In this week's episode, Cara is joined by Monica Woodward Luberto, RN to discuss the evolving landscape of skilled nursing facilities, focusing on wound care advancements and the upcoming CMS audit changes. Cara and Monica dive into how innovative equipment like specialized beds and wound vacs are transforming patient care, though challenges around access and cost persist, especially in rural areas. The conversation highlights the importance of electronic health records with auditing features to reduce errors, while also addressing the hurdles faced by smaller facilities still using paper charts. Tune in to discover practical strategies that can protect your facility’s reputation and ensure quality care for patients.

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In this week's episode, Cara is joined by Dr. Viola Pierce to discuss her inspiring entrepreneurial journey and the unique challenges and opportunities in building businesses for nurses. Viola opens up about how she found her true focus after several attempts, emphasizing the power of resilience and the importance of community support in overcoming skepticism. Cara shares her passion behind creating a specialized networking platform that connects nurses with meaningful resources and like-minded peers. Together, they explore the value of knowing your strengths and building a complementary team, as well as how coaching can dramatically accelerate business growth by guiding entrepreneurs toward smarter strategies. They also dive into the exciting role technology and AI play in streamlining operations and boosting engagement.

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For this special Halloween episode, Cara is joined by Joscel James, RN, to explore some of Hollywood’s most iconic horror movie moments, from the suspenseful shower scene in Psycho to the gory chaos of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. As the clips play, they trade jump scares for clinical insight, breaking down the gruesome injuries and explaining how real nurses would actually treat those wounds. Blending horror, humor, and healthcare expertise, this episode proves that even the most chilling scenes can’t scare seasoned nurses.

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In this week's episode, Cara is joined by Dr. Jenni Hamann, DNP, RN, NI-BC, NE-BC, to explore how technology is transforming healthcare delivery. They dive into the vital role nurse informatics professionals play as change champions, driving adoption of new tools that enhance workflow efficiency across hospital teams. The conversation highlights exciting innovations like mobile "Rover" iPhones that empower nurses with on-the-go documentation and communication, alongside emerging AI features that promise to lighten documentation burdens even further. Listeners will also discover how AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot are revolutionizing administrative tasks and research, freeing up valuable time for healthcare leaders. The episode wraps up with a look at how predictive analytics and AI-driven alerts are personalizing patient care and reducing bias, all while institutions like Harris Health invest in cutting-edge technology to better serve diverse communities. Tune in to hear how these advancements are reshaping the future of healthcare and what it means for patients and providers alike.

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In this week's episode, Cara is joined by Hollye Briggs, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, TCRN to discuss the dynamic world of emergency nursing and the powerful role of certification in professional growth. Hollye shares her inspiring journey from emergency nursing to becoming a specialist in professional development, emphasizing how leadership encouragement can spark a nurse’s pursuit of certification. They dive into the unique personality traits that thrive in the fast-paced, ever-changing environment of emergency care, highlighting adaptability and comfort with controlled chaos. Listeners will discover valuable resources like BCEN’s Nursing Journey and Ed Vantage programs, designed to support nurses at every stage of their career. The episode also offers practical tips on motivating employers to invest in certification, including how AI tools like ChatGPT can help craft compelling proposals. Tune in to explore how certification not only boosts confidence and collaboration but also fosters a culture of continuous learning and leadership.

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In this week’s episode, Cara is joined by Pamela Roman, MSN-Ed, BSN, RN to explore the urgent need for pediatric hospice and respite care options beyond hospital walls. Together, they shine a light on how limited choices force many families into stressful acute care settings, and why specialized facilities can make a world of difference. The conversation dives into the unique communication skills nurses develop when working with children, and how these skills ripple out to improve care for everyone. Listeners will hear about the challenges of designing care homes that truly fit each community, as well as the uphill battle for funding and policy support. The episode also highlights why in-home respite often falls short, and how dedicated centers staffed by trusted professionals can offer families the rest and support they desperately need. 

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In this week's episode, Cara is joined by Maria Smilios, Author of the The Black Angels to uncover the untold story of the Black nurses at Seaview Hospital and their courageous fight against tuberculosis in the 1920s and 1930s. Together, they explore how these nurses stepped into dangerous roles abandoned by others, seizing rare professional opportunities despite facing broken promises and lower pay. The conversation dives into the erasure of their contributions from public memory, revealing how media coverage focused on doctors while the nurses’ vital work went largely unrecognized. Drawing powerful parallels to the COVID-19 pandemic, the episode highlights persistent disparities in healthcare and the ongoing impact of racial bias.

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In this week's episode, Cara is joined by Francine Bono-Neri, PhD, RN, APRN, PNP, FAAN, to shed light on the hidden realities of human trafficking and the critical role healthcare professionals play in recognizing and responding to victims. The conversation reveals how easily signs of trafficking can be missed, even in well-resourced hospitals, and challenges stereotypes by highlighting that boys, men, and victims of familial trafficking are also affected. Listeners will learn that trafficking takes many forms beyond sex trafficking, including labor, organ trafficking, and forced criminality, often leaving survivors with complex legal and emotional hurdles. The episode explores innovative ways discreet resources like QR codes and shoe cards are helping victims access support, especially when they can't safely use a phone or don't realize they're being exploited. Cara and Francine discuss the urgent need for better education, sharing that most nursing students receive little to no training on trafficking and feel unprepared to help.

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In this week’s episode, Cara is joined by a nurse comedian, Joscel James RN, CPR LOL HYFR, to explore the healing power of laughter in healthcare. They dive into fascinating research showing that just 15 minutes of comedy can melt away stress and even give your immune system a boost—proving that laughter really is medicine. The conversation highlights how nurse comedians skillfully use self-deprecating humor and “punching up” jokes to create a safe, supportive space for their colleagues, never at the expense of patients. You’ll hear how nurses navigate the delicate balance of humor in clinical settings, sometimes leaving themselves reminders to ensure laughter uplifts rather than hurts. The episode also peels back the curtain on the creative process, revealing how fleeting ideas are captured and shaped into powerful, relatable comedy. 

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In this week's episode, Cara is joined by Dr. Shakira Henderson, to unpack the challenges and opportunities facing new nurses as they step into today’s complex healthcare landscape. The conversation dives into why many graduates feel unprepared for clinical realities, despite strong academic backgrounds, and explores the steep learning curve and high turnover rates in their first year. You’ll hear eye-opening insights about how current training often falls short in immersing students in interdisciplinary collaboration, leaving gaps in practical experience across departments. The episode also tackles the heavy documentation burden nurses face and why current tech solutions aren’t quite hitting the mark yet. Cara and Shakira discuss the urgent need for clearer role definitions to support fair nurse reimbursement, and reflect on the impact of losing seasoned mentors during COVID-19. Wrapping up, they highlight innovative dual roles for staff and faculty that could energize nursing education and build stronger connections.

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