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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

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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

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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).

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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

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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).

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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

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Today's guest has built a career around telling extraordinary stories—but first, he lived one.

Kevin Hazzard is a former paramedic whose years on the ambulance inspired his bestselling memoir, A Thousand Naked Strangers. Since then, he's become an acclaimed journalist, television writer, and bestselling author, uncovering some of the most remarkable and overlooked stories in emergency medicine.

His book American Sirens tells the incredible story of the pioneering Black men of Freedom House Ambulance who helped invent modern paramedicine, while his newest book, No One's Coming, explores the unconventional heroes our government calls when the impossible needs to get done.

But Kevin's journey has taken another unexpected turn. After years of writing about healthcare and reflecting on his own experiences in EMS, he's now a nurse, stepping back into the world of patient care from an entirely new perspective.

That unique vantage point—as a former paramedic, author, historian, storyteller, and future nurse—gives him an uncommon perspective on how healthcare has evolved, where it's headed, and what today's clinicians need to succeed.

In all honesty, I almost postponed our conversation because I was not in a good headspace. I am so thankful I didn’t because Kevin’s humanity was just the thing I needed to remind me why I’m here.

In the five-minute snippet: He might never leave this island. 

For Kevin's bio, visit my website (link below).

Contact The Conversing Nurse podcast
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When I heard Gaby Morales speak about adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, on the Nine One One Nonsense podcast, I knew I had to bring their message to you.
Gaby explained that ACEs are adverse childhood experiences such as physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as other forms of household dysfunction like mental illness or substance use problems, and living with a violent or incarcerated parent. ACEs are linked to chronic health problems, mental illness, substance use in adulthood, and suicide.
Gaby's not new to nursing. They've been a nurse for eight years and are currently the clinical educator for a Level I trauma emergency room and a DNP student. Through their work, they've encountered many healthcare professionals who were completely unaware of ACEs and how they affect the health of their patients. So Gaby has made it their mission to educate healthcare professionals about the impacts of adverse childhood trauma. They are taking what they call the "Tour de ACE" on the road and have even titled their presentation "The Greatest Unaddressed Public Health Threat That Most Healthcare Professionals Don't Know About."  And with Gaby's passion and efforts, I think very soon that will change.
In the five-minute snippet: There are no aces in this card game. For Gaby's bio, visit my website (link below).
Gaby's Instagram
ACE questionnaire PDF

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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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Today's guest has a rare combination of deep bedside credibility and forward-looking innovation, and is now helping shape the future of healthcare technology.

Amy Thourot is a nurse, entrepreneur, healthcare innovator, and the Founder and CEO of Realize-365. After 30-plus years of working in a wide array of specialties, from intensive care to transplant surgery, and from orthopedics to geriatrics, Amy saw firsthand how much time clinicians spend trying to piece together fragmented medical records. Rather than accepting that as "just the way things are," she set out to solve the problem.

Today, through Realize-365 and its platform Pulse Health, Amy is using artificial intelligence to help clinicians understand a patient's medical history in under a minute, reducing cognitive burden and helping healthcare teams focus on what matters most: the patient.

We talk about nursing, innovation, leadership, AI in healthcare, and why nurses may be uniquely qualified to build the future of healthcare technology.

In the five-minute snippet:  Jeepers Creepers, where’d you get those peepers?      For Amy's bio, 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
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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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Today’s guest is Dr. Craig Thompson, a Doctor of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, with a background in kinesiology and more than two decades of experience in physiotherapy and rehabilitation. It’s hard to believe his journey into this specialty started with a good deed.

His work blends Orthopedic Acupuncture with Traditional Chinese Medicine, focusing on non-pharmacological approaches to pain, recovery, and long-term wellness. But what really stood out to me was his mission: helping people better understand their own bodies so they can advocate for themselves and build healthier lives from the inside out.

In this conversation, we talk about what acupuncture actually is, why so many people misunderstand it, how stress and pain are deeply connected, and how nurses can benefit from this one small change (you have to hear this).

I was really looking forward to this interview, especially since it had been a long time in the making. My journey with Dr. Thompson began eight months ago when I became his patient following a neurological insult. Having been disillusioned by traditional Western medicine, like many, I found myself turning to acupuncture as my last hope for healing. Throughout my treatments, I was often curious about how it all worked, and I was finally given the chance to learn more. I'm incredibly grateful to Dr. Thompson for generously sharing his time, knowledge, and expertise with us.

In the five-minute snippet: Don’t eat the sushi.

Reach Dr. Thompson here: [email protected]

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!