The Self Care Unit

For this week's Ask a Nurse, we have a really fascinating topic: nurses working in other fields. We are talking side gigs, second careers, and even touch on hobbies! To help us explore and discuss those, Jake Grez joins us! Jake is a Neuro Surgical PCU and a Licensed Realtor who creates content about both worlds. His passion for both of his careers comes through in our conversation. How can nurses make that same leap he did? What creates balance when you do? In what ways does finding something beyond the bedside help your work in the hospital? We hit all these questions and more, check it out!

For more of Jake, he can be found @JakeGrez on instagram and TikTok!

For this week's Ask a Nurse, the Self Care Unit team tackles the night shift! Carley and Sarah pool together what they've picked up in their careers and share their institutional knowledge with the world. There's no doubt that having a routine in place will help make the night shift manageable for you. So, what practices help make the night shift work for nurses? What tips or tricks do night shift veterans swear by? How should you schedule your shifts? We also talk about how to keep your energy up, whether caffeine is worth it, and when a quick nap can help. Tune in to learn more about the night shift!

TW/CW: Suicidal Ideation

Happy Pride! The Self Care Unit is back with a very special Mental Health Matters episode, as we have Alexis Hinkley with us on the pod! Lex is a travel nurse and photographer who splits her time between the hospital and the outdoors. They are an advocate in all areas of life, but especially for mental health and the LGBTQIA+ community. We talk mental health journey, how their experience led them to advocacy, and the incredible joy found through working with queer and trans youth. We also chat about alternate paths and sectors in nursing and wrap it up with, of all things, sharks! (If you follow @wanderrlex, you know already) The passion and love in this episode is absolutely infectious; we are so grateful to Lex for being here with us!

Please follow Lex on instagram @wanderrlex or on TikTok @travelingnurse!

This week for Mental Health Matters, we have Nick Thompson on the pod! Nick shares his mental health journey with Carley and Sarah, discussing therapy, depression, and building positive structures in life. We also talk about his goals as an advocate for big changes in the entertainment industry, including the work of the UCAN Foundation to bring mental health support and resources to reality TV cast members. Nick's efforts are all centered around fostering compassion, care, and decency in the world, and this conversation reflects his focus. We are so grateful to have had him as our guest!

Nick has an incredible podcast, Eyes Wide Open, it has a new season out! You can also find more of him on Instagram @NThompson513 or on his website EngageWithNick.com.

Can pole dancing be an effective stress relief activity for nurses? Carley and Sarah took pole dancing classes this week, and now they can report the fantastic results!

They start by talking through their stress and emotional states before the class. They definitely had some nerves going into this! Then, they both share the incredible sense of freedom and fun they felt during and afterward. They were treated to such kindness and camaraderie by their instructors and classmates, and it left them feeling rejuvenated and wanting to go again! It's not often you hear such rave reviews, but we're thrilled to say, if you have the opportunity and classes nearby, pole dancing is worth a try!

This week on the Self Care Unit, Carley and Sarah learn all about Ergonomics from our guest, Dr. Spencer Lalk! Dr. Lalk is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, outdoor enthusiast, and world explorer, who helps his patients to manage pain and find the best practices to treat it. We talk with him about chronic pain, how it first manifests in the body, common mistakes people make in the effort to improve their situation, and what changes work! If you're like us, you had a cursory idea of Ergonomics, but Dr. Lalk helped us to more fully understand it. A big thank you to Dr. Lalk for joining us!

For more of Dr. Lalk, check out his website drlalk.com or his instagram @LalkHealth!

On this week's Ask a Nurse, Carley and Josh are back and reacting to depictions of nurses, hospitals, and healthcare workers in TV and movies. How do they feel when they see their profession on the screen? What do they get right? What do they get wrong? Which clips are funny because they're so true? Do these depictions impact the daily lives and work of nurses in a positive or negative way? All these questions get answered with some hilarious reactions along the way!

It's Nurses Week! This edition of Ask a Nurse is all about what we should do, give, and provide for nurses during this week all about them. We start by acknowledging all the work that has to be done, but Sarah and Josh also try to keep it light and bright because you all deserve the zen, the celebration, and the pride for the work you do. So what does a dream Nurses Week entail? What are those key discounts and deals you should check out? When and how can we best show our appreciation for nurses? Tune in to hear the answers!

This week, we are thrilled to welcome Garrett Schwartz for our Mental Health Matters episode! You may know Garrett from his reality TV appearances, and he's with us on the podcast to chat about mental health, his outlook on life, and the important conversations men need to have with family, friends, and their community at large. Garrett also helps us preview some of the exciting Nurse’s Week events coming up with Operation Happy Nurse! We have a concert on May 12th headlined by Social House, and a really fun event that Garrett will be taking part in, the FUNdraising House during Nurses Week! Garrett has such a warm, generous, and kind spirit, he's a joy to listen to, so check him out here and start prepping some Truth or Dares for him later at the house!

On this week's Mental Health Matters, we are joined by Elliott Connie, MA, LPC to talk about his work with Solution Focused Brief Therapy, how to live the life we want, what gratitude means, and more. Elliott is a passionate and persuasive mental health advocate, and simply a fun conversationalist. His energy and enthusiasm for his vocation is absolutely infectious, as he relates his own journey to prioritizing mental health and gives concrete advice for anyone looking to prioritize their mental health themselves. We are so grateful he joined us for this conversation, check it out!

You can find more of Elliott on his website elliottconnie.com, or @elliottspeaks on Instagram!