On episode 511 of The Nurse Keith Show nursing and healthcare career podcast, Keith interviews Kevin Gibson, BSN, RN, aka: The Boot Nurse, an NCLEX success coach and mentor with a compelling story to tell and advice to share for those facing this high-stakes exam.

In the course of their conversation, Keith and Kevin discuss top strategies and the essential mindset shift needed to pass the NCLEX. They also discuss their mutual experience of bouncing back from failing the exam, and how they pushed through to finally conquer it and become licensed registered nurses.

Kevin Gibson's journey is a testament to perseverance, service, and dedication. His career began in the U.S. Navy in 2007, where he served honorably until 2024. During his tenure, he specialized in surgical technology, becoming an instructor in 2015 and a master instructor a

year later. He was instrumental in teaching a variety of programs, including tactical combat casualty care and pre-hospital trauma, showcasing his commitment to excellence and his ability to mentor and lead.

In 2018, Kevin achieved another significant milestone by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. However, his path was not without challenges.

Between 2018 and 2019, Kevin faced three unsuccessful attempts at passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). It was through these trials that Kevin's true passion emerged. In 2020, after his fourth attempt, he successfully passed the NCLEX-RN, turning his earlier failures into a profound source of motivation. This experience inspired him to help others overcome their fears of failure. He founded a coaching and mentoring service dedicated to helping nursing students turn their dreams into reality by conquering their own NCLEX exams.

In 2023, Kevin expanded his impact by launching an on-demand 7-day NCLEX Course, which has since helped over 4,000 nursing students achieve success. His dedication to helping others mirrors his commitment to his country, emphasizing his passion for service beyond his military career.

Just as he served his country, Kevin continues to serve others, striving to make a significant impact in the lives of those who aspire to succeed against the odds.

Connect with Kevin Gibson, The Boot Nurse:

Contact Nurse Keith about holistic career coaching to elevate your nursing and healthcare career at NurseKeith.com. Keith also offers services as a motivational and keynote speaker and freelance nurse writer. You can always find Keith on LinkedIn.

Are you looking for a novel way to empower your career and move forward in life? Keith's wife, Shada McKenzie, is a gifted astrologer and reader of the tarot who combines ancient and modern techniques to provide valuable insights into your motivations, aspirations, and life trajectory, and she offers listeners of The Nurse Keith Show a 10% discount on their first consultation. Contact Shada at TheCircleandtheDot.com or [email protected].

On episode 510 of The Nurse Keith Show nursing and healthcare career podcast, Keith interviews Dr. Karen Myrick, DNP, APRN, FNP, FAANP, FAAN, a nurse practitioner, educator, researcher, author, and leader in nursing education.

As Director of Nursing Education and Practice at Springer Publishing, Dr. Myrick focuses on developing innovative learning resources, including video on-demand products that speak to the needs of 21st-century nurses. In the course of their conversation, Keith and Dr. Myrick discuss the importance of certification in the careers of nurse practitioners, and the learning styles, pedagogies, and technologies that support NP success in the spheres of certification and professional advancement.

Karen Myrick, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, ONP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, is a nurse practitioner, educator, researcher, author, and leader in nursing education specializing in orthopedics, sports medicine, and advanced practice training. She practices at Orthopedic Associates of Hartford Urgent Care, providing expert musculoskeletal care.

Karen is the Director of Nursing Education and Practice at Springer Publishing, where she develops innovative learning resources, including the FNP and AGNP Video on Demand Review, to support NP students and practicing clinicians. She is also a full tenured professor at multiple universities and serves as Program Director for the Post-Master's Certificate Program in Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital Orthopedic Academy. Additionally, she teaches at Plus One Defense Systems, integrating healthcare knowledge with self-defense training.

An author of multiple textbooks and a well-published researcher, Karen has received numerous grants and awards for her contributions to nursing and healthcare.

A Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP) and the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), she is dedicated to advancing NP education, research, and clinical excellence

This episode of the Nurse Keith Show is brought to you in collaboration with Springer Publishing, who have been delivering award-winning healthcare education and exam prep materials focused on nursing, behavioral health, and the health sciences for more than 70 years. We thank Springer Publishing for their support.

Connect with Dr. Karen Myrick and Springer Publishing:

Contact Nurse Keith about holistic career coaching to elevate your nursing and healthcare career at NurseKeith.com. Keith also offers services as a motivational and keynote speaker and freelance nurse writer. You can always find Keith on LinkedIn.

Are you looking for a novel way to empower your career and move forward in life? Keith's wife, Shada McKenzie, is a gifted astrologer and reader of the tarot who combines ancient and modern techniques to provide valuable insights into your motivations, aspirations, and life trajectory, and she offers listeners of The Nurse Keith Show a 10% discount on their first consultation. Contact Shada at TheCircelandtheDot.com or [email protected].

On episode 509 of The Nurse Keith Show nursing and healthcare career podcast, Keith interviews Dr. Jessica Chung, the founder of the International Business Association for Nurses (IBAN).

In the course of their conversation, Keith and Dr. Chung discuss the multitude of independent business opportunities available to nurse practitioners, nurses, and even physician assistants.

According to Dr. Chung, the sky's the limit for what nurses and APRNs can accomplish in the entrepreneurial space as long as they have the education and awareness to tackle each step thoughtfully, and adhere to the legal and regulatory frameworks of their scope of practice and the state and municipality where they live and work.

Dr. Jessica Chung, DNP, FNP-BC, is the founder of J.C. Healthcare & Associates and the International Business Association for Nurses. Dr. Chung is a Doctor of Nursing Practice with expertise in healthcare business start-ups and private practice management. 

After receiving her Associate’s Degree in Nursing from NYC College of Technology in 2009, Dr. Chung worked as a charge nurse and nurse case manager before moving to Florida. She obtained her Bachelor’s in Nursing from Utica College and gained clinical experience in various specialties. In 2018, she was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society.

She earned her Master’s Degree in Nursing with a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration from South University and her Doctoral degree in Nursing Practice from Samford University. Her research focused on patient education and medication adherence.

Dr. Chung opened her private practice in 2019 and has been an advocate for mentoring healthcare professionals to become entrepreneurs. She is a dedicated educator, speaker, researcher, and provider with a passion for influencing others to pursue higher education and professional success. Additionally, she is actively involved in her church and considers healthcare a God-given gift and calling.

Connect with Dr. Jessica Chung and IBAN:

Contact Nurse Keith about holistic career coaching to elevate your nursing and healthcare career at NurseKeith.com. Keith also offers services as a motivational and keynote speaker and freelance nurse writer. You can always find Keith on LinkedIn.

Are you looking for a novel way to empower your career and move forward in life? Keith's wife, Shada McKenzie, is a gifted astrologer and reader of the tarot who combines ancient and modern techniques to provide valuable insights into your motivations, aspirations, and life trajectory, and she offers listeners of The Nurse Keith Show a 10% discount on their first consultation. Contact Shada at TheCircelandtheDot.com or [email protected].

On episode 508 of The Nurse Keith Show nursing and healthcare career podcast, Keith interviews nurse educator Dr. Vidette Todaro-Franceschi, the author of Compassion Fatigue and Burnout in Nursing: Enhancing Professional Quality of Life, with the 3rd edition published by Springer Publishing in 2024.

In the course of this inspiring conversation, Keith and his guest engage in a deep discussion of the meaning and origins of nurse burnout and compassion fatigue, and the tools, strategies, and mindset shifts that can lift nurses beyond the daily slog of working within a labyrinthine and often oppressive healthcare system. Dr. Todaro-Franceschi delivers a message of hope for nurses seeking to raise their consciousness, embrace their own power, and find optimal personal and professional quality of life in the process.

Dr. Vidette Todaro-Franceschi, PhD, RN, is professor emerita, nursing, of the City University of New York, having taught at Kingsborough, Hunter, the College of Staten Island, and the Graduate Center for a combination of over 25 years.

A registered nurse for 42 years, she has worked in a variety of roles and settings as staff, head nurse, assistant director, clinical supervisor, clinical nurse specialist, consultant and educator. Most of her practice career was spent in critical care areas, which later led to scholarly work in the areas of holistic health and healing, end of life/palliative care, and professional quality of life.

A CUNY child, Dr. Todaro-Franceschi earned her AAS and BSN in nursing at the College of Staten Island, and her MS in nursing at Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing. Dr. Todaro-Franceschi earned her PhD in nursing at New York University, where she performed a transdisciplinary philosophical inquiry on ideas of energy, for which she earned several awards.

She has authored two books, and many articles, chapters, and digital stories. Her first authored book, The Enigma of Energy, is based on her doctoral research; she has since performed seminal research in the areas of bereavement healing, end of life nursing education, and professional quality of life and has been consulted by professionals around the world about her work.

A passionate voice for nursing, Dr. Todaro-Franceschi has presented locally, nationally, and internationally on issues related to end of life and professional quality of life. She has been an End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) trainer since the first cohort in 2001.

This episode of the Nurse Keith Show is brought to you in collaboration with Springer Publishing, who have been delivering award-winning healthcare education and exam prep materials focused on nursing, behavioral health, and the health sciences for more than 70 years. We thank Springer Publishing for their support.

Connect with Dr. Vidette Todaro-Franceschi and Springer Publishing:

Contact Nurse Keith about holistic career coaching to elevate your nursing and healthcare career at NurseKeith.com. Keith also offers services as a motivational and keynote speaker and freelance nurse writer. You can always find Keith on LinkedIn.

Are you looking for a novel way to empower your career and move forward in life? Keith's wife, Shada McKenzie, is a gifted astrologer and reader of the tarot who combines ancient and modern techniques to provide valuable insights into your motivations, aspirations, and life trajectory, and she offers listeners of The Nurse Keith Show a 10% discount on their first consultation. Contact Shada at TheCircelandtheDot.com or [email protected].

On episode 507 of The Nurse Keith Show nursing and healthcare career podcast, Keith interviews Dr. Emily Werthman, PhD, RN, CBRN, a dedicated Certified Burn Registered Nurse (CBRN) and the Patient Care Manager and Burn Program Manager at the Johns Hopkins Burn Center in Baltimore.

In the course of their conversation, Keith and Dr. Werthman discuss the growth of the CBRN credential, the anticipation that the CBRN certification will be nationally accredited and Magnet-accepted in 2025, and the crucial role that nurses play in elevating burn care to new levels of expertise and professionalism. They also discuss the many types of burns that burn nurses may encounter, some of which may not immediately come to mind, but are nonetheless more common than we think.

Burns rank 6th among the ten top preventable injury-related deaths in the United States, with 398,000 people receiving treatment for burns each year. For those nurses who choose to dedicate themselves to this nursing specialty, there is a respected and rigorous certification process and a plethora of possibilities for a fascinating career path as a CBRN.

Emily Werthman, PhD, RN, CBRN is a graduate of the Allegany College nursing program. She also holds a BA in History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as a BSN and MSN from the University of Notre Dame of Maryland. She has her PhD in nursing from the University of Maryland where her research focused on the relationship between acute burn pain and childhood adversity.

Emily is a member of the board and the Lead Nurse Planner for the American Burn Association where she also holds a national committee appointment to the Nursing and Program Committees. She is a subject matter expert, item writer, and Exam Content Review Committee member for the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing’s Certified Burn Registered Nurse (CBRN) exam. She is also a member of BCEN’s board of directors. She serves as a special advisor to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)’s burn and blast injury special advisory group.

Recently, Emily was appointed to the Board Program Committee of the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors. Additionally, she holds adjunct faculty positions in the Johns Hopkins, Stevenson University, and Community College of Baltimore County Schools of Nursing. Emily publishes and lectures frequently on burn resuscitation, critical care nursing, and burn pain.

Connect with the CBRN world:

Contact Nurse Keith about holistic career coaching to elevate your nursing and healthcare career at NurseKeith.com. Keith also offers services as a motivational and keynote speaker and freelance nurse writer. You can always find Keith on LinkedIn.

Are you looking for a novel way to empower your career and move forward in life? Keith's wife, Shada McKenzie, is a gifted astrologer and reader of the tarot who combines ancient and modern techniques to provide valuable insights into your motivations, aspirations, and life trajectory, and she offers listeners of The Nurse Keith Show a 10% discount on their first consultation. Contact Shada at TheCircelandtheDot.com or [email protected].

On episode 506 of The Nurse Keith Show nursing and healthcare career podcast, Keith interviews Dr. Sandra Pagenta, DNP, ANP-BC, the energetic and dynamic host of the Success NP Podcast. In the course of their conversation, Keith and Sandra discuss the many ways in which nurse practitioners can choose to create career paths that fit their skill set, interests, and chosen lifestyle and workstyle.

With a passion for entrepreneurship, personal development, and leadership, Sandra uses her podcast as a space to empower and educate, providing NPs with actionable tips and tools to enhance both their personal and professional lives.

Sandra’s dedication to helping others unlock their potential is at the heart of everything she does. Her Etsy shop is dedicated to creating digital clinical resources for NP students and new NPs, offering NP-specific planners, adorable scrub life portraits, and clinical booklets, with each product being thoughtfully crafted to encourage NPs on their career journey. The Success NP Etsy shop has quickly become a go-to destination for those seeking tools to enhance their clinical practice.

In her free time, Sandra spends time with her family and two children. She is an avid reader and enjoys working out.

Connect with Dr. Sandra Pagenta:

Contact Nurse Keith about holistic career coaching to elevate your nursing and healthcare career at NurseKeith.com. Keith also offers services as a motivational and keynote speaker and freelance nurse writer. You can always find Keith on LinkedIn.

Are you looking for a novel way to empower your career and move forward in life? Keith's wife, Shada McKenzie, is a gifted astrologer and reader of the tarot who combines ancient and modern techniques to provide valuable insights into your motivations, aspirations, and life trajectory, and she offers listeners of The Nurse Keith Show a 10% discount on their first consultation. Contact Shada at TheCircelandtheDot.com or [email protected].

On episode 505 of The Nurse Keith Show nursing and healthcare career podcast, Keith interviews patient safety consultant, author, nurse leader, and educator Dr. Julie Siemers, DNP, MSN, RN. In the course of their conversation, Keith and Dr. Siemers discuss the many ways in which patient safety and outcomes are compromised by breakdowns in communication, provider and nurse fatigue, and misguided and outmoded forms of nursing practice that lead to otherwise preventable errors and patient harm.

Dr. Julie Siemers, DNP, MSN, RN, is the founder of Lifebeat Solutions and the author of the bestselling book "Surviving Your Hospital Stay: A Nurse Educator's Guide to Staying Safe and Living to Tell About It".

Dr. Siemers holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Touro University, Nevada. She brings more than four decades of experience and expertise in nursing practice, education, and executive leadership to the healthcare arena.

Having spent 15 years in nursing education, Dr. Siemers has served in roles ranging from professor to dean, and as executive director at a large nursing university in California. She has a rich background in direct patient care, with experience in various roles on the medical/surgical care floor, in the Intensive Care Unit, the emergency department, and the trauma resuscitation department at University Medical Center in Las Vegas. Additionally, she served as a flight nurse on a trauma helicopter for 10 years.

Since 2009, Dr. Siemers has been educating students, colleagues, and the broader medical community on the vital skills needed to recognize patient deterioration and ensure safe nursing practices. Now, as a patient safety expert and the founder of Lifebeat Solutions, she is on a mission to make healthcare safer for everyone.

Connect with Dr. Julie Siemers:

Contact Nurse Keith about holistic career coaching to elevate your nursing and healthcare career at NurseKeith.com. Keith also offers services as a motivational and keynote speaker and freelance nurse writer. You can always find Keith on LinkedIn.

Are you looking for a novel way to empower your career and move forward in life? Keith's wife, Shada McKenzie, is a gifted astrologer and reader of the tarot who combines ancient and modern techniques to provide valuable insights into your motivations, aspirations, and life trajectory, and she offers listeners of The Nurse Keith Show a 10% discount on their first consultation. Contact Shada at TheCircelandtheDot.com or [email protected].

On episode 504 of The Nurse Keith Show nursing and healthcare career podcast, Keith interviews Marianne Hickman, an accomplished international public speaker, speaker trainer, and personal mentor.

In the course of their conversation, Keith and Marianne discuss how you can use your voice for communicating clearly in any circumstance, and how to leverage the power of your voice to get you where you want to go. Nursing, medicine, and healthcare are built on the bedrock of communication, so mastering such skills is paramount.

For nurse entrepreneurs, inventors, educators, coaches, authors, and thought leaders, communicating clearly and powerfully is a must, and you can make use of a variety of techniques, tools, and strategies to find your personal mojo in the sphere of public speaking.

Marianne has a proven track record of helping industry experts monetize their message. She has graced over two thousand stages worldwide, sharing her expertise on self-development, message delivery, and revenue growth through stage leverage. She is passionate about empowering individuals to achieve financial success and create positive impacts in their communities.

Marianne is married to Richard Hickman, and together they are raising six children while building an empire of mission-driven speakers.

Connect with Marianne Hickman:

Contact Nurse Keith about holistic career coaching to elevate your nursing and healthcare career at NurseKeith.com. Keith also offers services as a motivational and keynote speaker and freelance nurse writer. You can always find Keith on LinkedIn.

Are you looking for a novel way to empower your career and move forward in life? Keith's wife, Shada McKenzie, is a gifted astrologer and reader of the tarot who combines ancient and modern techniques to provide valuable insights into your motivations, aspirations, and life trajectory, and she offers listeners of The Nurse Keith Show a 10% discount on their first consultation. Contact Shada at TheCircelandtheDot.com or [email protected].

On episode 503 of The Nurse Keith Show nursing and healthcare career podcast, Keith interviews Dr. Brenda Marshall, a tenured professor, Fulbright scholar, psychiatric nurse practitioner, and the co-author of Psychiatric Mental Health Guidelines for Advanced Practice Nurses, published by Springer Publishing.

In the course of their conversation, Keith and Dr. Marshall discuss the broad implications of her excellent book, including the crucial role of advanced practice nurses in understanding the complexities of 21st-century mental health in the context of a world plagued by depression, anxiety, and existential threats like climate change, a divisive political landscape, and a beleaguered healthcare system.

Dr. Brenda Marshall, a full tenured professor at Montclair State University's School of Nursing, is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) certified in Nursing Administration (NA-BC), a Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) and a sensorimotor psychotherapist.

She has earned a doctorate in Education from Columbia University in Behavior Science/Health Education, a Master's of Science in Psychiatric Nursing from The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and a Master's of Science in Policy and Health Management from the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University. As a Fulbright Scholar Specialist in Mental Health Dr. Marshall lived and taught psychiatric nursing in Malta.

Dr. Marshall was the principal investigator on the US Department of Education's Model Programs on College Campuses grant (2006-8), conducting research at Montclair State University related to reducing alcohol use by freshmen students, and investigating the relationships between attitude and behavior and parental engagement and student drinking behavior.

More recently, Dr. Marshall has had her research funded in the areas of evaluating outcomes of psychotherapy using fMRI imaging, investigating depression in parents of children with ASD, assessing the physical effects of depression on African Americans with diabetes and heart disease, examining the impact of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training on healthcare workers in a post pandemic world, MHFA training for nursing students,and MHFA training for teachers, and providing education on Substance Use Disorders to all health care providers.

Dr. Marshall has authored five books, numerous chapters in psychiatric nursing text books, and scores of articles. She is the Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Liaison for Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck NJ.

This episode of the Nurse Keith Show is brought to you in collaboration with Springer Publishing, who have been delivering award-winning healthcare education and exam prep materials focused on nursing, behavioral health, and the health sciences for more than 70 years. We thank Springer Publishing for their support.

Connect with Dr. Brenda Marshall:

Contact Nurse Keith about holistic career coaching to elevate your nursing and healthcare career at NurseKeith.com. Keith also offers services as a motivational and keynote speaker and freelance nurse writer. You can always find Keith on LinkedIn.

Are you looking for a novel way to empower your career and move forward in life? Keith's wife, Shada McKenzie, is a gifted astrologer and reader of the tarot who combines ancient and modern techniques to provide valuable insights into your motivations, aspirations, and life trajectory, and she offers listeners of The Nurse Keith Show a 10% discount on their first consultation. Contact Shada at TheCircelandtheDot.com or [email protected].

On episode 502 of The Nurse Keith Show nursing and healthcare career podcast, Keith interviews Ron Richard, BBA, a medical device consultant, inventor, and author with a long track record of successfully developing and launching dozens of medical products.

In the course of their conversation, Keith and Ron discuss how nurses and other healthcare professionals can leverage their expertise as consultants and inventors in the sphere of medical device development.

Mr. Richard has been employed in the medical industry for over thirty-five years and has extensive knowledge and experience in respiratory, pulmonary and sleep medicine. He began his medical career working in a respiratory department at a large teaching hospital in the Midwest.

Upon leaving the medical center, Ron became involved in owning and operating home care companies, sleep laboratories, manufacturers and distribution businesses. In addition to these experiences he was instrumental in developing and designing several products used in the treatment and diagnosis of chronic health care conditions.

In the course of his career, Mr. Richard has launched over 40 major products resulting in sales over $1B. He has held senior level positions with Nellcor Puritan Bennett, Thermo Electron, ResMed, Qualcomm, SeQual Technologies and several other companies in sleep and respiratory care sectors.

Having graduated from Baker University with a degree in Business Administration, he also holds certificates in respiratory care and emergency medicine, and has been awarded 15 patents and multiple industry awards due to his focus and dedication to improving health care outcomes.

Mr. Richard also enjoys writing music and performing live concerts around the country and has played over 500 shows over the past 10 years. In 2021 he published a new book, Someday is Today! Get your Ideas out of your coffee cup and on the market, containing experiential information pertaining to FDA, patents, raising capital, team formation, sales, marketing and product launches.

Connect with Ron Richard:

Contact Nurse Keith about holistic career coaching to elevate your nursing and healthcare career at NurseKeith.com. Keith also offers services as a motivational and keynote speaker and freelance nurse writer. You can always find Keith on LinkedIn.

Are you looking for a novel way to empower your career and move forward in life? Keith's wife, Shada McKenzie, is a gifted astrologer and reader of the tarot who combines ancient and modern techniques to provide valuable insights into your motivations, aspirations, and life trajectory, and she offers listeners of The Nurse Keith Show a 10% discount on their first consultation. Contact Shada at TheCircelandtheDot.com or [email protected].