Flight nurse Claire Barnett joins host Jana Price on Nurse Converse to share one of the most intense survival stories in flight nursing.

Claire is a quadruple board-certified emergency nurse and the chief flight nurse for an international medevac company. About a year and a half ago, she and her trainee partner accepted a flight to pick up a young man with possible hantavirus. The plan was solid. The weather looked manageable. Then everything changed.

Fifteen minutes into the flight, the storm closed in behind them. The pilot was forced to land in the middle of nowhere as a blizzard rolled over them. With a critically ill patient, limited oxygen, no cell service, and search and rescue unable to reach them, Claire had to make decisions that went against every protocol she had been trained on — including giving Ativan to slow her patient's breathing and save what little oxygen they had left.

This episode is about more than survival. It's about what flight nurses face every shift, the weight of being someone's only hope, and the six Navajo search and rescue heroes who spent five hours building a road to reach them. Claire also shares the advice every new nurse needs to hear: don't lose your voice.

Jump Ahead: 

• 00:38 — Welcome and introducing Claire Barnett
• 01:45 — From concrete dispatcher to nurse: the story that started it all
• 04:27 — Why flight nursing was always the dream
• 06:01 — The setup: a young patient with possible hantavirus
• 09:00 — Weighing the storm and the patient's oxygen needs
• 11:30 — At the bedside: hypoxic, tachypneic, alert and oriented
• 13:00 — Lift-off and the storm closing in
• 14:30 — Landing in a whiteout in the middle of nowhere
• 17:00 — The oxygen problem and an out-of-protocol decision
• 20:19 — The RAM cannula and the BiPAP workaround
• 22:00 — Giving Ativan to slow the patient's breathing
• 24:21 — The helicopter confessional
• 26:00 — The call to prepare for the worst
• 27:30 — Headlights in the storm: the Navajo rescue team
• 29:00 — Wrapping the patient and sliding down the mountain
• 30:30 — Claire's first intubation in the back of an ambulance
• 32:30 — What it feels like knowing every flight could be your last
• 36:07 — Claire's advice to new nurses: don't lose your voice
• 37:30 — The nurse who became a nurse because of Claire
• 38:44 — Closing thanks

Listen now at nurse.org/nurseconverse.

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This is episode two of a two-part series. 

Part 2 of one of the most powerful survival stories in nursing. Host Jana Price welcomes back flight nurse Dave Repsher and his wife Amanda — also a nurse — to continue the story they started in part 1.

After a helicopter crash left Dave with burns over 90% of his body, the fight to survive was only the beginning. In this episode, Dave and Amanda pick up where they left off and walk through the long road of recovery: a year of home dialysis, a kidney transplant from a stranger named Matt who has now become family, getting married in the ICU after 16 years together, and what life looks like on the other side of it all.

Jump Ahead: 

00:38 — Welcome back and recap of part 1

03:40 — Dave's decision to fight: "We can't be angry"

08:05 — The power of hope and small acts from staff

11:21 — A nurse-patient's plea: talk to your sedated patients

12:45 — What separates new nurses from experienced ones

15:20 — A year of home dialysis: "Dialysis keeps you alive, but it's no way to live"

17:18 — Amanda's stress and the first 911 call from home

17:51 — Finding humor and independence on a tricycle with a bell

21:11 — The phone call: a donor named Matt

23:13 — Choosing to know your donor — Matt becomes family

25:56 — Married in the ICU after 16 years together

28:02 — The documentary "D-Rep" and the milk-jug fuel system

30:37 — A 2014 helicopter built to 1965 safety standards

32:19 — Why military helicopters got safer after Vietnam but civilian ones didn't

34:00 — Two federal laws in five years thanks to advocacy

35:52 — "Dave was the least physically injured from the crash"

37:57 — A company's staff who refused to fly without crash-resistant fuel systems

40:03 — 85% of the non-military fleet had no crash-resistant fuel systems at the time of the crash

41:23 — Life today: running a community ice rink in Colorado

42:23 — Continued advocacy and burn survivor support

44:32 — Closing thanks and where to find resources

They also share the advocacy work that came out of the crash. Dave's helicopter was brand new, but its fuel system was built to 1965 safety standards. The same fuel system has been described as no stronger than a milk jug. Together with the pilot's widow Karen, Dave and Amanda helped push two pieces of federal legislation through Congress to require crash-resistant fuel systems on newly manufactured helicopters. A medic recently texted them after walking away from a crash because of the very system they fought for.

This is a conversation about hope, advocacy, and what it really means to make good come out of tragedy. Listen to part 1 now at nurse.org/nurseconverse.

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This is episode one of a two-part series. 

Flight nurse Dave Repsher and his wife Amanda — also a nurse — join host Jana Price on Nurse Converse to share one of the most powerful survival stories in nursing.

On July 3rd, 2015, Dave was working a shift on a Flight for Life helicopter when it crashed 32 seconds after takeoff. Covered in jet fuel and on fire, he suffered burns over 90% of his body. The pilot did not survive. Doctors did not expect Dave to make it through the night.

Almost a year later, he walked out of the hospital alive.

Jump Ahead: 

02:09 — Introducing Dave and Amanda Repsher

02:53 — Dave's path into nursing: from ski bum to flight nurse

04:29 — Amanda's path: raft guide, EMT, paramedic, ICU nurse

05:58 — How Dave and Amanda met at an ACLS class

06:43 — Setting the scene: July 3rd, 2015, the helicopter crash

27:55 — The lifetime impact of small acts by nurses

30:26 — Arriving at the burn unit in Denver and being let into the "tub room"

34:18 — Severe inhalation injuries and renal failure

35:42 — The everyday battle for survival

37:28 — "The perfect storm of good"

39:08 — Dave wakes up after five and a half months

42:53 — Amanda fills in what really happened: emergent thoracotomy and SVC syndrome

49:58 — Wrap-up and tease for part two

In part one of this incredible two-part conversation, Dave and Amanda walk through the day of the crash, what those first hours in the burn unit looked like, and how Amanda fought to be part of his care team. They share the small moments from nurses — a phone call, a hand on a shoulder, a tech explaining each burn degree — that changed everything. Dave also opens up about what it was like to wake up after five and a half months and beg his wife to let him die, not knowing the medical crisis that had just nearly killed him.

This episode is for every nurse who has ever wondered if the small things they do for patients and families actually matter. They do. Sometimes for a lifetime.

Listen to part one now. Part two coming soon. Learn more at nurse.org/nurseconverse.

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Your nursing license is everything—but most nurses were never taught how easily it can be put at risk.

In this episode, Nurse Converse host Jana Price sits down with legal expert and nurse practitioner Jaime Weiland (aka “The Legal NP”) to break down the real-world legal risks nurses are facing today—from social media missteps and documentation gaps to drug diversion and off-duty conduct. 

They unpack what actually triggers board investigations, why good intentions won’t protect you, and the critical mistakes nurses make without even realizing it.

If you’ve ever assumed “that would never happen to me,” this episode might change your perspective—and how you practice—forever.

For more information, full transcript and videos visit Nurse.org/podcast
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Two Alabama nurses saw a glaring gap in care and decided not to ignore it. Hosted by Jana Price, this episode of Nurse Converse features Shannon Krebs and Marcina Doze as they share how they built a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program from the ground up in a fast-growing community with zero prior access. They walk through the real-world barriers, from funding challenges to training and emotional toll, and explain how collaboration with hospitals, law enforcement, and community leaders made it possible. 

Beyond logistics, this conversation highlights the human impact, showing how access to compassionate, timely care can change outcomes for survivors. It’s a practical and deeply personal look at advocacy, resilience, and what it takes to create meaningful change in healthcare. 

Jump Ahead to Listen:

[00:01:20] Identifying zero SANE access in a fast‑growing Alabama county
[00:04:19] Patients sent an hour+ away for exams during tourism season
[00:08:46] Saying “that’s enough” and deciding to build a local SANE program
[00:09:14] First moves: collaboration, admin support, and community awareness
[00:12:59] Finding, training, and “growing your own” SANE nurses
[00:17:32] Barriers: money, staffing shortages, on‑call demands, and trauma
[00:20:59] Court as education: testimony mindset and mock‑trial practice
[00:27:12] Year‑one wins: major grant, dedicated exam room, local backing
[00:30:13] Exceeding case projections and constant education of law enforcement

Connect with Jana on LinkedIn and on social media:
Instagram: @gentlyusedrn

For more information, full transcript and videos visit Nurse.org/podcast
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In this episode of Nurse Converse, Linda Filipczak shares how over 40 years in nursing shaped her approach to leadership in Plymouth, Michigan. From bedside care to city hall, she explains how skills like listening, crisis management, and relationship-based care translate directly into serving a community.

This conversation challenges what leadership looks like and why nurses are uniquely equipped to step into it. Because whether it’s one patient or an entire city, it all comes down to people.

>>From Bedside to City Hall: How One Oncology Nurse Became Mayor of Plymouth, Michigan

Jump Ahead to Listen: 

[00:02:16] Early calling to nursing at age four
[00:02:51] Father’s cancer diagnosis shapes oncology focus
[00:04:43] First nursing job on post‑op unit in Detroit
[00:06:17] Becoming a mentor and preceptor on the floor
[00:07:03] Moving into recruitment and executive leadership
[00:09:20] National oncology committees and presenting to leaders
[00:11:29] Recruited onto local Historic District Committee
[00:12:59] Running for city commission and path to mayor
[00:14:30] Applying nursing skills to nonpartisan city leadership
[00:18:34] Balancing full‑time cancer center role with being mayor

Connect with Jana on LinkedIn and social media: 

Instagram: @gentlyusedrn

For more information, full transcript and videos visit Nurse.org/podcast
Join our newsletter at nurse.org/join
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Proposed federal student loan caps could significantly impact the future of nursing. In this episode of Nurse Converse, host Jana Price speaks with ANA President Dr. Jennifer Mensik Kennedy about what these changes mean for nurses, education access, and patient care.

They break down how loan limits could restrict access to advanced nursing degrees, worsen workforce shortages, and disproportionately affect underserved communities. Dr. Mensik Kennedy also shares how the ANA is advocating for nurses and what actions listeners can take.

If you’re a nurse—or rely on one—this conversation highlights what’s at stake and why it matters.

>>How New Federal Loan Limits Could Reshape the Future of Nursing

Jump Ahead to Listen: 

[00:01:23] Federal loan limits on graduate nursing degrees
[00:03:02] ANA calls loan‑limit logic flawed
[00:04:47] HR1, RISE committee, and changing loan definitions
[00:07:04] ANA’s first advocacy steps and coalition letter
[00:10:28] What happens to nursing if rule takes effect
[00:13:31] Why private loans don’t solve the problem
[00:18:02] Funding gaps: Title VIII and nursing vs physician support
[00:21:35] Evidence on APRN care quality and independence
[00:26:20] How to get involved: RNAction.org and ICAN Act

Connect with Jana on LinkedIn and social media: 

Instagram: @gentlyusedrn

For more information, full transcript and videos visit Nurse.org/podcast
Join our newsletter at nurse.org/join
Instagram: @nurse_org
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Nurse burnout is real, and “just pick up overtime” is not a personality trait. In this episode of Nurse Converse, Jana Price sits down with Jaclyn Passante, Katherine Brennan, and Amanda Ciardiello, the team behind Nurse Connect: a marketplace that helps nurses (and CNAs/HHAs/LPNs/NPs) find flexible, paid care gigs directly with patients. Think Facebook Marketplace meets TaskRabbit, but built for healthcare and packed with safety features like license verification and secure messaging. Currently live in New York and Florida, Nurse Connect lets clinicians set their own rates, choose their own jobs, and keep 100% of what they earn. Nurses calling the shots? Wild concept.

>>These Nurses Built the “Facebook Marketplace” for Healthcare Gigs

Jump Ahead to Listen: 

[00:01:20] Jackie’s story and idea for “TaskRabbit for nursing”
[00:03:27] Partnering with Kat and Amanda to build Nurse Connect
[00:05:47] Amanda’s first reaction and using her ops background
[00:07:05] Kat’s side‑gig goals and family struggle finding care
[00:09:35] Jana explains Nurse Connect as a marketplace for nurses
[00:11:18] How patients find nurses on the platform
[00:13:35] Who can join (HHA, CNA, LPN, RN, NP) and pricing
[00:16:10] Scope of practice questions and working within your license
[00:18:26] Licensure checks, insurance links, and safety support
[00:25:09] Expansion plans and Nurse Connect ambassador program

Connect with Jana on LinkedIn and social media: 

• Instagram: @gentlyusedrn

Keep Updated With Nurse Connect: 

• Instagram: @nurseconnect_ 
• Facebook: Nurse Connect
• Website: www.nurseconnectnow.com/

For more information, full transcript and videos visit Nurse.org/podcast
Join our newsletter at nurse.org/join
Instagram: @nurse_org
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In this episode of Nurse Converse, Jana Price welcomes palliative care nurse practitioner Courtnee Stagner, the viral nurse who makes millions laugh online while doing some of the most sacred work in healthcare. Beneath the humor is a clinician guiding families through life’s hardest decisions. Courtnee shares her unexpected path from ICU to hospice, unpacks the truth about morphine at the end of life, and tackles the cultural, spiritual, and ethical tensions nurses face around death. With candor and compassion, she reminds us that palliative care isn’t about giving up. It’s about living well until the very end and advocating fiercely for what matters most.

>>Millions Laugh at Her Videos—But Her Real Work Happens at the Bedside

Jump Ahead to Listen: 

[00:01:07] Introducing Courtnee and her story
[00:01:32] Courtnee’s role as a palliative care NP
[00:02:13] From critical care ICU to hospice and palliative
[00:04:27] Seeing patients as people, not numbers
[00:06:03] Patient story: going home to see his dog
[00:08:32] How to become a palliative care nurse/NP
[00:10:02] Shortage of palliative specialists and services
[00:13:49] Talking about morphine at end of life
[00:17:34] Helping families cope with grief and “fighting”
[00:20:30] Why advanced directives and early talks matter
[00:23:59] Honoring cultural and religious needs after death
[00:26:51] Using personal faith in end-of-life care
[00:31:19] Advice for burnt-out nurses and setting boundaries

Connect with Jana on LinkedIn and social media: 

• Instagram: @gentlyusedrn

Connect with Courtnee on social media: 

• Instagram: @CourtneeStagner
• TikTok: @CourtneeStagner12

For more information, full transcript and videos visit Nurse.org/podcast
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Disclaimer: Names and identifying details have been withheld to protect the nurse involved.

In this gripping episode of Nurse Converse, an anonymous psychiatric nurse shares firsthand details from two violent riots inside an Arizona adolescent behavioral health facility. After repeated warnings about unsafe staffing and high acuity went unaddressed, nurses were left managing 26 teens with minimal support. When the situation escalated, 911 was called and police deployed pepper balls on the unit, affecting patients and staff alike.

Our guest joins host Jana Price and describes the chaos, the trauma experienced by vulnerable adolescents, and the moral distress nurses carry long after the shift ends. We also explore regulatory oversight, administrative response, and the very real fear of retaliation that keeps many nurses silent.

This episode is a sobering look at patient safety, staffing, and the courage it takes to speak up.

>>911 Calls From Psych Nurses During Violent Youth Riot Released

Jump Ahead to Listen: 

[00:01:43] Arizona adolescent psych facility riots summary
[00:03:27] Why the nurse ultimately called 911
[00:05:11] Breaking point: staff assaulted during Code Grays
[00:05:57] Unsafe staffing ratios on riot night
[00:07:51] What safe restraint response should look like
[00:09:02] Police arrival and use of pepper balls
[00:10:20] Pepper exposure and chaos on the unit
[00:13:21] Added trauma for already vulnerable adolescents
[00:17:22] Acuity tool changes and hidden staffing data
[00:22:05] State survey findings: major safety deficiencies
[00:24:05] Management direction on riot wording and 911 calls
[00:28:50] Fear of retaliation and need for anonymity

Connect with Jana on LinkedIn and social media: 

Instagram: @gentlyusedrn

For more information, full transcript and videos visit Nurse.org/podcast
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