-being-nurses

Digital communication is no longer optional for nurse leaders – it is a core leadership skill. In this episode of Nursing Insights, we sit down with Alysia Adams, Director of Education Partnerships at the American Organization of Nursing Leadership, to explore the digital communication competencies now shaping nursing leadership across the country.

Alysia shares what led her to research digital communication, the barriers nurse leaders face online, and how storytelling, ethics, boundaries, and inclusivity play a critical role in effective leadership. She also explains how these competencies were developed through a Delphi study and why they are now being incorporated into national leadership standards.

This conversation offers practical insight for nurse leaders at every level who want to communicate with clarity, confidence, and purpose in the digital era.

Key Takeaways

• Why communication is a foundational skill for effective nurse leadership
• The most common barriers preventing nurse leaders from engaging digitally
• How storytelling strengthens trust, visibility, and influence
• Why ethics and credibility rank highest among digital competencies
• The importance of boundaries and well-being in digital leadership
• How nurse leaders can communicate across generations effectively
• Simple first steps for leaders who want to improve their digital presence

Relevant Links

• American Organization of Nursing Leadership: https://www.aonl.org
• Nurse Leader Journal: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/nurse-leader
• New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing: https://www.njccn.org

Nurse fatigue isn’t just uncomfortable – it’s dangerous. In this episode, Dr. Pamela Hinds and crisis nurse Brett Bagshaw from Children’s National Hospital explain how their organization became a national leader in implementing sanctioned night-shift napping. From alarming survey data to cultural barriers, space challenges, HR policy changes, and real nurse stories, this conversation offers a practical roadmap for any hospital looking to prioritize safety and wellness for its night-shift staff.

Key Takeaways

• Night-shift fatigue has real safety consequences, including drowsy driving and impaired clinical performance.
• A small, well-designed pilot project helped Children’s National gain leadership buy-in before expanding napping hospital-wide.
• Clear guidelines, protected spaces, and strong collaboration with security and HR were essential to implementation.
• Not all units adopt napping the same way – autonomy and unit-level decision-making improved success and acceptance.
• Survey data revealed high rates of near-miss incidents related to fatigue, strengthening the case for change.
• Napping is one part of a broader wellness approach that includes sleep hygiene, nutrition, and night-shift–specific support systems.
• A strong safety message helped shift culture: nurses must come to work rested, and naps are not guaranteed.
• Implementing napping can support recruitment, retention, and a perception of organizational care for night-shift workers.

Additional Reading

• Geiger-Brown, Harlow, Bagshaw, Sagherian & Hinds: “One Hospital’s Successful Initiative to Implement Napping for Night Shift Nurses.”https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34528852/  
• Napping on the Night Shift: A Two-Hospital Implementation Project (Am J Nurs, 2016) https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/39786

For today’s episode, hosted by Susan Weaver, Nurse Scientist, New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing, we have something special for you. We’re coming to you from a committee room at the New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton, where we’ll be speaking with three distinguished panelists about political advocacy and state-level testimony.

Our guests today are:

• Dr. Marcel Kaganovskaya, APN and President of the Society of Psychiatric APNs, and Assistant Professor at Felician University School of Nursing
• Tyla Minniear, Chief Operating Officer of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute
• Rose M. Catton, Executive Director of the New Jersey State School Nurses Association

If you prefer to watch this, you can find the video recordings on our YouTube channel.

In this episode of Nursing Insights, host Stephanie Olaso, MHCI, BSN, RN  sits down with Dr. Deeba Siddiqui, Doctor of Nursing Practice with a focus on safety systems.

Deeba’s nursing journey began with a chest tube at age 19 – an experience that inspired her to pivot into nursing. From outpost nursing in rural Newfoundland, to working across the United States, to becoming Patient Safety and Quality Officer at the United Nations, her career has been anything but traditional.

Now serving as Chief Risk Officer at Hackensack Meridian Health, Deeba reflects on her role leading through the COVID-19 pandemic, her passion for public health nursing, and the importance of trust, psychological safety, and compassion in every aspect of care.

Key Takeaways:

• How a personal health crisis inspired Dr. Siddiqui to pursue nursing
• The unique challenges and rewards of outpost nursing in Canada
• Lessons from global patient safety work with the United Nations
• Leading a health system through the COVID-19 pandemic as Chief Risk Officer
• Why psychological safety and trust are essential for healthcare improvement
• Encouragement for nurses to explore non-traditional career paths

Relevant Links:

• New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing: https://www.njccn.org
• Hackensack Meridian Health: https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org
• Nominate a nurse to be featured: https://www.njccn.org/nursing-insights-podcast

In this episode of Nursing Insights, host Stephanie Olaso sits down with Frank Crispin (Nursing Director) and Veronica Perez (Nurse Manager) from Inspira Medical Center Vineland to explore how virtual nursing is reshaping patient care and supporting frontline nurses.

They share the story behind Inspira’s pilot program, how virtual nurses handle admissions and discharges, and the surprising impact on nurse burnout, patient experience, and hospital efficiency.

This conversation highlights how innovation and technology can bring relief to nurses while improving outcomes for patients and communities.

Key Takeaways

• What virtual nursing is: A way for nurses to provide admissions, discharges, and patient education remotely through secure technology.
• Why it matters: Addresses staffing shortages, reduces burnout, and supports bedside nurses with time-consuming tasks.
• Pilot results: Nurses gained back 30–45 minutes per admission and 15–30 minutes per discharge.
• Patient impact: Higher satisfaction scores, smoother discharges, and faster turnaround times.
• Future vision: Expanding the program across Inspira Health with advanced technology and centralized operations.

Relevant Links

• Learn more about Inspira Health: https://www.inspirahealthnetwork.org
• Follow the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing: https://nursing.rutgers.edu/njccn
• Listen to more episodes of Nursing Insights: https://nursing.rutgers.edu/nursing-insights

What if a small change in your electronic health record could save lives?

In this episode of Nursing Insights, we dive into a quiet revolution in geriatric care: the Geriatric Prescribing Context (GPC). Host Stephanie Olaso, MHCI, BSN, RN  is joined by:

• Dr. Katie Drago, geriatrician and lead researcher behind the GPC
• Jean Stoerger, PharmD and clinical geriatric pharmacist
• Mary Jo Phillips, DNP and geriatric program director

Together, they unpack how the GPC came to life after a tragic medical error, how it functions invisibly within Epic to nudge safer prescribing decisions, and what the real-world results look like – like a 50% reduction in dose-related adverse drug events.

Whether you’re a nurse, pharmacist, or physician, this episode will challenge the way you think about clinical decision support, EHR design, and the hidden power of tiny nudges in patient care.

Key Takeaways:

• A tragic overdose case involving haloperidol in a 90-year-old patient became the catalyst for the GPC.
• The GPC adjusts default medication doses in Epic for patients aged 65+, making them more age-appropriate – without pop-ups or hard stops.
• Implementation led to a 50% reduction in dose-related adverse drug events, with sustained results over 4 years.
• Most clinicians didn’t even realize it was active – meaning no alert fatigue and seamless workflow.
• Nurses play a powerful, often overlooked role in influencing prescribing decisions.
• The GPC is now part of Epic’s foundations package (post-Nov 2023) and available to others via the Community Library.

Relevant Links:

• New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing: https://njccn.org
• Safer prescribing for hospitalized older adults with an electronic-health record based prescribing context: https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jgs.16640
• Long term impact of a geriatric prescribing context: https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jgs.17799
• In pursuit of the quadruple aim: A geriatric prescribing context’s impact on clinician workflows and alert fatigue: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/07334648221079103
• Improving dose related adverse drug events among hospitalized older adults using a geriatric prescribing context: https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jgs.18754
• IHI Age Friendly Health Systems, main page, including overview of the movement and how to join: https://www.ihi.org/partner/initiatives/age-friendly-health-systems
• Getting started on an Age Friendly journey: 

In this powerful installment of New Jersey Nursing Insights, we delve into the often-overlooked emotional toll on healthcare providers known as the Second Victim Phenomenon. Through a candid conversation with Dr. Marthe Leveille, MSN, RN, CPHQ, we explore the internal struggles nurses experience after adverse patient events – ranging from guilt and anxiety to moral injury and burnout.

In this episode, Dr. Leveille shares the ground-breaking pilot of a peer-support program in adult ICUs, inspired by the Scott Three-Tiered Interventional Model. Learn how 24/7 support lines, monthly debriefing sessions, and structured leadership involvement resulted in meaningful improvements in staff well‑being, retention, and organizational culture. We also discuss how these strategies bolster resilience – not just surviving the trauma, but transforming it into an opportunity for collective growth and stronger patient care.

This conversation is essential for nurses, healthcare leaders, and educators aiming to build sustainable support systems that safeguard both the caregivers and the cared‑for.

You should listen if you’re a nurse or healthcare leader seeking evidence-based ways to support staff emotionally after traumatic events. Or simply just interested in building resilient healthcare teams through structured peer-support and debriefing systems.

Key Takeaways

• Recognizing "Second Victims"
  Understanding how healthcare staff – even those not directly at fault – can suffer deep emotional wounds after clinical events.
• Peer-Support in Action
  Launching a Tier‑1 peer-support system led to measurable improvements in emotional recovery and workforce retention in ICUs.
• The Power of Debriefing
  Monthly, structured group sessions offer a safe space for emotional processing, moral clarity, and team solidarity.
• Leadership Is Crucial
  Nurse leaders play a critical role in embedding a "just culture" and championing emotional resilience infrastructure.
• Evidence-Based Outcomes
  Programs like this not only uplift staff morale but also show real value – enhancing culture, reducing absenteeism, and supporting retention.

Links & Further Reading

• “Implementation of a Second Victim Program”  
  Poster by Marthe Leveille et al., illustrating the ICU pilot peer‑support initiative nursing.rutgers.edu
• “Reflective Debriefing to Address Moral Distress among ICU Nurses”
  A study on structured debriefing protocols that align with Dr. Leveille’s approach researchgate.net
• Learn more about the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing
  https://www.njccn.org
• Attend NJNew Virtual Schwartz Rounds
  https://njnew.org/programs/virtual-schwartz-rounds/
• Learn more about Healthy Nurse Healthy Nation.
  https://www.healthynursehealthynation.org/