How realistic are medical TV shows? If you work in healthcare, you know some shows totally get it wrong! This week is all about medical tv shows and my perspective as a nurse.

To start, I’m sharing my favorite thing this week- the MealTime app! It’s helping me use more seasonings than salt and pepper. Unfortunately my first meal didn’t go over so well with Brett’s stomach. Then, I dive into some of the most popular medical tv shows over the years. I’m sharing which nursing show I think is a total flop, and I’m quizzing my husband on the accuracy of popular shows based on the responses from doctors and nurses.

I go in depth on Nurse Jackie and the reactions from real healthcare workers. Some people think the show negatively impacted the public perception of nurses. Did the show portray nurses in a bad light? Does the general public’s opinion on nurses really matter? I’m being candid about my thoughts.

Shoutout to Nurse Bokhee for being featured in all 17 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy! This was a really fun episode and I hope you all enjoy it.

To close out we read shoutouts submitted on my website nurseblake.com/podcast. Each week we will take on a new nursing topic and bring up questions and stories submitted by our listeners.

I’M GOING ON TOUR! TICKETS ON SALE NOW  https://www.nurseblake.com/

Become a member of NurseCon, the ultimate nursing organization! https://www.nursecon.com/

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Thanks for listening!

Referenced articles:

https://nursingeducation.org/25-best-tv-shows/

https://www.insider.com/experts-reveal-the-least-and-most-accurate-medical-shows-2019-12

http://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/Columns/Ethics/Nurse-Jackie.html

This week is all about nurses eating their young, and why instead nurses should SUPPORT their young.

BRETT IS BACK! My favorite thing this week, besides recording with my husband again, is the Velocicoaster at Universal Orlando. The Florida rain was not going to stop me from getting on this ride. There were a lot of twists and turns, it was intense!

Then, we read some stories submitted by listeners about bullying they’ve experienced in nursing. If you’re not getting the support you need in nursing school, find a different program. If you’re working in a toxic environment, find a different nursing job. There are supportive programs and nursing jobs out there, and you deserve to be treated fairly.

It is a real problem, and it takes active effort to change the culture of bullying in nursing. I go over a study on nurse bullying called “Our Own Worst Enemies”, published in 2019. We go over the different bully archetypes presented in the article, and how we can counteract these behaviors.

https://journals.lww.com/naqjournal/fulltext/2019/07000/our_own_worst_enemies__the_nurse_bullying_epidemic.12.aspx

I also play “How Well Do You Know Me?” with my husband to test our knowledge of each other as a couple. We try our best not to bully each other along the way! To wrap up the nurse bullying conversation, I break down strategies you can use to address nurse bullying. Shoutout to the awesome and supportive leaders in nursing that help maintain a healthy work environment.

To close out we read shoutouts submitted on my website nurseblake.com/podcast. Each week we will take on a new nursing topic and bring up questions and stories submitted by our listeners.

I’M GOING ON TOUR! TICKETS ON SALE NOW  https:/nurseblake.com/

Become a member of NurseCon, the ultimate nursing organization! https://www.nursecon.com/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY SUBSCRIBING

Thanks for listening!

This week, I’m solo on the podcast (Brett will be back next week!) and I’m answering questions submitted through my website and from Instagram. We’re talking about nursing school stress, work-life balance on the night shift, toxic work environments, and more! I'm getting REAL on this episode.

To start the show I’m talking about my comedy show this Fall, because I’m just so excited!! If you haven’t already, get your tickets on my website. Let’s get some local hospital rivalries going... rep your hospital! My favorite thing this week is TikTok. Not even embarrassed!

Then, I’m diving into all your questions and sharing my thoughts based on my own experiences. What made me want to pursue a career in nursing? Will anxiety affect your nursing practice? Tips for dealing with burnout? I’m covering it all.

To close out we read shoutouts submitted on my website nurseblake.com/podcast. Each week we will take on a new nursing topic and bring up questions and stories submitted by our listeners.

I’M GOING ON TOUR! TICKETS ON SALE NOW  https:/nurseblake.com/

Become a member of NurseCon, the ultimate nursing organization! https://www.nursecon.com/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY SUBSCRIBING

Thanks for listening!

This week on the podcast, my husband Brett and I discuss our experience fighting the gay blood ban. Before we dive into that topic, we have to tell you all about sending off our puppies to training camp! We miss them so much.

My favorite thing this week is sweet tea Mio! Drinking plain water wasn’t working for me...

Then we talk about the first big project we started together- Banned4Life. We wanted to get the FDA to end the permanent gay blood donor ban. We didn’t want to boycott blood drives, so we raised awareness by getting eligible donors to donate on our behalf. Before we knew it, news stations were picking up the story, and we had a feature in Men's Health magazine!

In December of 2015 the FDA ended the lifetime ban. Now, there is still a 3-month deferral period that requires donors to abstain from gay sexual encounters.

So much progress has been made, but there’s still more work to be done. I’m working with One Blood (in partnership with LBGTQ+ centers) to get 2,000 gay and bisexual males to participate in the ADVANCE Study to present evidence to the FDA that even a 3-month deferral is unnecessary. Sign up at https://advancestudy.org/

You have the power to create change in your community.

Brett and I also read off some blood donor facts from redcrossblood.org you may not know!

To close out we read shoutouts submitted on my website nurseblake.com/podcast. Each week we will take on a new nursing topic and bring up questions and stories submitted by our listeners.

I’M GOING ON TOUR! TICKETS ON SALE NOW  https:/nurseblake.com/

Become a member of NurseCon, the ultimate nursing organization! https://www.nursecon.com/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY SUBSCRIBING

Thanks for listening!

Nursing is hard, and so is self care! This week, my husband and I are talking all about self care.

My favorite thing this week is my one gallon hydration water bottle. I’m always trying to drink more water, so we’ll see if this helps! I ran a 5k this past week, because clearly I’m a natural born athlete. Tickets for my comedy show this Fall are officially on sale! Because I’m preparing for the tour this will be the last podcast with video, but we will keep the podcast going every week audio only.

Self care is so important for nurses and nursing students, but it can feel overwhelming to find the time to take care of yourself. I’m breaking down my favorite self care habit, which is my skin care routine of course. Brett’s favorite self care habit is Uncle John’s Bathroom Readers (sponsor us)! We’re not self care experts, but we do our best.

We wrap up the self care conversation by reading 25 ways you can practice self care everyday by Women’s Health magazine. Eat your greens, unless it’s arugula… gross! To close out we read shoutouts submitted on my website nurseblake.com/podcast. Each week we will take on a new nursing topic and bring up questions and stories submitted by our listeners.

I’M GOING ON TOUR! Tickets ON SALE NOW  https:/nurseblake.com/

Become a member of NurseCon, the ultimate nursing organization! https://www.nursecon.com/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY SUBSCRIBING

Thanks for listening!

BIG week! I announced my PTO Comedy Tour, and tickets go on sale Friday 6/11! I’m super excited, and that’s one of the first things I dive into. My favorite thing this week is my pride shirt from… Abercrombie?! (I know, shocking). I also got the BTS meal at McDonalds this week, and I share my not-so-great experience with McFlurrys.

Then my husband and I get into the main topic of the episode, which is life after nursing school. I’m sharing my experience looking for a job after nursing school, and what it was like having my first nursing role as a new grad. Along the way I offer some advice for the new grads as you all navigate your journey as a nurse. You got this!

To provide the ultimate interview guide, I decided to let my husband Brett interview me. Why are these basic questions so hard to answer?? It was a lot of fun, and I hope you all enjoy it and take away a new interview tip or two so you can kill it in your next nursing role.

To close out we read shoutouts submitted on my website nurseblake.com/podcast. Each week we will take on a new nursing topic and bring up questions and stories submitted by our listeners.

I’m going on TOUR! Tickets ON SALE 6/11  https:/nurseblake.com/

Become a member of NurseCon, the ultimate nursing organization! https://www.nursecon.com/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY SUBSCRIBING

Thanks for listening!

Tickets go ON SALE this Friday 6/11 at 10am local time for my comedy tour! I’m sharing my experiences from nursing school and as a nurse through live sketches and visuals for an immersive comedy show. I can't wait to see you there, bring your coworkers and friends!

Artist Pre-Sale begins tomorrow 6/8 at 10am local time, text "PTO" to 31996 for the early access code!

Go to nurseblake.com for details!

This week I dive into all of the worst breakroom photos my followers have been sending me on Instagram. Before that I’m sharing my new favorite thing this week with my listeners, which is the Wooley Pad for my sweet pups! I didn’t think my dogs could enjoy eating their food any more, but I was wrong and I definitely recommend this for dog owners.

Then my husband and I react to some of the grossest breakroom fridges that were sent to me. Seriously, who is going to clean out the fridge?? Not that nurses get a full lunch break to begin with. Shoutout to the hospitals with mandatory breaks!

I had to apologize for my epic day date fail to Brett that happened the day we recorded (oops)! It’s more forgivable than most of these breakrooms though. The bathroom/breakroom combinations, the old dirty recliners, storage closet breakrooms, and more. We also play a fun game of This or That - Breakroom Fridge Edition. Are you eating an old turkey sandwich, or an unwrapped PB&J?

To close out we read shoutouts submitted on my website nurseblake.com/podcast. Each week we will take on a new nursing topic and bring up questions and stories submitted by our listeners.

I’m going on TOUR! https:/nurseblake.com/tour

Become a member of NurseCon, the ultimate nursing organization! https://www.nursecon.com/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY SUBSCRIBING

Thanks for listening!

This week on the podcast, my husband and I went down memory lane and shared the story of our cross country roadtrip. To kick off the episode I talk about my favorite thing this week, and that is “The Circle” on Netflix. In close a second is my confetti vegan smoothie. It’s delicious, I promise. So good I had to go get it in the middle of the episode!

While living in an RV for a year, we lived off of Brett’s nature photography through art gallery shows. We’re not the best planners, so we had a few near death experiences along the way. Plan your hikes accordingly! To wrap up, Brett and I quiz each other on state capitals. I’m a geography expert! Somehow I was accepted into nursing school along the way, and I flew back and forth for orientation. There’s always time to get lost in the desert while pursuing your dreams.

To close out we read shoutouts submitted on my website nurseblake.com/podcast. Each week we will take on a new nursing topic and bring up questions and stories submitted by our listeners.

Check out my merch! https://store.nurseblake.com/

Become a member of NurseCon, the ultimate nursing organization! https://www.nursecon.com/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY SUBSCRIBING

Thanks for listening!