The healthcare landscape is evolving at breakneck speed—but the career advice nurses are still being given is stuck in the past. In this episode, we’re getting brutally honest about why the “stable job, climb the ladder, collect degrees” mindset is no longer enough—and how it’s actively hurting your ability to build a career that lasts.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything “right” but still feel stuck, burned out, or unsure what’s next, this episode will help you understand why—and what to do instead.

Most importantly, you’ll learn why becoming a systems thinker and building a changemaker skill set is the ultimate form of career insurance in today’s healthcare world.

• Why traditional career advice for nurses is outdated—and dangerous in 2025.
• The three biggest career myths keeping nurses stuck (and what to believe instead).
• How the most successful nurse leaders think differently about their careers and impact.
• Why “stability” is a myth—and adaptability is your real superpower.
• How to future-proof your nursing career with a portable, powerful skill set you can apply anywhere.

• There is no such thing as a “stable” nursing career anymore.
• Degrees alone won’t save you—but strategic skills, relationships, and systems thinking will.
• You can’t afford to wait for permission—the nurses who thrive create their own opportunities.
• Change leadership isn’t a title—it’s a mindset and a set of tools you can use anywhere.
• Your best career insurance plan is becoming someone who understands how systems work and how to change them.

As you listen, take note of the career advice you’ve been following—where does it come from? Is it aligned with the realities of healthcare today, or are you still clinging to outdated ideas that no longer serve you? Reflect on what being a changemaker could look like for you, no matter where you work today.

✔ Stop chasing stability and start building adaptability—become someone who can thrive in any setting.

✔ Audit your career mindset—are you waiting for a seat at the table, or learning how to build your own?

✔ Start thinking like a systems thinker—practice seeing the big picture, not just your daily tasks.

✔ Explore Changemaker Essentials—Claire’s 12-week program to help you build the strategic skills, influence, and confidence to create a career that works for YOU, not just the system.

🚨 Changemaker Essentials enrollment is OPEN!

This 12-week program is designed for nurses who are ready to:

• Stop feeling stuck and start driving change in their careers and workplaces.
• Build systems thinking, influence, and problem-solving skills that work in any setting.
• Create a career path that’s aligned with their values and future-proofed against industry shifts.

Enrollment is only open March 3-6, 2025, so head to the link in the below to save your spot.

🔗 Visit here to enroll in Change Maker Essentials before doors close on March 6th.

📩 DM Claire on Instagram @nursing.the.system with any questions—or just to share your biggest takeaway from today’s episode.

📤 Know a nurse who feels stuck in their career? Send them this episode!

⁉️ Want me to answer your question or scenario on the podcast?

I just opened a new form where you can anonymously submit:

• A leadership or systems challenge you’re facing
• A scenario you want me to walk through
• A question that’s been stuck in your head about your role, team, or impact

I'll be selecting a few to feature in upcoming episodes.

Submit your Q here!

• 📚 Changemaker Essentials Enrollment Page – Enrollment Closes March 6th
• Join my System Sunday email list for your weekly dose of strategy and sanity for nurses leading change in healthcare.
• 📲 Follow Claire on Instagram: @nursing.the.system

Stepping into a leadership role—whether you’re new to an organization, promoted within your unit, or stepping up as a charge nurse—can feel like drinking from a firehose. You’re excited, a little overwhelmed, and wondering, Where do I even start?

The truth? New leaders often feel like they’re failing before they’ve even begun. But leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about learning how to ask the right questions. In this episode, we’re breaking down the mindset shifts, first steps, and success tools you need to transition into leadership with confidence.

• The biggest mindset traps that new leaders fall into (and how to avoid them).
• Why you don’t need to prove yourself right away—and how pacing yourself sets you up for long-term success.
• The first steps every new leader should take to earn trust and build momentum.
• How to clarify your team’s challenges and goals before making big decisions.
• Three practical tools to help you stay organized, build relationships, and find early wins in your role.

• Leadership transitions take time—you don’t have to prove yourself in the first month.
• Your first job as a leader is to listen, learn, and observe.
• Small, strategic wins are more impactful than rushing to fix everything at once.
• Trust isn’t built by doing everything—it’s built by doing the right things well.
• You don’t need to have all the answers—great leaders know how to ask the right questions.

Reflect on where you’re at in your leadership journey—are you feeling pressure to over-perform, or are you focusing on learning first? Take notes on the success tools shared in this episode and pick one or two to start implementing this week.

✔ Shift Your Mindset: Give yourself permission to be a learner first, not a fixer.

✔ Set Up 1:1 Conversations with key team members to understand what’s working and where support is needed.

✔ Start Your Orientation Manual: Document important systems, processes, and stakeholder insights.

✔ Use the Map Your Impact Mini-Course to identify key players and how to strategically build relationships.

✔ Find an Early Win: Look for a small, meaningful improvement to build credibility with your team.

📌 Navigating a new leadership role? My Map Your Impact Mini-Course will help you cut through the noise, identify your strategic position, and make an impact—without feeling overwhelmed. Find it in the show notes!

📌 Want a clear strategy for leading with confidence? Join the waitlist for Changemaker Essentials—my leadership coaching program designed to help you step into your role with clarity and purpose.

⁉️ Want me to answer your question or scenario on the podcast?

I just opened a new form where you can anonymously submit:

• A leadership or systems challenge you’re facing
• A scenario you want me to walk through
• A question that’s been stuck in your head about your role, team, or impact

I'll be selecting a few to feature in upcoming episodes.

Submit your Q here!

📩 DM me on Instagram @nursing.the.system to share your biggest leadership challenge—I’d love to hear from you!

Join my System Sunday email list for your weekly dose of strategy and sanity for nurses leading change in healthcare.

🎧 If this episode resonated with you, send it to a fellow nurse leader or tag me on Instagram with your takeaways.

If you’re thinking about grad school—or you’re already in the thick of it—there’s a lot you probably wish someone had told you. Many nurses see grad school as the natural next step for career growth, but without a clear “why,” they often end up burned out, frustrated, or questioning if it was worth it.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the six biggest mistakes nurses make when choosing, applying to, and navigating grad school—so you can make the most of your experience.

• The biggest misconceptions about grad school (and why it won’t automatically fix burnout).
• Why using grad school as an escape route can backfire—and what to do instead.
• How to avoid underestimating the financial, time, and mental investment that grad school requires.
• Why not all schools are created equal (and how to find a program that actually fits your career goals).
• How to be strategic in your applications instead of telling admissions committees what you think they want to hear.
• The number one way to find mentorship during grad school—and why it’s your responsibility to seek it out.

• Grad school should be a strategic choice, not an emotional escape route.
• If you’re struggling with lack of structure, grad school won’t fix that—you have to build systems that work for you.
• The true cost of grad school goes beyond tuition—it affects your time, opportunities, and mental capacity.
• A “top-ranked” school isn’t always the best fit—your personal vision matters more than prestige.
• Professors and advisors won’t automatically check in on you—mentorship is something you have to create for yourself.

Take a moment to reflect on why you’re considering grad school. Are you running toward something or just running away? Listen with a critical and open mind—this episode will help you get clear on whether grad school is the right move for you right now.

✔ Get clear on your "why" before applying—ask yourself what long-term impact you want to have.

✔ Assess whether you need grad school or just a better structure for career growth.

✔ Do the math—look at the true financial, time, and energy cost before enrolling.

✔ Research schools intentionally—find a program that aligns with your career goals, not just the most prestigious name.

✔ Seek mentorship proactively—connect with faculty, peers, or professional groups to support your journey.

📌 Thinking about grad school? My Personal Statement Writing Guide is your roadmap to crafting an authentic, standout application.

⁉️ Want me to answer your question or scenario on the podcast?

I just opened a new form where you can anonymously submit:

• A leadership or systems challenge you’re facing
• A scenario you want me to walk through
• A question that’s been stuck in your head about your role, team, or impact

I'll be selecting a few to feature in upcoming episodes.

Submit your Q here!



📩 DM me on Instagram @nursing.the.system to share your thoughts on this episode or ask any questions!

Join my System Sunday email list for your weekly dose of strategy and sanity for nurses leading change in healthcare.

🎧 If you found this episode helpful, share it with a fellow nurse who’s considering grad school!

🎙 Episode Overview:

In this episode I discuss how I am stepping into a leadership role where I was hired for my leadership skills—not my subject matter expertise. In this episode, I’m sharing how I prepared for my new role and the seven things I did six weeks before my first day to set myself up for success. If you’re navigating a leadership transition, this episode will give you tangible strategies to help you feel more confident, clear, and prepared.

🔑 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why preparing for a transition isn’t about control—it’s about resilience.
• The mindset shift that makes stepping into leadership feel less overwhelming.
• How to create structure before day one to reduce stress and decision fatigue.
• The importance of observing, listening, and connecting in your first few weeks.
• How setting expectations with your team and loved ones makes the transition smoother.

🧠 Key Ideas to Take With You:

• Leadership transitions aren’t just about learning the job—they’re about designing systems that support you through the change.
• You don’t need to have all the answers on day one—your job is to listen, observe, and build trust.
• Setting up your home life and routines in advance creates more mental space to focus at work.
• Every system—from your calendar to your relationships—affects your success in a new role.

🎧 How to Get the Most Out of This Episode:

If you’re stepping into leadership, about to start a new job, or feeling overwhelmed by a transition, use this episode as a checklist. Pick one or two strategies that resonate and implement them now—you’ll thank yourself later.

🛠️ Practical Actions You Can Take:

1. Rehearse Your New Routine: Start practicing your new schedule before day one—wake up at the same time, test your commute, and fine-tune your workflow.
2. Declutter Your Physical & Digital Spaces: Clear out distractions so your home and workspace feel supportive.
3. Prioritize Observation & Connection: Spend your first weeks listening, asking questions, and learning the dynamics of your team.
4. Set Expectations With Loved Ones: Be upfront about how your schedule is changing and what you’ll need during the transition.
5. Identify Your Leadership Priorities: Define how you want to show up each day, even before you start making changes.

📣 Special Announcements:

🚨 The Map Your Impact Mini-Course is here! This course helps you map out your role, focus your energy, and start driving meaningful change from day one—without feeling overwhelmed.

As a podcast listener, you can use the code MYI10OFF for $10 off your enrollment. Find the link in the show notes!

⁉️ Want me to answer your question or scenario on the podcast?

I just opened a new form where you can anonymously submit:

• A leadership or systems challenge you’re facing
• A scenario you want me to walk through
• A question that’s been stuck in your head about your role, team, or impact

I'll be selecting a few to feature in upcoming episodes.

Submit your Q here!

👉 Resources Mentioned:

• Map Your Impact Mini-Course (Code: MYI10OFF)
• Connect with me: @nursing.the.system

🎙 Episode Overview:

Silos in healthcare are everywhere, from departments that don’t communicate to shifts operating in isolation. 

In this episode, I’m diving into why breaking down these barriers is critical for collaboration, patient care, and building a healthier workplace culture. 

I’ll walk you through practical steps to start dissolving silos at your level—whether that’s with your coworkers, managers, or other departments—so we can create an interconnected web of trust and teamwork.

🔑 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why silos limit collaboration and delay patient care—and how to recognize them in your workplace.
• Practical ways to connect with your coworkers and reduce the “us vs. them” mindset.
• How building trust with your manager strengthens team dynamics and problem-solving.
• Strategies to go beyond surface-level niceties with other departments.
• How to become a connector and foster collaboration across your organization.

🧠 Key Ideas to Take With You:

• Silos limit communication, delay care, and create an “us vs. them” culture.
• Collaboration starts with empathy and understanding others’ perspectives, no matter their role.
• Strong workplace connections create a “web” of trust that helps solve problems faster.
• You don’t need authority to make an impact—small actions can create ripple effects across your team.

🎧 How to Get the Most Out of This Episode:

Come ready to reflect on how you interact with others at work. Pay attention to the practical examples I share and think about how you can apply them to build stronger connections in your organization.

🛠️ Practical Actions You Can Take:

1. Ask a coworker a meaningful question, like, “What’s one thing making your shift harder today?”
2. Have a quick, intentional check-in with your manager to better understand their perspective.
3. Break the ice with other departments by asking a thoughtful question, like, “What drew you to this role?”
4. Introduce two people who could collaborate better and watch how that connection drives teamwork.

📣 Special Announcements:

🚨 I’m so excited to announce the launch of the Map Your Impact Mini-Course! In this course, I’ll guide you through creating a personalized impact map to help you identify your role, focus your energy, and start driving meaningful change without feeling overwhelmed.

As a podcast listener, you can use the code MYI10OFF for $10 off your enrollment.

📲 Call to Action:

• Enroll in the Map Your Impact Mini-Course with code MYI10OFF.
• Follow me on Instagram @nursing.the.system for more tools and tips on breaking silos.
• Share this episode with a colleague who’s ready to make their workplace stronger.
• Join the CME Waitlist
• Join my System Sunday email list for your weekly dose of strategy and sanity for nurses leading change in healthcare.



⁉️ Want me to answer your question or scenario on the podcast?

I just opened a new form where you can anonymously submit:

• A leadership or systems challenge you’re facing
• A scenario you want me to walk through
• A question that’s been stuck in your head about your role, team, or impact

I'll be selecting a few to feature in upcoming episodes.

Submit your Q here!

👉 Resources Mentioned:

• Map Your Impact Mini-Course (Code: MYI10OFF)
• Connect with me: @nursing.the.system

🎙 Episode Overview: 

When you're in a meeting discussing a complex problem, have you ever wondered how everyone can be looking at the same issue but seeing it completely differently? 

In this episode, we dive into systems mapping—a powerful visual tool that helps get your entire team on the same page. You'll learn how to use this approach to break down complex problems, create shared understanding, and move toward meaningful solutions together.

🔑 In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• How to use systems mapping to visualize relationships between different parts of your healthcare system—from staffing patterns to communication breakdowns
• Why creating a shared mental model is crucial for solving complex problems (and how systems mapping makes this possible)
• The key difference between systems mapping and workflow mapping, and when to use each
• A step-by-step approach to facilitate your first systems mapping session with your team

🧠 Key Ideas to Take With You:

• Systems mapping isn't about controlling the system—it's about understanding it so we can move with it more effectively
• The act of mapping together is often just as valuable as the final map itself
• You're already familiar with systems mapping through things like org charts and anatomy diagrams—now it's about applying this skill intentionally
• When diverse stakeholders map together, you get a more complete picture of what's really happening

🎧 How to Get the Most Out of This Episode

Take notes on the 4-step process for facilitating a systems mapping session. Think about a current challenge in your workplace that could benefit from getting everyone's perspective visually mapped out.

🛠️ Practical Actions You Can Take:

• Choose a specific problem or process in your unit that would benefit from shared understanding
• Gather your team and use sticky notes or a whiteboard to map out the current system together
• Ask "what might be happening?" instead of "what is happening?" to encourage more open discussion
• Use the bathtub analogy (inflows, stock, outflows) to analyze staffing or resource challenges

📣 Special Announcements:

Stay tuned for a special surprise in the next episode! Make sure you've collected all the secret code letters from the past few episodes. Collect this episode's secret code letters: "O F F"

👉 Call to Action:

• Share this episode
• Connect with Claire on Instagram @nursing.the.system to share your feedback
• Subscribe, rate, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts
• Join my System Sunday email list for your weekly dose of strategy and sanity for nurses leading change in healthcare.

⁉️ Want me to answer your question or scenario on the podcast?

I just opened a new form where you can anonymously submit:

• A leadership or systems challenge you’re facing
• A scenario you want me to walk through
• A question that’s been stuck in your head about your role, team, or impact

I'll be selecting a few to feature in upcoming episodes.

Submit your Q here!



📲 Links & Resources:

• Instagram
• Systems Sunday Newsletter

In this deeply personal episode, I share how an unexpected pull toward living in the Netherlands challenged my carefully planned life path—and what that taught me about navigating vision shifts. Whether you're feeling a tug toward something new or wrestling with seemingly conflicting goals, this episode offers a framework for aligning your shifting vision with your life and career.

• How to recognize and sit with the discomfort of a shifting vision instead of immediately trying to "fix" it
• A practical framework for integrating seemingly conflicting personal and professional goals
• Why "irrational" pulls toward new directions might hold important clues about your future path
• How to take small, exploratory steps toward a new vision while maintaining your current commitments

• Your vision naturally evolves—this isn't a failure of planning but an invitation to grow
• Being stuck is always a feeling, never a fact. It's an invitation to think differently about your situation
• Being a changemaker isn't about becoming a strategic robot. It's about asking: Who do I want to be? What do I love to do? And how can I integrate that into my life?
• Clarity comes from action, not endless analysis

Take time to reflect on your own experiences with shifting visions or conflicting goals as you listen. Consider grabbing a journal to work through the reflection prompts shared in the episode, especially if you're currently feeling a "tug" toward something new in your life or career.

1. Sit with the discomfort: Journal about where you're feeling a "tug" toward something new or unexpected
2. Map your intersections: Write down your seemingly conflicting goals side by side and look for creative overlaps
3. Take small, exploratory steps: Choose one low-stakes way to explore your new vision this week
4. Ask yourself: "What parts of my current life feel out of alignment? What is this new vision trying to tell me about who I'm becoming?"

• Keep collecting for the secret code! This episode's numbers: 1 and 0

• Share this episode with someone wrestling with a shifting vision
• Connect with Claire on Instagram @nursing.the.system to share your feedback
• Subscribe, rate, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts
• Join my System Sunday email list for your weekly dose of strategy and sanity for nurses leading change in healthcare.

⁉️ Want me to answer your question or scenario on the podcast?

I just opened a new form where you can anonymously submit:

• A leadership or systems challenge you’re facing
• A scenario you want me to walk through
• A question that’s been stuck in your head about your role, team, or impact

I'll be selecting a few to feature in upcoming episodes.

Submit your Q here!

• Book: "Curbing Traffic” by Melissa and Chris Bruntlett
• Claire's Systems Thinking Reading List
• Not Just Bikes YouTube Channel
• Change Maker Essentials Program
• Innovative Career Coaching Program
• Instagram
• Systems Sunday Newsletter

🎙 Episode Overview:

When you hear the word “resilience” paired with “nurses,” how does it make you feel? Frustrated? Defensive? Just plain tired? You’re not alone.

In this episode, we’re breaking down one of the biggest myths about burnout: it’s not a personal problem—it’s a systems problem.

Bubble baths and yoga might offer momentary relief, but they won’t fix the core issue: healthcare systems built for maximum efficiency, not long-term resilience.

It’s time to stop blaming individuals for systemic failures and start building systems that can actually absorb shocks and adapt to challenges without burning out their people.

• Why burnout feels so personal—and why it’s actually a systems-level issue.
• The difference between resilience and efficiency in healthcare systems and why they need balance.
• How healthcare systems excel at acute crises but fail at addressing slow-burning, chronic problems.
• Practical strategies for nurses to reframe personal complaints as systemic observations.
• How to advocate for changes using systems language that leaders understand.

• Burnout isn’t a personal failure—it’s a symptom of an overstretched system.
• Resilience and efficiency exist on a seesaw: Too much focus on one will destabilize the other.
• Slow-burn problems (like chronic understaffing) often go unnoticed until they become full-blown crises.
• Observation beats complaint: Framing problems as system patterns (e.g., “Our system is over-relying on overtime”) shifts the conversation to solutions.
• True resilience means absorbing shocks while maintaining core functions.

• Listen with a systems mindset: Notice patterns, not just problems.
• Reflect on where you’ve seen the efficiency vs. resilience seesaw tilt too far in either direction.
• Share this episode with colleagues—it’s a conversation that needs to happen across teams, not just in leadership meetings.

1. Reframe Complaints → System Observations: For example, replace “I’m exhausted” with “Our system relies too heavily on overtime to meet basic needs”.
2. Spot Patterns of Over-Efficiency: Where are resources maxed out? Where is there no room for error?
3. Raise Awareness of Slow-Burn Issues: Identify trends like turnover or increased workloads before they snowball.
4. Speak Systems Language to Leaders: Highlight systemic solutions like better staffing models, flexible workflows, and improved resource allocation.

📣 Heads Up: Something’s Coming!

I’ll be dropping an Easter egg at the end of the next few episodes. Today’s letters are “Y” and “I”. Keep listening—you’ll want to collect them all! 

• Subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes.
• Share this episode with your team or a leader who needs to hear it.
• DM Claire on Instagram with your thoughts or follow-up questions.
• Leave a review to help other healthcare professionals find this podcast.
• Join my System Sunday email list for your weekly dose of strategy and sanity for nurses leading change in healthcare.

⁉️ Want me to answer your question or scenario on the podcast?

I just opened a new form where you can anonymously submit:

• A leadership or systems challenge you’re facing
• A scenario you want me to walk through
• A question that’s been stuck in your head about your role, team, or impact

I'll be selecting a few to feature in upcoming episodes.

Submit your Q here!

Let’s stop putting burnout on individual shoulders and start redesigning the systems we work in.

🎧 Hit play and let’s get into it.

👉 Resources Mentioned:

• Instagram
• Systems Sunday Newsletter

🎙 Episode Overview:

Season 2 is here—and we’re taking this podcast public. In this kickoff episode, we’re tackling one of the most frustrating dynamics in healthcare: the “Us vs. Them” mindset.

Whether it’s staff vs. leadership, nursing vs. admin, or bedside vs. boardroom—it’s a pattern that keeps teams stuck, burned out, and spinning their wheels. But it doesn’t have to.

This episode is about adopting a systems-thinking approach to shift from blame to collaboration, so we can actually make progress on the problems we care about most.

🔑 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why the “Us vs. Them” mindset is so common—and so limiting.
• How to use a two-step systems thinking approach to break out of the cycle:

1. Look at Yourself: How are you contributing to the dynamic?
2. Look at Others: What pressures, incentives, and beliefs are shaping their decisions?

• Why relationships are systems too—and how strengthening them makes every change effort easier.
• How to ask better questions, understand what drives other people, and build trust without over-explaining or overextending yourself.

🧠 Key Ideas to Take With You:

• Every relationship is a system. And when relationships work better, everything works better.
• Shift from frustration to curiosity. Ask yourself: What assumptions am I making? What might I not understand about their perspective?
• Find the overlap. Even when priorities differ, shared goals like better patient outcomes or team well-being can bring people together.
• Stop seeing people as obstacles. See them as part of the solution.

🎧 How to Listen to This Season:

This podcast isn’t just a place to tune in—it’s a place to learn. And here’s the thing:

• Every episode will add something to your toolkit, even if it doesn’t seem directly relevant to your role.
• The best changemakers are the ones who understand the bigger picture, not just their own corner of the system.

So stick around.

📣 Heads Up: Something’s Coming!

And I’ll be dropping an Easter egg at the end of the next few episodes. Today’s letter to collect is “M”. Keep listening—you’ll want to collect them all! 

📲 Call to Action:

• Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!
• DM me on Instagram with your thoughts or questions—I’d love to hear from you.
• Join my System Sunday email list for your weekly dose of strategy and sanity for nurses leading change in healthcare.

⁉️ Want me to answer your question or scenario on the podcast?

I just opened a new form where you can anonymously submit:

• A leadership or systems challenge you’re facing
• A scenario you want me to walk through
• A question that’s been stuck in your head about your role, team, or impact

I'll be selecting a few to feature in upcoming episodes.

Submit your Q here!

👉 Links & Resources:

• Instagram
• Systems Sunday Newsletter

🎙 Episode Overview: In this season finale, I tackle the false choice between self-care and systems change, sharing why becoming a systems thinker is actually the ultimate form of both personal and organizational care.

🔑 In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Why separating self-care from systems work creates unnecessary tension
• How systems thinking benefits both personal wellbeing and organizational change
• My perspective on why personal development is crucial for effective change making

🧠 Key Ideas to Take With You:

• The self work IS the systems work - they're inseparable
• Compartmentalizing our work lives from personal lives often backfires
• Becoming a systems thinker brings more peace, not less

🎧 How to Get the Most Out of This Episode: Reflect on how you might be creating false binaries between caring for yourself and working for change. Consider how these aspects of your life might actually support each other.

🛠️ Practical Actions You Can Take:

• Notice where you're putting off self-work in service of systems change (or vice versa)
• Examine how your personal development connects to your change making goals
• Ask yourself: "How are my needs and system needs interconnected?"
• Consider how becoming a systems thinker could serve both you and your goals

📲 Call to Action:

• Follow me on Instagram