The Spartan Nurse Podcast presented by the Michigan State University College of Nursing

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What is it really like to be a Traditional BSN student at Michigan State University?

In this Spartan Nurse Podcast Admissions Special, guest hosts Jessica Denbow-Peltier and Phillip Seaborn sit down with Alexandra Lehman, a Traditional BSN student and president of the MSU Nursing Student Association, to talk about her journey from pre-nursing student to future Spartan Nurse.

Alexandra shares why she chose nursing and Michigan State, what prospective students should look for when comparing nursing schools, how she prepared for the Traditional BSN program and what she wishes she knew before starting.

The conversation also gets into the realities of nursing school, from NCLEX-style exams and early-morning clinicals to studying and finding your community.

Whether you're considering nursing at MSU, preparing to apply to the Traditional BSN program, or helping someone else navigate the college decision process, this episode offers an inside look at the Spartan Nursing experience from a current student.

💚 Nursing Student Association
Alexandra serves as president of the Nursing Student Association, MSU College of Nursing's professional student organization for pre-nursing and nursing students.

Instagram: @MSU_NSA

🤝 Student Affairs & Advising
Have questions about admissions, academic advising or student resources? The College of Nursing Office of Student Affairs can help.

📧 Admissions questions: [email protected]


🌐 Learn more about the MSU College of Nursing: nursing.msu.edu
📱 Follow the MSU College of Nursing on social media: @MICHSTNursing

To find your breaking news and latest updates within the College of Nursing, please refer to our website at nursing.msu.edu. You can also find us on all social media platforms @MICHSTNursing

If you have a question for our hosts or a prospective guest, please message us at: [email protected]

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In this episode of the Spartan Nurse Podcast, Mike Martell and Crista Reeves sit down with Jeanette Tanafranca, Assistant Professor and Detroit Campus Director at the Michigan State University College of Nursing.

Jeanette shares her journey from ER nurse in Detroit to nursing educator. She also gives an inside look at the Accelerated BSN (ABSN) program, a fast-paced, 15-month pathway for second-degree students.

Recorded in the Detroit simulation lab, this episode explores how hands-on, team-based training prepares nursing and medical students for real-world care, plus the impact of interprofessional collaboration and student wellness initiatives.

Learn more: https://nursing.msu.edu
Follow us: @msuhstnursing

To find your breaking news and latest updates within the College of Nursing, please refer to our website at nursing.msu.edu. You can also find us on all social media platforms @MICHSTNursing

If you have a question for our hosts or a prospective guest, please message us at: [email protected]

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Childhood cancer survival rates differ dramatically worldwide. In this episode of the Spartan Nurse Podcast, Courtney Sullivan, assistant professor and global pediatric oncology nurse scientist at the Michigan State University College of Nursing, discusses quality indicators, safe chemotherapy delivery, nurse safety, and how global health initiatives are working to reduce survival disparities.

Topics include pediatric oncology nursing, childhood cancer care, global survival inequities, nursing research, workforce development, and the World Health Organization’s Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer.

Learn more about the Michigan State University College of Nursing:
https://nursing.msu.edu

To find your breaking news and latest updates within the College of Nursing, please refer to our website at nursing.msu.edu. You can also find us on all social media platforms @MICHSTNursing

If you have a question for our hosts or a prospective guest, please message us at: [email protected]

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In this episode of the Spartan Nurse Podcast, Mike Martel and Crista Reeves sit down with Joshua Winowiecki, a Clinical Nurse Specialist, an MSU alum, and Director of the Center for Practice Transformation.

Josh shares his path from critical care nursing to academia and delves into the power of academic-clinical partnerships, such as INSPIRE and NPATHS. He also discusses mentorship, program evaluation, health equity, and how AI can support (not replace) nurses as scholars and leaders.

To find your breaking news and latest updates within the College of Nursing, please refer to our website at nursing.msu.edu. You can also find us on all social media platforms @MICHSTNursing

If you have a question for our hosts or a prospective guest, please message us at: [email protected]

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In this episode, Dr. Mike Martel and Dr. Crista Reaves sit down with Alexa Andersen, PhD student at Michigan State University’s College of Nursing, to talk about her journey into nursing and her research on invisible disabilities.

Alexa shares how her own health experiences inspired her to return to nursing school and pursue research that raises awareness and empathy for individuals living with conditions that aren’t always visible—like ADHD, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain.

MSU Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD)
https://rcpd.msu.edu/

Invisible Disabilities Association (IDA)
https://invisibledisabilities.org/

Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program
https://hiddendisabilitiesstore.com/

Dysautonomia International (autonomic nervous system disorders)
https://www.dysautonomiainternational.org/

Learn more about the MSU College of Nursing: https://nursing.msu.edu
Follow us on social: @MSUNursing

To find your breaking news and latest updates within the College of Nursing, please refer to our website at nursing.msu.edu. You can also find us on all social media platforms @MICHSTNursing

If you have a question for our hosts or a prospective guest, please message us at: [email protected]

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In this episode of the Spartan Nurse Podcast, hosts Mike Martel and Crista Reeves sit down with Desiree Love, an MSU College of Nursing BSN alumna and med-surg nurse at Butterworth Hospital (of Corewell in Grand Rapids). Desiree shares her inspiring journey to nursing, including overcoming challenges with TAR syndrome, the loss of a sister, and her own battles with anxiety and depression during college. She reflects on how faith, community, and resilience helped her succeed, the lessons she learned at Michigan State, and the importance of building genuine connections with patients.

To find your breaking news and latest updates within the College of Nursing, please refer to our website at nursing.msu.edu. You can also find us on all social media platforms @MICHSTNursing

If you have a question for our hosts or a prospective guest, please message us at: [email protected]

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In this inspiring episode of the Spartan Nurse Podcast, hosts Dr. Mike Martel and Dr. Krista Reaves sit down with Pia Love, a self-described “nurse of all trades” and passionate advocate for mental health in nursing.

Pia shares how personal grief became the spark that led her into behavioral health, the journey of launching her own mental health business during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the real challenges and triumphs of nurse entrepreneurship.

💬 “We can’t pour from an empty cup. If we want to be rocks for our patients, we need to take care of our own mental health too.” — Pia Love

🔗 Learn more about MSU College of Nursing: https://nursing.msu.edu

To find your breaking news and latest updates within the College of Nursing, please refer to our website at nursing.msu.edu. You can also find us on all social media platforms @MICHSTNursing

If you have a question for our hosts or a prospective guest, please message us at: [email protected]

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In this episode, Dr. Fabrice Mowbray joins the Spartan Nurse Podcast to break down how big data and predictive analytics are transforming healthcare. Mowbray shares how data can help predict patient needs, improve clinical decisions, and guide healthcare policy. He explains the difference between machine learning and traditional models, why nurses are key to building meaningful data tools, and how Michigan State University’s College of Nursing is leading the way in training the next generation of data-driven clinicians.

Glossary

Black Box
Any complex piece of equipment, typically a unit in an electronic system, with contents that are mysterious to the user.

Calibration
Adjusting a tool or model so it gives accurate and reliable results.

Compliance
Following rules or laws, especially in healthcare or safety.

Consultation
A meeting to get advice or share information, often with a professional like a doctor.

Contextual
Dependent on the situation or setting something happens in.

Delineate
To clearly show or describe something, like drawing boundaries or explaining steps.

Diagnostics
Tests or tools used to find out what is wrong with someone’s health.

Discrimination (in data/modeling)
How well a model tells the difference between different groups or outcomes (not related to unfair treatment in this context).

Dissemination
The act of sharing or spreading information widely.

Doctorate (PhD)
The highest degree you can earn in school. People with a PhD have studied a subject deeply and done original research.

Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
A digital version of a patient’s medical chart that doctors and nurses use to track health information.

Emergency Department (ED)
A hospital facility that provides immediate, unscheduled outpatient care for patients with serious medical conditions requiring prompt attention.

Emergency Room (ER)
Another term for an emergency department.

Encryption
A way to protect information by changing it into a code that only authorized people can read.

Epidemiology
The study of the distribution, causes, and control of diseases and other health-related states or events in populations.

Generalizable
Able to apply to many people or situations, not just the ones studied.

Geriatric
Related to the health and care of older adults.

Hyper-parameters
Settings or choices that guide how a machine learning model works, like how fast it learns.

Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
A special hospital area for very sick patients who need constant care and monitoring.

Neonatal
Related to the care of newborn babies, especially those who are sick or born early.

Prognosis
A prediction about what is likely to happen with a person’s health.

Registered Nurse (RN)
A licensed healthcare professional who gives medicine, helps patients, and works closely with doctors to provide care.

Regression (in statistics)
A way to find relationships between things, like how one factor might affect another.

Sepsis
A life-threatening condition that occurs when the body's response to an infection damages vital organs.

Socioeconomic
Related to a person’s income, education, and social status.

Ventilator
A machine that helps a person breathe when they can’t breathe well on their own.

To find your breaking news and latest updates within the College of Nursing, please refer to our website at nursing.msu.edu. You can also find us on all social media platforms @MICHSTNursing

If you have a question for our hosts or a prospective guest, please message us at: [email protected]

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In this episode of The Spartan Nurse Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Mike Martell and Dr. Krista Reeves sit down with Dr. Eric Wallis, Senior VP & Chief Nurse Executive at Henry Ford Health, to discuss the powerful partnership between HFH and MSU College of Nursing.

Dr. Wallis shares valuable career insights for future nurses, discusses the importance of workplace culture, and explains how nurses can shape healthcare innovation.

Are you thinking of a career in nursing? Learn how Michigan State University College of Nursing can help you gain hands-on experience and transition into a rewarding career!

Subscribe for more nursing insights & updates.
Visit the MSU College of Nursing: nursing.msu.edu
Follow us on social media: @MichiganStateNursing

To find your breaking news and latest updates within the College of Nursing, please refer to our website at nursing.msu.edu. You can also find us on all social media platforms @MICHSTNursing

If you have a question for our hosts or a prospective guest, please message us at: [email protected]

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In this episode, we talk with Dr. Veronica Bernacchi, a health disparity scientist and nurse researcher, about how social determinants of health (SDOH) impact cancer outcomes. Bernacchi explains SDOH—factors like income, access to healthcare, and living conditions—and how they contribute to cancer disparities, especially in rural and underserved communities.

We explore how telehealth can improve access to care, its challenges, and how nurses can play a key role in bridging gaps by building trust and supporting patients. Bernacchi also highlights the importance of understanding community strengths and using culturally sensitive approaches to promote health equity.

This conversation illuminates the systemic barriers to cancer care and the steps we can take to create more equitable outcomes for all patients.

To find your breaking news and latest updates within the College of Nursing, please refer to our website at nursing.msu.edu. You can also find us on all social media platforms @MICHSTNursing

If you have a question for our hosts or a prospective guest, please message us at: [email protected]