The Conversing Nurse podcast

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We spend our careers caring for other people at their most vulnerable.

But what happens when we become the person who needs care?

My guest today, Raymond Lavine, has spent his career helping families prepare for long-term care. But right now, Raymond isn't just advising people about it—he's living it.

He's recovering from a serious illness and is currently utilizing long-term care himself.

And that gives us a rare opportunity to hear about caregiving from both sides: the advisor who has spent years helping families prepare for the future, and the person experiencing firsthand what it means to suddenly need help.

Raymond's journey to this work is anything but ordinary. From growing up in the Hollywood Hills in a family shaped by immigration and persecution, to serving as an airborne infantryman in Vietnam, to a career in banking, mortgages, and insurance, his experiences have shaped a deep understanding of vulnerability, resilience, and what it means to truly understand another person.

And for those of us in healthcare, there's a lot to unpack.

What happens after discharge? Who cares for the caregiver? How do we preserve dignity when independence changes? And why are the conversations we most need to have often the ones we avoid?

Today, we're talking about long-term care—but really, we're talking about how we prepare to care for one another when life changes in ways we didn't expect.

In the five minute snippet: Hello Havana.  For Raymond's bio, visit my website (link below).

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Chinelo Okoye is a remarkable double-board-certified nurse practitioner specializing in both adult and pediatric care. Beyond her clinical expertise, she passionately advocates for the representation of nurses in the media. As the founder of Nurse on Purpose, she works to eliminate stereotypes and showcase the intelligence, professionalism, leadership skills, and dedication to patient care that nurses embody.

 I had a candid conversation with Chinelo about my complacency regarding the negative portrayal of nurses. I acknowledged the hypersexualized Halloween costumes and the disheartening narratives in shows like Nurse Jackie and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which depict nurses in such a negative light. Despite recognizing that these portrayals didn't reflect the true essence of nursing, I realized I had not actively challenged these misrepresentations—sadly, I didn't even get angry about it.

 What are the consequences if we choose to ignore the media's misconceptions about us? Chinelo emphasized that our ability to attract new nurses to the profession diminishes when potential candidates see these negative portrayals. Moreover, it impacts nurse retention. After all, why would a brilliant nurse remain in a field that is so inaccurately represented?

Through her Nurse on Purpose podcast, Chinelo elevates the image of nursing by showcasing nurses as innovators, advocates, leaders, and entrepreneurs, demonstrating the diverse and impactful roles that real nurses play. As author Robert Byrne aptly stated, “The purpose of life is a life of purpose,” and Chinelo is undoubtedly embodying that purpose every day.

In the five-minute snippet: She’s in the dog house and she’s not sad about it. For Chinelo's bio, visit my website (link below).

Nursing is STEM coalition

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Website: https://theconversingnursepodcast.com
Your review is so important to this Indie podcaster! You can leave one here!  https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/leave-me-a-review
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I've partnered with RNegade.pro! You can earn CE's just by listening to my podcast episodes! Check out my CE library here: https://rnegade.thinkific.com/collections/conversing-nurse-podcast

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There are moments in healthcare when a few words from your doctor can completely change the way you feel.

“Your test was abnormal.”

“We found something.”

“We need to do more testing.”

“We're not sure what this means yet.”

And suddenly, fear takes over. We want answers immediately. We want to know what to do. And sometimes, in that fear, we make decisions before we’ve had a chance to fully understand what we’re dealing with.

My guest today believes there is another way.

Dr. Christian Borberg is a board-certified OB/GYN and Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Throughout his career, he has cared for women through pregnancy, gynecologic concerns, surgery, and some of the most uncertain and vulnerable moments in healthcare.

But today, his work goes beyond the exam room. He is developing an educational mission to help women navigate medical uncertainty without allowing fear to make the decisions for them.

His guiding philosophy is beautifully simple:

“Don’t React. Reflect. Then Respond.”

Today we're going to talk about what that actually looks like when you're the patient—when you're frightened, when you don't understand a diagnosis, when you're given several options, or when your doctor says, “We don't know yet.”

How do we slow down without ignoring something important? How do we ask better questions? And how do we become active participants in our healthcare without feeling like we have to become our own doctor? Dr. Borberg answers these questions and more in this important conversation.

In the five minute snippet: What he said! For Dr. Borberg's bio, visit my website (link below).

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Your review is so important to this Indie podcaster! You can leave one here!  https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/leave-me-a-review
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Check out my guests' book recommendations! https://bookshop.org/shop/theconversingnursepodcast 

I've partnered with RNegade.pro! You can earn CE's just by listening to my podcast episodes! Check out my CE library here: https://rnegade.thinkific.com/collections/conversing-nurse-podcast

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 I had so much fun talking with school nurse, Victoria Gutierrez! Honestly, I was enchanted by her excitement and enthusiasm, and I know you will be too. The skills she learned as an ICU nurse: critical thinking, organization, and delegation, have served her well in her role as a school nurse. Although she misses the acuity of the ICU, she’s not missing out on the joy she has found in this niche nursing specialty. She schools us in the education required, responsibilities, challenges, and rewards, oh, and don’t forget that awesome schedule! Her advice for those who are curious about school nursing? Try subbing part-time as she did, before you commit to becoming credentialed. I’d say that’s a pretty good lesson.  In the five-minute snippet, get that garden growing girl! For Victoria's bio, visit my website (link below).

Cleveland State University Accelerated BSN program
Recognizing School Nurses
Professional organizations:
California School Nurses Organization
National Association of School Nurses
School Nurses of California Foundation

Contact The Conversing Nurse podcast
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Website: https://theconversingnursepodcast.com
Your review is so important to this Indie podcaster! You can leave one here!  https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/leave-me-a-review
Would you like to be a guest on my podcast? Pitch me! https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/intake-form
Check out my guests' book recommendations! https://bookshop.org/shop/theconversingnursepodcast 

I've partnered with RNegade.pro! You can earn CE's just by listening to my podcast episodes! Check out my CE library here: https://rnegade.thinkific.com/collections/conversing-nurse-podcast

Thanks for listening!

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What does it really mean to be born too soon?

For a premature infant, every day in the NICU can be a battle—and the care these tiny patients receive can have an impact that reaches far beyond their time in the hospital. One of the most powerful tools in that care may also be one of the most natural: human milk.

Today, I'm joined by Dr. Melinda Elliott, a board-certified neonatologist and Chief Medical Officer of Prolacta Bioscience, who has spent more than 30 years caring for premature infants. As a NICU nurse, I knew this would be a great conversation because neonatologists are some of my favorite people.

In our conversation, she takes us inside the world of the NICU and clears up some of the misconceptions surrounding prematurity. We talk about the unique needs of these incredibly vulnerable infants, why human milk can function almost like medicine for a premature baby, and why using a human milk-based fortifier can play such an important role in their growth and development.

Dr. Elliott also shares what the research tells us about human milk feeding, including its relationship to earlier discharge from the NICU and potentially fewer negative long-term complications.

And perhaps most importantly, she talks about the people behind this care—the mothers providing the milk and the dedicated nurses, physicians, and other NICU professionals who work together to give these babies the best possible start.

This is a fascinating conversation about science, compassion, advocacy, and the extraordinary resilience of our tiniest patients. 

In the five-minute snippet: I think I can, I think I can.

Growth and Safety Evaluation in VLBW Infants Receiving An Exclusive HUman Milk Diet: A Phase III Randomized Controlled Trial in Japan

Exclusive Human Milk Diet is Associated with Lower Risk of Motor Impairment at Three Years of Corrected Age

Stepping Stones Exclusive Human Milk Diet Benefits- Prolacta Bioscience

Contact The Conversing Nurse podcast
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Website: https://theconversingnursepodcast.com
Your review is so important to this Indie podcaster! You can leave one here!  https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/leave-me-a-review
Would you like to be a guest on my podcast? Pitch me! https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/intake-form
Check out my guests' book recommendations! https://bookshop.org/shop/theconversingnursepodcast 

I've partnered with RNegade.pro! You can earn CE's just by listening to my podcast episodes! Check out my CE library here: https://rnegade.thinkific.com/collections/conversing-nurse-podcast

Thanks for listening!

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Ever since I started this podcast, I have been looking forward to talking with a nurse who is also a JD. Recently, I got the opportunity to have an insightful conversation with Kwamane Liddell. Kwamane is a healthcare visionary. You only need to glance at his LinkedIn profile to see the many accolades he has received from various sectors, including healthcare, business, innovation, and technology. Here are just a few examples:
- He was the first African-American male to graduate from Southern Illinois University's College of Nursing.
- He is an Aspen Institute Healthy Communities Fellow
- He is a Johnson and Johnson  JLABS Innovator
- He is the Founder of Nutrible, a company that utilizes AI social workers to help families access community resources on demand.
Could he have done all of this without a law degree? I’m convinced Kwamane can do whatever he puts his mind to. When he founded Nutrible, he needed to know more about the underlying causes of health disparity, which was leading to the suffering and death of his patients in the emergency room. So by furthering his education and earning a Juris Doctor degree, Kwamane became well-equipped to change health policies and address this issue. Kwamane is changing health equity, one person at a time, and in my book, he embodies the definition of a hero. In the five-minute snippet: food, glorious food!
Johnson & Johnson article

Contact The Conversing Nurse podcast
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Website: https://theconversingnursepodcast.com
Your review is so important to this Indie podcaster! You can leave one here!  https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/leave-me-a-review
Would you like to be a guest on my podcast? Pitch me! https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/intake-form
Check out my guests' book recommendations! https://bookshop.org/shop/theconversingnursepodcast 

I've partnered with RNegade.pro! You can earn CE's just by listening to my podcast episodes! Check out my CE library here: https://rnegade.thinkific.com/collections/conversing-nurse-podcast

Thanks for listening!

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Today’s conversation takes us into one of the most important—and increasingly urgent—issues facing children and families today: pediatric mental health.

My guest is Dr. Michelle Hext, a quadruple board-certified nurse practitioner, educator, and passionate advocate for children’s mental health. What struck me about Michelle wasn’t simply her impressive credentials; it was the way she talks about caring for children and their families—with humility, compassion, and a genuine willingness to listen.

Michelle is the owner and CEO of Sunshine Health, LLC, and believes that good mental healthcare begins with meeting people where they are and explaining things in language they can actually understand. She takes the time to listen to her young patients and their families, and she looks at the whole person rather than simply a diagnosis.

We also had a fascinating—and somewhat sobering—conversation about the impact of smartphones and social media on children. Michelle is seeing children exposed to smartphones at incredibly young ages, and she believes we are facing an epidemic of technology use that is having serious consequences for pediatric mental health. In fact, one of her strongest recommendations is no smartphone before the age of 14.

As an advocate for children, Michelle is also working to bring attention to the gaps in how children's mental health is protected and supported in Texas.

And toward the end of our conversation, I asked Michelle what qualities make a great psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Her answer was simple: humility, being non-judgmental, and being a good listener.

Then she left us with a message that I think applies far beyond mental health: “Literally, no one is normal.” What we call normal, she says, is often just what we're familiar with based on our own experiences.

I think you're going to find this conversation both thought-provoking and relevant—not just for nurses, but for anyone who cares about the mental health and well-being of children.

In the five-minute snippet: they are so sweet in Texas! 

For Michelle's bio, visit my website (see below).

Contact The Conversing Nurse podcast
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Website: https://theconversingnursepodcast.com
Your review is so important to this Indie podcaster! You can leave one here!  https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/leave-me-a-review
Would you like to be a guest on my podcast? Pitch me! https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/intake-form
Check out my guests' book recommendations! https://bookshop.org/shop/theconversingnursepodcast 

I've partnered with RNegade.pro! You can earn CE's just by listening to my podcast episodes! Check out my CE library here: https://rnegade.thinkific.com/collections/conversing-nurse-podcast

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If you've been listening to the podcast for a while you’ve heard me say that we would be discussing bullying and, I’m happy to report that after over 65 episodes, I'm finally doing that.  And I'm not only talking about it, I'm talking to the expert about it.
My guest, Dr. Phyllis Quinlan, a Ph.D.-prepared nurse,  literally wrote the book on Bullying and Chronic Incivility in Nursing. With a combined 45 years as a nurse, educator, LNC, and executive coach, and having experienced bullying herself, she is well-equipped for the difficult conversation and has some insightful solutions to end it.
And let’s talk about emotional intelligence for a moment. Dr. Quinlan defines this for adults as the secret sauce to success in your personal and professional life. Well, Dr. Quinlan’s emotional intelligence score must be off the charts. This was truly one of the best conversations.
In the five-minute snippet: move over Barack. For Dr. Quinlan's bio, visit my website (link below).
Bringing Shadow Behavior Into the Light of Day
LinkedIn
MFW Consultants
Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses
Twitter

Contact The Conversing Nurse podcast
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Website: https://theconversingnursepodcast.com
Your review is so important to this Indie podcaster! You can leave one here!  https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/leave-me-a-review
Would you like to be a guest on my podcast? Pitch me! https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/intake-form
Check out my guests' book recommendations! https://bookshop.org/shop/theconversingnursepodcast 

I've partnered with RNegade.pro! You can earn CE's just by listening to my podcast episodes! Check out my CE library here: https://rnegade.thinkific.com/collections/conversing-nurse-podcast

Thanks for listening!

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Today's guests are Diego Davis and Danielle Doyle, co-founders of Access Healthcare, a nurse-founded healthcare staffing agency connecting healthcare professionals with opportunities across the United States and internationally.

Danielle and Diego began their careers at the bedside before becoming travel nurses, and it was during a travel assignment that they met. Drawing from their own experiences as clinicians, they set out to build a staffing agency that would treat nurses as people—not just placements.

Today, Danielle serves as CEO and Diego as CFO, leading one of the fastest-growing healthcare staffing agencies in the industry. But what stood out most to me during our conversation wasn't their impressive growth—it was their genuine passion for supporting the nurses they serve. Their leadership is rooted in understanding the realities of travel nursing because they've lived it themselves.

In this episode, we talk about their journey from bedside nursing to entrepreneurship, the evolving world of healthcare staffing, what travel nurses should look for in an agency, and how putting clinicians first creates better experiences for nurses, healthcare facilities, and ultimately, patients.

Whether you're a seasoned travel nurse, considering your first assignment, or simply curious about the business behind healthcare staffing, I think you'll find this conversation insightful, encouraging, and refreshingly genuine.

In the five-minute snippet: It's a version of the Newlywed Game, and I think Diego’s got the right idea.

For Diego and Danielle's bios, visit my website (link below).

Contact The Conversing Nurse podcast
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Website: https://theconversingnursepodcast.com
Your review is so important to this Indie podcaster! You can leave one here!  https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/leave-me-a-review
Would you like to be a guest on my podcast? Pitch me! https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/intake-form
Check out my guests' book recommendations! https://bookshop.org/shop/theconversingnursepodcast 

I've partnered with RNegade.pro! You can earn CE's just by listening to my podcast episodes! Check out my CE library here: https://rnegade.thinkific.com/collections/conversing-nurse-podcast

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Meet Tara Tourloukis. Tara is a registered nurse psychotherapist with more than 20 years of experience in mental health care. It’s a truly unique and rewarding niche. As a nurse psychotherapist, she runs her own private therapy practice in Ontario, Canada—a role that blends clinical expertise with compassionate counseling.

During our conversation, I couldn’t help but tell her that if I had known about this nursing specialty 20 or 30 years ago, it would have been exactly the path for me.So what does Tara do in her role? She provides therapy for individuals facing everyday mental health challenges—things like low mood, stress, overwhelm, trouble coping, and finding balance between work and life. Let’s be honest, that’s something many of us can relate to.

What I especially admire is her holistic approach. As a nurse, Tara understands how physical health directly impacts mental well-being. She routinely checks in with her clients about things like hydration, nutrition, and sleep—those often-overlooked pieces that play a big role in how we feel.

Does the idea of becoming a nurse psychotherapist resonate with you? Tara shared some great advice for anyone considering this path: get hands-on experience in mental health, whether in inpatient or outpatient settings, take stock of your education, knowledge, and skills, get familiar with the standards of practice, connect with informal peer groups, and most importantly—find a mentor.

As someone currently working toward a PhD, I can confidently say that Tara’s advice is solid.

In the five-minute snippet: With a husband and five kids, this kind of day would be the best kind of day. For Tara's bio, visit my website (link below).

Media

Contact The Conversing Nurse podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconversingnursepodcast/
Website: https://theconversingnursepodcast.com
Your review is so important to this Indie podcaster! You can leave one here!  https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/leave-me-a-review
Would you like to be a guest on my podcast? Pitch me! https://theconversingnursepodcast.com/intake-form
Check out my guests' book recommendations! https://bookshop.org/shop/theconversingnursepodcast 

I've partnered with RNegade.pro! You can earn CE's just by listening to my podcast episodes! Check out my CE library here: https://rnegade.thinkific.com/collections/conversing-nurse-podcast

Thanks for listening!