Don't Eat Your Young: A Nursing Podcast: Recent Episodes
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Welcome to Don’t Eat Your Young — the podcast that brings you stories from the trenches of the incredible, wonderful, exhausting, terrifying, joyous world of nursing. Host Beth Quaas been in the world of nursing for nearly decades and has worked in hospitals large and small. She's worn the hats of the floor nurse, ICU, ER, and anesthesia. She's been a manager, an educator, and a co-worker. On Don't Eat Your Young, Beth highlights stories from nurses around the country that are doing amazing things for their nursing colleagues to support them and let them know that they are not alone. This is a show celebrating a positive culture of nursing and care, and we can be a part of this culture by sharing wins — and struggles — across the field. We will also explore opportunities that are unique in nursing that may inspire you to go in new directions. These voices from the field are an inspiration to care for your self, and those around you. Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. For more information and to support this show, visit donteatyouryoung.com. Nurses. Making our world better, one shift at a time!
Meet Liz
Liz Burkholder from Charlotte, North Carolina, joins Beth today. Liz Burkholder is an integrative, double-board certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, hypnotherapist, trauma specialist, and mind-body practitioner. She and Beth talk about holistic well-being and how to take care of yourself through deconstructive transformation.
About Liz
Liz began her own healing journey at age 17 after a divine intervention changed the trajectory of her life. After her experience with trauma as a child, she found herself as a lost, self-loathing, depressed, and anxious high school dropout with no sense of self-worth.
Liz has spent her life healing herself and becoming a healer for others. Her biggest passion is teaching others how to heal themselves. She uses hypnotherapy, meditation, breathwork, and yoga as some of her primary interventions. She developed Transpersonal and Trauma Healing Hypnotherapy (TTHH) to help people actually process, release, and heal traumatic events that have negatively affected their body, mind, and life. Her motto is “Anything can be healed.”
Liz is currently pursuing a PhD in Mind Body Medicine with a specialization in Integrative Mental Health from Saybrook University.
Links
- Reach out to Liz at Burkholder Wellness
- Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
- 00:00 - Welcome to Don't Eat Your Young • Liz Burkholder
Antra Boyd met Karen DiMarco when Karen was teaching nurses how to work and advocate for our patients by thinking outside the box. Through that chance meeting, they formed a company called RNegade. They are changing the way that nurses and others learn and make it fun and informative. RNegade offers continuing education credit by listening to podcasts with guests from various backgrounds and experiences, but all knowledgeable in the content they are speaking on. No more boring grind to get CE credit, but learning on the go that is fast and simple.
Antra and Karen are also expanding to offer more content to nurses. They are looking for content creators to bring even more information. If you feel you have something to share, check out their link and learn more about it. We all benefit when we share our knowledge
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
Links
- RNegade
- Email Antra
- Email Karen
- Antra on LinkedIn
- RNegade Pro on Facebook
- The RNegade Podcast
- 00:00 - Welcome to Don't Eat Your Young •Antra Boyd & Karen DiMarco
Antra Boyd met Karen DiMarco when Karen was teaching nurses how to work and advocate for our patients by thinking outside the box. Through that chance meeting, they formed a company called RNegade. They are changing the way that nurses and others learn and make it fun and informative. RNegade offers continuing education credit by listening to podcasts with guests from various backgrounds and experiences, but all knowledgeable in the content they are speaking on. No more boring grind to get CE credit, but learning on the go that is fast and simple.
Antra and Karen are also expanding to offer more content to nurses. They are looking for content creators to bring even more information. If you feel you have something to share, check out their link and learn more about it. We all benefit when we share our knowledge
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
Links
- RNegade
- Email Antra
- Email Karen
- Antra on LinkedIn
- RNegade Pro on Facebook
- The RNegade Podcast
- 00:00 - Welcome to Don't Eat Your Young •Antra Boyd & Karen DiMarco
Antra Boyd met Karen DiMarco when Karen was teaching nurses how to work and advocate for our patients by thinking outside the box. Through that chance meeting, they formed a company called RNegade. They are changing the way that nurses and others learn and make it fun and informative. RNegade offers continuing education credit by listening to podcasts with guests from various backgrounds and experiences, but all knowledgeable in the content they are speaking on. No more boring grind to get CE credit, but learning on the go that is fast and simple.
Antra and Karen are also expanding to offer more content to nurses. They are looking for content creators to bring even more information. If you feel you have something to share, check out their link and learn more about it. We all benefit when we share our knowledge
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
Links
- RNegade
- Email Antra
- Email Karen
- Antra on LinkedIn
- RNegade Pro on Facebook
- The RNegade Podcast
- 00:00 - Welcome to Don't Eat Your Young •Antra Boyd & Karen DiMarco
From Caring for Patients to Caring for Caregivers
Tammy Ward has been in healthcare for 23 years. She moved from bedside nursing to becoming a CRNA. Throughout that process, she has realized that she has more to give. Her love for taking care of patients has moved out of the hospital setting to one of caring for the caregivers. She works with clients on a more personal basis, teaching them to put themselves first. Tammy wants others to succeed just as she has and helps others find what works for them to live their healthiest lives, both physically and mentally.
About Tammy
I am here to inspire and empower clients to prioritize themselves, let go of limiting beliefs and build their best life! I am a nurse anesthetist and have been working in health care for 23 years. My coaching journey stemmed from the love of caring for others. With the burnout in health care, I experienced the importance and necessity of daily self-care practices. Being coached myself helped me prioritize my personal needs and desires for my life. As I dove deeper into self care, it inspired me to become a certified health & life coach and create my own business, Elite Health & Life Coaching. Coaching has given me the opportunity to help people who are looking for change and transformation in their own lives. If you don't know where to start, look no further! Through coaching I help women and men prioritize themselves, reduce stress, increase energy and shed excess weight. I will help guide you to an empowered position of self love, positive body image and maintain sustainable weight loss goals.
Links
- Elite Health & Life Coaching
- Find Tammy on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
- 00:00 - Welcome to Don't Eat Your Young • Tammy Ward
From Caring for Patients to Caring for Caregivers
Tammy Ward has been in healthcare for 23 years. She moved from bedside nursing to becoming a CRNA. Throughout that process, she has realized that she has more to give. Her love for taking care of patients has moved out of the hospital setting to one of caring for the caregivers. She works with clients on a more personal basis, teaching them to put themselves first. Tammy wants others to succeed just as she has and helps others find what works for them to live their healthiest lives, both physically and mentally.
About Tammy
I am here to inspire and empower clients to prioritize themselves, let go of limiting beliefs and build their best life! I am a nurse anesthetist and have been working in health care for 23 years. My coaching journey stemmed from the love of caring for others. With the burnout in health care, I experienced the importance and necessity of daily self-care practices. Being coached myself helped me prioritize my personal needs and desires for my life. As I dove deeper into self care, it inspired me to become a certified health & life coach and create my own business, Elite Health & Life Coaching. Coaching has given me the opportunity to help people who are looking for change and transformation in their own lives. If you don't know where to start, look no further! Through coaching I help women and men prioritize themselves, reduce stress, increase energy and shed excess weight. I will help guide you to an empowered position of self love, positive body image and maintain sustainable weight loss goals.
Links
- Elite Health & Life Coaching
- Find Tammy on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
- 00:00 - Welcome to Don't Eat Your Young • Tammy Ward
From Caring for Patients to Caring for Caregivers
Tammy Ward has been in healthcare for 23 years. She moved from bedside nursing to becoming a CRNA. Throughout that process, she has realized that she has more to give. Her love for taking care of patients has moved out of the hospital setting to one of caring for the caregivers. She works with clients on a more personal basis, teaching them to put themselves first. Tammy wants others to succeed just as she has and helps others find what works for them to live their healthiest lives, both physically and mentally.
About Tammy
I am here to inspire and empower clients to prioritize themselves, let go of limiting beliefs and build their best life! I am a nurse anesthetist and have been working in health care for 23 years. My coaching journey stemmed from the love of caring for others. With the burnout in health care, I experienced the importance and necessity of daily self-care practices. Being coached myself helped me prioritize my personal needs and desires for my life. As I dove deeper into self care, it inspired me to become a certified health & life coach and create my own business, Elite Health & Life Coaching. Coaching has given me the opportunity to help people who are looking for change and transformation in their own lives. If you don't know where to start, look no further! Through coaching I help women and men prioritize themselves, reduce stress, increase energy and shed excess weight. I will help guide you to an empowered position of self love, positive body image and maintain sustainable weight loss goals.
Links
- Elite Health & Life Coaching
- Find Tammy on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
- 00:00 - Welcome to Don't Eat Your Young • Tammy Ward
Chris came into nursing as a second career. For seven years, he has worked with cardiac patients in a large hospital where he takes care of some of the sickest patients. In order to do his job well, Chris needs time with each patient, resources to assist him in that care, and a safe environment to do so. But as we've seen, staff to patient ratios are not aligned, and resources are diminishing. Violence in healthcare settings is at an all time high.
Early on in his nursing career, Chris got involved. He quickly realized the impact he could make by advocating for nurses so started working with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA). Through that work, he helps lead the historic strike that involves 22,000 nurses in Minnesota. Determined to fight for safe staffing levels, safer work environments, and benefits that will keep nurses at the bedside, Chris is part of a movement that will shape our profession.
Links
- Minnesota Nurses Association
- Facebook: Chris for MNA VP
- Email Chris
- 00:00 - Welcome to Don't Eat Your Young •Chris Rubesch and the Historic MN Nurses Strike
Chris came into nursing as a second career. For seven years, he has worked with cardiac patients in a large hospital where he takes care of some of the sickest patients. In order to do his job well, Chris needs time with each patient, resources to assist him in that care, and a safe environment to do so. But as we've seen, staff to patient ratios are not aligned, and resources are diminishing. Violence in healthcare settings is at an all time high.
Early on in his nursing career, Chris got involved. He quickly realized the impact he could make by advocating for nurses so started working with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA). Through that work, he helps lead the historic strike that involves 22,000 nurses in Minnesota. Determined to fight for safe staffing levels, safer work environments, and benefits that will keep nurses at the bedside, Chris is part of a movement that will shape our profession.
Links
- Minnesota Nurses Association
- Facebook: Chris for MNA VP
- Email Chris
- 00:00 - Welcome to Don't Eat Your Young •Chris Rubesch and the Historic MN Nurses Strike
Chris came into nursing as a second career. For seven years, he has worked with cardiac patients in a large hospital where he takes care of some of the sickest patients. In order to do his job well, Chris needs time with each patient, resources to assist him in that care, and a safe environment to do so. But as we've seen, staff to patient ratios are not aligned, and resources are diminishing. Violence in healthcare settings is at an all time high.
Early on in his nursing career, Chris got involved. He quickly realized the impact he could make by advocating for nurses so started working with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA). Through that work, he helps lead the historic strike that involves 22,000 nurses in Minnesota. Determined to fight for safe staffing levels, safer work environments, and benefits that will keep nurses at the bedside, Chris is part of a movement that will shape our profession.
Links
- Minnesota Nurses Association
- Facebook: Chris for MNA VP
- Email Chris
- 00:00 - Welcome to Don't Eat Your Young •Chris Rubesch and the Historic MN Nurses Strike
After struggling with the ever-shifting challenges of nursing during the pandemic, Angie Bailey realized she’d had enough. That’s when she retired from the profession and moved to a focus on the art of calligraphy. She found an incredible peace with it and now teaches it to help others find that sense of calm.
Angie joins Beth in this episode to talk about her struggles in the nursing field and how this shift has led to a more positive, peaceful life for not just her but also for the people taking her classes.
About Angie
As a 33-year veteran RN, Angie understands the mounting stresses of working in a demanding and intense hospital environment. After struggling to practice meditation as a form of stress reduction, Angie rediscovered the therapeutic benefits of the art of calming calligraphy, a love from her childhood. Now it's her mission to share this revelation with other nurses, healthcare workers, and hospital staff so they can enjoy the same relief she has obtained from this restorative practice.
Links
- Support Don’t Eat Your Young on Patreon
- Angie Bailey Art and Soul
- Find Angie on LinkedIn
- Connect with Angie Bailey Art and Soul on Facebook or Instagram
- 00:00 - Welcome to Don't Eat Your Young • Angie Bailey
- 00:53 - Angie's Background
- 13:17 - Calligraphy
- 18:48 - Intention, Attention, Attitude
- 19:55 - Calming Calligraphy Classes
- 27:53 - Last Thoughts
- 29:28 - Wrap Up
Meet Natalie D’Itri
In this episode, Beth talks with Natalie D’Itri, a coach for nurses who want to grow in their professional lives as well as host of the Careerwise Nurse podcast. Their conversation ranges through Natalie’s background and how and why she moved into coaching. They talk about their goals to help nurses realize their career dreams and realize them. Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
About Natalie
Natalie D’Itri is living her dream of helping nurses find fulfillment in their work. Natalie is host of the Careerwise Nurse podcast and is a coach to nurses looking for expert guidance to launch, grow, and thrive in their professional lives. She is an experienced RN, having worked inpatient and outpatient settings as a direct caregiver, an educator and a clinical mentor. Nurses are tasked with taking care of the sickest people and populations. Natalie helps nurses take ownership of their career and identify resources to build a rich nursing life.
Links
- Careerwise Nurse podcast
- Careerwise Nurse on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram
- Schedule a Time to Talk with Natalie or Email Natalie
- 00:00 - Welcome to Don't Eat Your Young • Natalie D'Itri
Meet Laurel AshBeth and Laurel have a conversation about Laurel’s start in hospice and home care, working as a nurse practitioner, her transition to academia, her mentorship program, and more. Laurel currently goes out doing healthcare with seniors and is loving what she’s doing. She loves working in this capacity, and they talk about the return to a system where healthcare workers go out into the field to work instead of at a facility.
The transition to practice and mentoring is critical for Laurel as it’s an opportunity to help retain MPs and PAs. It’s also an opportunity to work on a reduction in bullying in the field. “As a leader, for me to develop a culture of belonging – where people feel they belong, that they are valued, that they are respected – can really set the stage for giving each person that safety so that they can perform at their highest level.” Being non-judgmental is key as a mentor, and everyone needs those people to help them in the field. Mentoring is critical.
Part of mentoring may be doing more training to learn how to communicate better. It’s also important to get away from the blame-and-shame system that still happens. The field may not be perfect, but it’s important to build a place for everyone to be that’s safe and working according to your values.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
Links* Connect with Laurel on LinkedIn
Susan Farese, a Force of NatureSusan has been a nurse, but has also worn many other hats as she’s moved through life. Currently, Susan runs SJF Communications – her own PR firm – where she helps pretty much anyone, including nurses market themselves and find the directions for their own lives they’re most excited about.
It’s invigorating to listen to Susan as she is full of positive energy and believes in people. She knows nurses are powerful forces in their roles, but also sees that many nurses need other outlets. Whether it’s a hobby, a side job, or a new career path, she’s here to help.
Susan and Beth talk about coaching and why it’s so important to find a coach or a mentor to help find your direction in life. They also talk about the importance of finding outlets – especially with the world of the pandemic in which we’re all living, which has broken many spirits.
They also talk about finding inspiration, career mapping, as well as Susan’s book, which has recently been re-published.
It’s an exciting and inspiring conversation that will certainly get you thinking about how best to shape your own lives.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
About SusanSusan J. Farese, MSN, RN, a native of New Jersey, is the owner/ president of SJF Communications, San Diego, CA. SJF Communications, originally established in 2002 in San Jose, CA, provides communications services including Public Relations, Publicity, Marketing, Websites, Filmmaking, Acting, Social Media, Writing and Public Speaking, Photography, Mentoring, Coaching and Legal Nurse Consulting services. Ms. Farese has diversified experience in health care/communications, including clinical nursing practice, management, education/training, research and consulting.
She has a Masters Degree in Nursing in Adult Health from Seton Hall University (NJ) and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Widener University(PA).
Susan has presented numerous continuing education classes, seminars, and keynotes. Susan is the author of the book Poetic Expressions in Nursing…Sharing the Caring (1993 and 2021), currently teaches ‘Capturing Your Creativity with Haiku’ workshops and has published poetry and articles on a variety of topics…
In addition to her being on the advisory board of San Diego Film Week, Susan is a member of SAG-AFTRA, American Legion Post 43, Veterans in Media & Entertainment, San Diego Writers Ink the San Diego Press Club, the Southern California Writers Association, the Army Nurse Corps Association.
Since 2017, Susan has been a Volunteer Mentor in the San Diego State University Aztec Mentor Program.
Complete list of clients at https://sjfcommunications.com/list-of-clients/
Contact SJF Communications at: 408-398-5940 or sjfcommunications@gmail.com.
Links* Susan’s Website * Susan on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Linktree * Susan’s book ‘Poetic Expressions in Nursing…Sharing the Caring’
The Public Utility ModelJohn Silver joins Beth to discuss the Public Utility Model, a plan to shift the healthcare insurance structure, bringing needed healthcare to everyone. A central council led by nurses – which would also include physicians and other allied healthcare professionals – would work to provide a better and stronger foundation for preventative healthcare for the people of the US, not just disease care. John talks about his look back through history to find a model that could work as a way to fund healthcare, and found that the public utility companies were managed locally and with great success. Healthcare spending is like a runaway train and is not sustainable. John’s ideas about a new twist with an old concept is worth listening to, as it just may be the way to reimagine the administration of healthcare funding.
They discuss John’s Declaration of Independence for Nurses and why John felt it was critical to put it together. They also talk about John’s program, Nurses Transforming Healthcare, and why it’s critical for nurses in this country to come together as a force to bring impactful change to policies of all sorts.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
About JohnDr. Silver started in healthcare in 1974, and became a Respiratory Therapist in 1978. After receiving his nursing degree, he worked extensively in critical care, including medical and surgical ICU’s, trauma units, burn units, and neurological ICU’s. He spent the last decade of practice in the emergency room. Dr. Silver writes and speaks about political issues in nursing and healthcare. He has presented both nationally and internationally on health policy, the restructuring of healthcare systems, and the role of nursing in that process. He has also spoken to a variety of nurse practitioner groups on political tactics for prescriptive authority and independent practice. In 2004, he led Spectrum’s international on-line chat prior to the election. He also studies nursing leadership and has a particular interest in the political fracturing of nursing. Dr. Silver started at NOVA Southeastern in 2005 as an adjunct professor and became an Associate professor full time in 2010. He teaches a variety of courses including health assessment, the second medical-surgical nursing class, as well as problem solving and the trends in nursing class taught in the last term. He has also taught ethics, health policy, and the introductory class in the Master’s program. Currently, Dr. Silver is a Program Chair in an ADN program of nursing.
Links* Nurses Transforming Healthcare * Just a Union... of Nurses: The Rise to Political Power of the California Nursing Association by John Silver
In this week’s episode, Beth is joined by new nurse Troy McMullen, a nurse of three years who started just before the pandemic hit. Beth and Troy talk about his journey to become a nurse and what that meant when COVID took over the world. He talks about the various locations he worked as a travel nurse and how similar they all were in the frustrations he had with the system’s lack of proper care for the patients. Troy and Beth remind everyone that you have to know when to say no, even if that makes co-workers frustrated. It’s a journey you won’t soon forget.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
Maggie OrtizIn today’s episode, nurse advocate Maggie Ortiz joins your host Beth Quaas to talk about the challenges in our nursing system today. Why is it so frustratingly complicated and why does it seem to be working against the nurses in it? What can nurses do to protect themselves? How do they deal with liability? Do they need their own insurance? There’s a lot of information in today’s episode so make sure you tune in to this one!
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
About MaggieI have been a critical care nurse for 22 years. I started in the ICU, step down, telemetry moved to the ER and started doing local agency work which included Interventional Radiology to do procedural sedation and I enjoyed doing that type of work. From there I started working PACU and Pre-Op, Pre-Assessment testing nurse, surgery centers and once I moved to San Antonio Texas from Omaha received a security clearance and worked at Lackland Air Force Base in the Level I trauma center during the war and then moved over to Brook Army Center in the Level I Trauma Center ICU. Moved to Austin working pretty much all their hospitals to include their Level I ICU working in the float pool and again doing local agency. Helped open a free-standing ER and then soon took a job at the Texas Board of Nursing as an Investigator. Stayed for about 6 months couldn’t take the lack of due process being extended to nurses left went to the cath lab where I have worked primarily now for the last 8 years. I started doing some grassroots activist work while I finished my bachelors and went onto get my Master’s in leadership and Administration which I have opted never to use, and I’ve stayed at the bedside with my people.
Links* Get in touch with Maggie via email or just text or call 512-766-8945 (Text works best!) * Get in touch with Maggie on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook
Sandra Capito In today’s episode – which was recorded September 2021, so information may be a bit out of date – nurse Sandra Capito joins your host Beth Quaas all the way from Melbourne, Australia, to talk about her work as a nurse to bring more compassion and empathy to the workplace for patients and fellow nurses. The goal? Making everyone feel worthy.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
About Sandra I’ve been a Registered Nurse for 30 years. This amazing profession has provided me with knowledge and experiences in hospital care, community support, public health management, teaching, and disability. I have learned from and worked with some amazing human beings. These include both colleagues and patients and their families.
Looking back, the hours were long and at times relentless. The workloads were massive and exhausting – but we showed up everyday to provide care and safety to our patients.
Having returned into the “clinical setting” in 2021 during the worldwide pandemic, I was able to work again in a team – which I have always enjoyed. I began to observe the interactions around me. These were between nurse and patient; nurse to nurse and doctors; and nurse with student nurses and support staff-patient services assistants. As an outsider, you could easily conclude that it was a very well oiled machine – things seemed to be running well and everyone knew their role/function. As I have always been a very curious person, I would talk to and observe people. I would often be asked to lead the team and provide advice to nurses if they required it. As is my leadership style, I always made sure that everyone in my team was acknowledged and seen every shift.
What I observed was this:
The attitudes from senior staff directly affected the mood and “vibe” of the whole shift. Lack of effective and consistent communication left nurses vulnerable and disconnected. I noticed disengagement ( which looked like laziness) which then further perpetuated disconnection. I tended to aim for people who were in this category. I would ask them questions about themselves and how they felt about working. I would also share about myself.
Finding commonality has always been “my jam”. The interactions were often brief. My only goal was to acknowledge each individual as worthy and appreciated and that they mattered. Without fail, this changed their attitude. They were more likely to come to me if they had an issue or concern. They worked better and happier. They felt safe knowing we were all in this together. Simple I know, but effective.
We need as a profession to acknowledge each other's paths, similarities and differences and embrace them. Everyone has hidden talents and skills and we need all of them to help evolve and shape the future of nursing.
Sandra on * LinkedIn * Facebook * Instagram
Rachel Chianakas and Compassionate Care Rachel Chianakas lost her ability to work as a bedside nurse after a knee injury with a subsequent failed surgery. Following her first surgery, she was made to feel “crazy” and “embarrassed” when she was told that she was fine and was healing normally. With her symptoms continuing, she was losing hope until a complete stranger told her she should seek a second opinion. She did just that and found that her symptoms were real. She finally felt validated.
Through her experience, she has become a fierce patient advocate and now works with low-income patients and assists them in navigating the immensely confusing healthcare system. Rachel is very grateful to the donor of a ligament graft placed in her knee and is able to function because of that selfless act of a stranger. Because of that, she encourages others to become donors and honors those that have donated organs and tissues so that others can continue to live.
Rachel is working to create a website where people can be educated on traversing the healthcare system and wants those that need help to reach out to her. She also would like to work with healthcare providers to educated them in delivering compassionate care to every patient they encounter and always be a patient advocate.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
About Rachel Rachel Chianakas is a Registered Nurse living in Milwaukee Wisconsin. She obtained her degree from OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois and began her career in the Emergency Department where she became passionate about providing both safe and quality care to each and every patient she cared for. Rachel has always taken pride in delivering safe care as a nurse and has helped foster change in her working environments to improve patient safety. After personally experiencing harm during a routine surgical procedure, Rachel’s passion and desire to advocate for patients grew exponentially as she learned firsthand the true impact a surgical error can make on one’s life. Rachel is here to give others a voice who have also been affected by patient harm and believes in the importance of being an advocate for yourself, transparency between healthcare workers and patients, the importance of second opinions, and effective communication amongst healthcare providers.
Links * Rachel’s Website * Email Rachel * Rachel on LinkedIn
Traci Powell is helping nurses heal. Traci Powell is a PMHNP and is nationally certified in Trauma Care. She has known 3 colleagues that have completed suicide and is dedicated to helping others heal before they take their own lives. She says that professionals in medicine don’t usually reach out for help. Traci offers intense therapy in different states in the US, hoping to reach as many people as she can.
Traci has a Facebook group called Nurses Healing Nurses that is a dedicated space for nurses to share their stories and gain positive feedback from others who can understand what we are all going through in this profession. “Nursing is beyond burnout, it is PTSD”, says Traci, and many need the help that she is able to provide.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
About Traci I’m a board certified psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner, Certified Trauma Treatment Specialist, writer, trauma education consultant and an unshakable force dedicated to helping you become the person you were always meant to be and unbecome what was never you in the first place.
Links * Traci’s website The Rebuilt Woman * Send Traci an Email * Traci on LinkedIn * The Rebuilt Woman on Facebook * Nurses Healing Nurses Facebook Group
May your holidays bring peace, rest, and joy. To all in our family of nurses, we love you, we thank you, and we wish you strength.
Fighting to Stop Violence in the Healthcare System Sheila Wilson has been a nurse for decades, but is still out there advocating and supporting nurses. Have you been a victim of healthcare violence and didn’t get the support you needed? Sheila will talk about how to find resources and continues to fight to decrease the incidence of assault and battery of our bedside nurses.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
About Sheila Sheila Wilson is a registered nurse who has served in both clinical and administrative management positions, as well as executive leadership roles, for over 30 years. As a clinician and in-patient care manager, she has worked tirelessly with HIV/AIDS, TB and substance abuse patients, as well as under-served populations in the Boston area. Ms. Wilson earned her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at the University of Massachusetts and her MPH from the School of Public Health at Boston University.
I created Stop Health Care Violence in 2009 to bring more awareness to the plight of the Health Care Workers. In 2018 Stop Health Care Violence became a Non-Profit. The mission of our Non-Profit is to educate and inform the public on the alarming epidemic committed against healthcare personnel. We want to provide support and advocacy for victims and lobby for change.
Links * Stop Healthcare Violence on the web and Facebook * Heal the Healer Facebook group
The Legal Side of Nursing Ashley Hughes has been a Legal Nurse Consultant for several years and is back this season to talk about implications when standards of care have been breached. She will share tips on documentation and how to learn more about standards of care. Ashley also discusses how this impacts travel nurses, and how to become familiar with the state or facility that they are working in. Don’t miss out on this very informative episode!
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
About Ashley Ashley Hughes has over 13 years of nursing experience in various ICU specialities, Nursing Management, and Emergency Room. She very well knows the navigations of the healthcare system and the various medical standards of care. During her years of nursing experience, she obtained her Legal Nurse Consultant Certification through the American Society of Legal Nurse Consultants (ASLNC) in May 2016, and since then has been practicing as a Legal Nurse Consultant and Nurse Expert Witness.
Ashley certifications includes the American Society of Legal Nurse Consultants (ASLNC), Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN), Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC), Basic Life Support (BLS), and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). As an instructor she teaches as needed for Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) and Basic Life Support (BLS).
Ashley is now utilizing her knowledge and experience to assist attorneys and their clients with any case involving health, illness, or injury for the plaintiff or defense. She also currently has a Legal Nurse Consulting Mentorship where she trains and mentors her fellow nurses to use their nursing expertise as a Legal Nurse Consultant. Ashley also helps Nurse Business owners to develop policies and procedures for their nursing business.
She is thankful to her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to have the opportunity to fill in the gap between the medical and legal worlds through legal nurse consulting.
Links * True Vine Legal * Ashley on LinkedIn and Instagram * If you would like to schedule an appointment with Ashley, click on this link
Healthcare violence is all too real and June Garen is fighting to change that. After decades in the OR, June Garen decided it was time for a change. She was interested in psych mental health nursing and took a job at a state mental health facility. In 2017, she was assaulted by a patient and suffered a head injury, among other physical and emotional injuries. After the violent act, she found there were no resources for her to get help and she felt “shamed and blamed” at work.
Since that time, she has worked to change that. She is spending her time talking to legislators, and is getting involved in moving bills through to protect healthcare workers and first responders while also helping others heal from such devastating trauma. She wrote a book titled “Hey, I Could Use a Little Help Here,” a story not only about her trauma but also a tribute to a less fortunate nurse that lost her life due to healthcare violence. The book is an eye opener and a call to action. The time is now and we can all shed light on this issue to improve our work environments.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page on Patreon!
About June A life-long northern New Englander, June Zanes Garen has spent almost four decades on the frontlines of nursing. After experiencing a violent physical assault in her workplace, she has become an advocate for survivors of healthcare workplace violence. June is currently employed as a nurse in a local school district.
Links * June’s Website * June on LinkedIn * June on Instagram * June on Facebook
Rasheda Hatchett is a nursing leader making every effort to improve the working conditions of the organizations for which we work. Healthcare is a business, but nurses see it differently. We want to care for patients the best that we can, but it can conflict with the actions of the administrators that are removed from what that care entails. Rasheda works with administrators to help them understand how to take care of the healthcare workers that care for the consumers.
Many of us in nursing have worked in toxic environments. It can quickly lead to burnout and possibly poor outcomes for the patients we serve. Rasheda has studied the factors that contribute to negative work environments. What she brings to the table is a wealth of information to share in order to help us get a positive work unit, and hopefully a more satisfying career.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
About Rasheda Rasheda is an award-winning nurse leader on a mission to help women thrive in the workplace and beyond. She is a Resilience strategist helping organizations build resilient teams that win through her signature programming The Power of Organizational Resilience. Rasheda is a best-selling author and experienced and engaging speaker.
Rasheda’s Links * Website * LinkedIn * Facebook * Instagram * YouTube
Finding Your Inner Wellness with Dr. Nasrin “Nas” Parsian On today’s show, Beth is joined by Dr. Nasrin “Nas” Parsian. Nas is a Holistic health professional, Academic Nurse and Emotional health Consultant, Certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Hypnosis Trainer. She has 25 years of experience in a wide range of health and wellness paradigms as well as an evidence-based practice with a focus on significance of self-transformation in management of chronic illnesses and mental health. She has undertaken her PhD research project on Spirituality and Chronic health conditions focusing on Diabetes Type I.
Her latest and most powerful interest is Heart Intelligence and inner wellness.
Focusing on her passion, Heart Intelligence, Nas believes the heart is at the center of transformation and inner wellness. Nas offers coaching, consulting and hypnosis training. She also educates our new nurses and encourages them to be self-confident and true advocates for our patients.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
Links * Dr. Nas’s website * Dr. Nas on Facebook and Instagram * Dr. Nas’s podcast
Tessa Hayman Tessa Hayman is a RN in Canada that specialized in palliative care. It wasn’t until after she left bedside nursing that she was able to recover from the burnout she had been dealing with. After seeking help to deal with her burnout, she moved into the coaching space to help others in healthcare that are working through issues that are negatively impacting their lives.
Tessa is part of a larger group that held a Burnout Summit. She is a speaker that advocates for healthcare wellness. The discussion surrounding learned helplessness is fascinating and as she explains what that is and how it manifests, you will shake your head yes. We have all seen it and lived it. She describes it as being in prison with the door open.
As part of Keys of Prosperity, Tessa will help you regain a sense of wellbeing. Her fight to help frontline workers get to a better place in their lives will improve the overall culture of our profession.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
About Tessa Tessa Hayman is a registered nurse, burnout recovery specialist and coach, who has supported thousands of clients to gain the knowledge, accountability and support need to recover from burnout. She helps and guides health professionals to clear anxiety and overwhelm, learn how to manage or eliminate stress, develop daily self-care practices and create habits that stick so abundance and prosperity flow throughout all areas of life.
Tessa is determined to help health professionals around the world to thrive in a career field that otherwise constantly conditions them to burn out and live in survival mode. She has been a guest speaker on numerous podcasts, summits and events, becoming an outspoken voice constantly advocating for the health and wellbeing of her colleagues and those in a health care profession.
Links Tessa on:
- YouTube
- Keys of Prosperity Website
JoNeil Smith Conley JoNeil Smith Conley has been in nursing for 44 years and has many academic accomplishments. The roles that JoNeil has held include bedside nurse, leader and consultant. She spent years researching nurse bullying within organizations and has great insight into the issue. She also developed a tool to decipher bullying from other negative styles of communication.
“It is not the nurse’s job to fix the bully. That’s administration’s job,” she says. JoNeil works with organizations to teach them how to work with bullies in healthcare and improve the culture of the hostile work environment. Her tip for nurses is for them to know their organization’s code of conduct – everyone should have an understanding of their employer’s expectations for behavior.
Nurse bullying can create toxic work environments and stress that ultimately leads to less than optimal patient care. Nurses suffer and often end up with symptoms of burnout. JoNeil helps those individuals gain courage to break free from the bullying behavior and deal with difficult individuals. If you work in a toxic work environment or are dealing with a nurse bully at work, reach out to JoNeil so you can live a more joyful life!
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
About JoNeil As an OR Nurse, Dr. Conley faced bullying by her preceptor, other nurses, and surgeons. Over the course of her career, she experienced and witnessed the negative impact of bullying on nurses’ emotional and physical well-being. The data from Dr. Conley’s doctoral study, Bullying in the Perioperative Nursing Workplace, supported the correlation between bullying acts and negative patient outcomes – including the death of healthy patients.
Dr. Conley has taken her experience and made it her passion. She is on a mission to work with nurses and organizations to change the consequences and outcomes from bullying in healthcare. Her expertise, practical tools, and strategies include implementing The Meanness Matrix and “How to Chart Bullying So Your Voice Is Heard.”
While Sr. Director of Talent Development for the Advisory Board Company, she worked with over 300 healthcare organizations, training and empowering staff and leaders in subjects such as disruptive behavior, conflict resolution, self-care, teamwork, negotiations, and many others. She has recently opened the Miss JoNeil’s School of Bullyology and Toxicity Taming. Students are currently being enrolled for Bullyology 101, which begins November 29th, 2021.
Connect With JoNeil * Website * TikTok * LinkedIn * Facebook * Instagram * YouTube
Our season break is just about over and Beth Quaas on her way back with more fantastic interviews sharing perspectives of nurses from around the world.
New to the show? Don't Eat Your Young is a podcast where nurses and nursing students share their real-life stories of what it is like to be in this amazing profession. The phrase "don't eat your young" has been around in nursing for decades and means that we don't always care for each other, and even bully each other at times. It is time for our profession to stand up to the bullies, which can be our co-workers, but also our patients and the organizations that we work for. By sharing stories and offering solutions and ideas for change, this is our call to see the health of our nurses — and those for whom they care so deeply — flourish.
Welcome to the show. And if you’re sticking around for season two, thank you for being here.
This is a free podcast, but it’s not free to produce. If you care about the message and want to take part in building the future of the show and our amazing community, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Patreon is listener-supported podcasting. For just a few dollars a month you can be sure that you’re helping us to pay our production team and deliver the show to you each week. Plus, get access to episodes a week early and other gifts! Visit patreon.com/donteatyouryoung and become an official Patron of the show today. Thank you for your support!
It’s the end of Season One! Thanks to everyone who has tuned in so far and made this a success. Thanks to all of our guests for opening up and sharing their stories. We’ll see you after our hiatus for Season Two!
When Tricia LaVallee was 4 years old, she learned about caring for her dying grandfather and what death meant. Since that time, she has wanted to help others heals as they deal with grief, loss and guilt. Many times, grief is the product of loss, but not just of a loved one; grief can come from job loss, changes in relationships, loss of a pet or guilt about someone else’s death. As nurses, we care for dying patients and their families, but don’t often take the time to grieve or heal from their loss.
Tricia took her talents and started a business called Beyond Grief. She is a coach for those that need help to get “unstuck” and to help them find joy in their lives. The one thing that Tricia believes that we should all do is love each other. Her genuine caring is what makes her a perfect coach if you are dealing with grief and loss. Reach out to her in the links below if you would like to connect.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
Links & Notes * Connect with Tricia on LinkedIn * Connect with Tricia on Facebook
Ivette Palomeque is an experienced ICU nurse that does not back down from a challenge. She saw the need for her services in the busiest ICUs that had been hit by the pandemic. She took a travel assignment in NYC and worked during the height of the COVID-19 crisis and recounts what it was like being a healthcare worker at that time. She also talks about the teamwork that she saw all around her to care for patients that were constantly at the brink of death. The toll that this pandemic has taken on frontline nurses, as well as many other healthcare workers and first responders, is beyond belief and deserves recognition as well as support for these people.
Ivette speaks openly about her own vulnerabilities. She has also found a way to help those caregivers face the trauma and emotions that are now surfacing. Ivette created Frontline Life, a place for nurses and other frontline providers, to seek support and help with the issues that they may be facing because of the difficulties that they have endured. She is also educating others about what she has learned in her vast experience in caring and treating these patients.
Ivette is a truly remarkable person. Listen to her story and heed her advice — if you need help, please don’t be afraid to ask for it. We are in this together.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
About Ivette Palomeque From the hospitality industry to a Registered Nurse working in ICUs, Level 1 Trauma Centers, and COVID-19 units, Ivette Palomeque, BSN RN has a deep understanding of the trials nurses face on every front. After spending more than a decade in ICUs and over a year caring for patients in COVID-19 units, Ivette knows what helps prevent burnout in healthcare, keeps frontliners motivated, and drives nurses to be the most trusted professionals. She takes pride in helping nurses navigate the frontlines and founded Frontline Life Media and Frontline Life Healthcare Club as an exclusive support group and safe space for nurses to connect — nurse-to-nurse and human-to-human. She takes pride in providing nurses with resources and thrives on connecting nurses as human first and nurses second.
Ivette has landed media coverage in print and broadcast outlets around the internationally including CNN (Espanol), CNBC, ABC and CBS. Sharing her experience as a frontline nurse during COVID-19, Palomeque also uses her nursing leadership experience to train nurse leaders and nurses on wellness, mental health, advocacy, and more. In addition to her extensive nursing experience, Ivette is fluent in both English and Spanish and has extensive experience in the hospitality industry which means she serves with a very strong commitment to stellar customer service.
Links * Frontline Life Media Website * Twitter * Facebook * Facebook Group * Instagram * YouTube
Katie Walker has been a CRNA for the past 10 years. Although she loves giving anesthesia, she felt there was more she could be doing to help others. She decided to open the Revitalist Clinic. Her clinic offers ketamine infusions as well as a holistic approach to treat patients with depression. Katie’s clinic has psych mental health NPs & psychologists, and is working to add neurologists as well. She runs her clinic with a nursing foundation: by treating the whole patient, not just a diagnosis.
Katie’s work has shown her that there are many groups of people that are caregivers, but are often not supported in their mental health needs. Healthcare workers that deal with caring for patients, police, firefighters, veterans and athletes are often overlooked and under-supported when it comes to their own well-being. The Revitalist Clinic is based in Tennessee but soon will expand to a larger region. If you are dealing with burnout, depression, anxiety, PTSD or any other mental health issue, please reach out for help.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
About Katie Walker Katie has worked as a full-time provider at Revitalist since its official opening in February 2018. Since that time, she has participated in providing care and support to thousands of individuals receiving ketamine and vitamin infusions.
Since transitioning as a Nurse Anesthesiologist in the inpatient setting to the outpatient setting, Katie and her team have been invited to speak at several conferences detailing their cutting-edge infusions and therapies for treatment-resistant conditions. She has been proud to speak at the European Branch of the American Counseling Association, the Tennessee Licensed Practicing Counselors Association, and Tennessee’s Prescription Drug Task Force.
Katie continues to work in conjunction with clients, therapists, and their established providers to help provide a comprehensive environment to best advocate consistency of care to optimize outcomes. In her spare time, Katie has expanded her care and expertise as a hired consultant with providers across the United States and United Kingdom sharing her years of experience and insight to best help clients and providers alike. Katie is an active member of the American Society of Ketamine Physicians, the Tennessee Association of Nurse Anesthetists, the Neuroscience Education Institute, and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.
Links * Revitalist Clinic * Revitalist’s new site (coming soon) * Email Katie * LinkedIn * Facebook * Instagram * KetaView Magazine
Ashley Hughes loves being a nurse. She still works with patients on a part time basis, but she came to the realization that she wanted to do more than work in the hospital for her entire career. With all of her nursing knowledge, Ashley decided to become a Legal Nurse Consultant. She has learned so much about what it takes to become an LNC; she has also learned that she has so much to teach nurses in how to document properly in order to keep themselves safe.
Ashley is now devoting much of her time to serve nurses by showing them how to become legal nurse consultants and forming their own businesses. Ashley wants to help nurses avoid burnout by showing them another avenue that may interest them. If you have ever had questions about what it is like to be a LNC or how to get there, Ashley is the lady with the answers.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
About Ashley Ashley Hughes has over 13 years of nursing experience in various ICU specialities, Nursing Management, and Emergency Room. She very well knows the navigations of the healthcare system and the various medical standards of care. During her years of nursing experience, she obtained her Legal Nurse Consultant Certification through the American Society of Legal Nurse Consultants (ASLNC) in May 2016, and since then has been practicing as a Legal Nurse Consultant and Nurse Expert Witness.
Ashley’s certifications includes the ASLNC, Critical Care Registered Nurse, Trauma Nurse Core Course, Basic Life Support, and Advanced Cardiac Life Support. As an instructor, she teaches as needed for Trauma Nursing Core Course and Basic Life Support.
Ashley is now utilizing her knowledge and experience to assist attorneys and their clients with any case involving health, illness, or injury for the plaintiff or defense. She also currently has a Legal Nurse Consulting Mentorship where she trains and mentors her fellow nurses to use their nursing expertise as a Legal Nurse Consultant. Ashley also helps Nurse Business owners to develop policies and procedures for their nursing business.
Links * True Vine Legal Website * True Vine Legal Email * Ashley on LinkedIn * Ashley on Instagram * Schedule an Appointment with Ashley
Maureen Osuna was in advertising before deciding later in life that she wanted to be a nurse. Because of that, she has a different perspective on life as a nursing student than some of the more traditional nurses. She could see what was being taught, but also what was lacking in nursing education. After working in the ICU and then transitioning to the PACU, she decided to start educating nurses in a non-traditional way – the beginning of her podcast.
Nurse Mo, as she is known, started the Straight A Nursing Podcast. Her podcasts are short and easy to understand with very useful topics for all nurses and nursing students. She also is the author of the book “Nursing School Thrive Guide”, as well as an online resource called Crucial Concepts Bootcamp designed to guide students through their time in school. Maureen is serving students with her desire to educate and her compassion for the difficult road to becoming a nurse.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
About Maureen Osuna Maureen, also known as Nurse Mo, is the voice behind the Straight A Nursing podcast, author of Nursing School Thrive Guide and creator of Crucial Concepts Bootcamp, an online course for new nursing students. Maureen has worked in both ICU and PACU, and has found her true calling in mentoring nursing students throughout all stages of their programs. She lives in Northern California with her husband and enjoys cycling, wine, sewing and going for walks around the lake.
Links & Notes * Maureen’s Website * Maureen’s Bootcamp * Maureen on Instagram
Eboni Gee is a whirlwind force who seems to never lose her spark as she is growing a business to help others learn from the hard work that she has already put in. She is passionate about helping others and is a wealth of knowledge in so many areas. She has her own podcast called “The Kidney Connection” where she shares her nursing expertise in all things renal health and beyond. Eboni covers many different topics in her show and there is something for everyone to learn.
Eboni is also the master of organization and time management. I spent some time learning from her and she helped me with things that I had no idea even existed. She has learned much of her knowledge in podcasting by trial and error – she will save you the time of making the same mistakes she’s made in the past.
Her story in nursing is one that many of us can relate to – stressful, burnout, not as rewarding as it once was. But she took the first step to take back her joy. In doing all the hard work in developing her business, she now teaches what others need to know without time spent figuring it out on their own. She is a force to be reckoned with!
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
About Eboni Gee Living with a purpose - LWAP was founded in 2015 by Eboni Gee with the vision to help busy professional women with their time management for a healthier personal and professional life. LWAP is a US-based company that is focused on promoting wellness practices through time management for better overall wellness and kidney health. We work with busy, professional women to help them learn how to prioritize their wellness. Most major diseases such as kidney disease, diabetes, and hypertension, all are a result of a poor lifestyle. Procrastination is the foundation of many lessons since all-time management begins with planning, LWAP is dedicated to promoting wellness through consistent time management, priorities, and organization skills that lead busy professional women to achieve success in their careers, businesses, and personal lives.
I also help people realize their dream of podcasting because creating my podcast not only saved me time with my content creation, but it allows me to stay consistent, use my time wisely and spread my message to people internationally and helped me land partnerships and opportunities to get in front of even bigger audiences.
Links & Notes * Living With A Purpose Website * Twitter * Linked In * Facebook * Instagram * The Kidney Connection on Apple Podcasts
Tammy has worked in many nursing roles in her 25 years as a nurse. After a change in leadership which, as she found, was unsupportive of more seasoned nurses, she knew she had to find a more fulfilling role. She also felt pushed to obtain her BSN, but wasn’t interested. She says, “The degree behind our licensure doesn’t matter; our caring spirit and professionalism do.”
Then came a day in the OR when she had a run-in with members of her OR team and, when called into the office, was told by her manager that “nurses are supposed to be angels who let things roll off them.” She realized that she had let things roll off her for too long. Tammy left her job shortly after that to start helping others. She is now a life and health coach.
Listen to Tammy recount her story of bullying and how she decided to take her life back and be happy again. It was scary for her at times, but in the end, all worth it.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
About Tammy Jacobs Tammy is a Registered nurse of 26 years and now a Transformational Coach. In her 26 years as a nurse, she has worked in many different areas of nursing: office nursing (cardiology and pediatrics), nursing homes, hospital floor nursing, and most recently in the operative room for the past 16 yrs.
Tammy began to notice that nursing as a profession – and medicine as a whole – was changing, a change that took her from having more time for patients to less. The change also brought less autonomy and left her feeling defeated most days. Because of her exhaustion, she began searching for a career where she could serve others in a more personal way and have the time and freedom in doing it. This led her to become a coach through which she can help and support women to get out of their own way and trust that all will fall into place just as it is meant to. She calls empowering women through her coaching not only her passion, but her superpower.
Links * Free 60 Minute ‘Just Do You’ Discovery Call * Facebook Group * Facebook Business Page * LinkedIn
Shane Slone started as an excited new nurse, wanting to learn everything that he could. He was an RN working in the ICU doing 12 hour shifts. It seemed that he would work, go home exhausted, eat and sleep, just to wake up and do it all over again. After several years working in a stressful ICU work environment, he was ready to leave nursing altogether, but he took a step back and realized that he still had a lot to give to this amazing profession.
Shane has a lot of insight into the toxic workplaces in which many nurses find themselves working. He talks about the culture of acceptance needing to improve, and how that starts with our leadership. He has a great message for those nurse leaders out there – take care of your staff and work to facilitate change. Shane says that as a profession, we need to improve education for our nurses to learn about communication, conflict resolution and taking care of ourselves.
Because of that need, Shane started Nursing CE Central. He saw the need to offer continuing education to his colleagues in a convenient, online learning platform. The list of topics is expansive and he is always adding new information. Check out his website for more information.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
About Shane Slone Shane Slone is an Advanced-Practice-nurse-turned-entrepreneur. He is the CEO of Nursing CE Central and is passionate about quality nursing education.
Links * Nursing CE Central
Denise Crawley worked as a nurse for few years in Canada before leaving the profession. While still new to the profession, she had been bullied and when she asked for support from her manager, found that she had a “target on her back.” Her experiences with this toxic culture indirectly led her to leave nursing. Since that time, she has devoted her time to serve nurses in a new capacity by founding the Nurses Rights Association.
The goal of her work in the Association is to help nurses understand their basic human rights as found in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Denise believes that all nurses deserve to work in a safe environment, have proper staffing ratios, adequate PPE, and the support of those in administration. A few of the things Denise promotes on her platform are mini-retreats for nurses and peer support groups for nurses that have sustained workplace injuries.
Denise wants nurses to know their rights. Before accepting a job, do your research and ask questions to determine if that position is a good fit for you. Take a look at her Declaration of Unity that you can find on her FB group. She wants nurses to feel safe to do their jobs and ask for help.
She is doing great work.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
About Denise Crawley Denise Crawley is a former nurse and current nurse activist, who now works in the Hospitality industry. She left the nursing field in January 2018 but continues to advocate for nurses’ rights.
Links * Nurses’ Rights Association private Facebook group * Nurses’ Rights Association Twitter page * Denise’s Twitter * Denise’s Facebook
Haley Bretl knew that she wasn’t herself and was tired of pretending to be happy both at work and at home. She decided it was time to take care of herself. After trying therapy and prescription medications, Haley found a coach that was the right fit for her and it changed her life. With the help of her coach, she found out that she was her own biggest fan. From that grew her business to help other nurses through their dark days and show them that there was light on the other side.
Your Biggest Fan is a program for nurses that need to know that they are an individual first and a nurse second. So many times, nurses forget who they are because they feel that their career in nursing defines them. Haley is here to cheer them on until they are able to cheer for themselves.
About Haley Bretl I was a self-doubt riddled, anxious, past-obsessed, burned out nurse whose breaking point was a meltdown at a wedding. I tried therapy multiple times over the course of a few years. I tried numerous prescription drugs to get me through the day & sleep at night... no resolution. I knew there had to be more to life than walking around like a zombie, pretending to love my job AND myself for that matter. A coach was my way to move forward. After a couple years of my own journey, I realized that I owed my life to the results I got from my coach and that I wanted to do the same for other nurses. In just about eight years of nursing, I have worked on staff and as a traveler at 12 different hospitals in many different specialties including COVID crisis response. I currently work PRN in Med/Tele/COVID, mentor, and coach through Your Biggest Fan (YBF), my thriving program for overworked nurses. In YBF, I help nurses create a personalized self-care system that sticks to ditch the stress, overwhelm & burnout. I will be your biggest fan until you're ready to become your own. You First, Nurse Second.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
Links & Notes * Follow Haley on Facebook * Follow Haley on Instagram
Keeonna Williams has been a nurse for many years in the OR and understands the toll that the environment in which you work can have on your well-being. After having been bullied and having witnessed bullying, she became an advocate for those that hadn’t yet found the confidence to speak up. She now mentors students and new nurses on the job in addition to standing as a supporter on social media.
Keeonna didn’t realize that she was burned out until she suffered a TIA and spent time in the ICU. Looking back, she realized that she was irritable and just wasn’t herself, but didn’t take the steps to heal herself. When she was able to go back to work, she took an assignment on a small island in the Pacific — just what she needed. It was a laidback place to nurse. When she wasn’t at work, she was able to unplug without the demands of such a busy life and non-stop responsibilities. Keeonna began to heal and realize what was important in her life.
Since that time, Keeonna has started a business called Holistic Balance in order to help other women prevent burnout and also teaches strategies for self care. By listening to her story, we can all be inspired to evaluate our lives and live a more balanced life — play by our own rules.
About Keeonna Williams Keeonna Williams is a registered nurse and an aspiring entrepreneur who hails from New Orleans, Louisiana. She is an alumna of the Charity School of Nursing. She got her Master of Science in Nursing from Concordia University of Austin, with a concentration in Healthcare Project Management and emphasis in Leadership. Her professional experience cuts across school nurse, postpartum, long-term acute care, operating room, and other specialties. Keeonna is currently transitioning from intrapreneurship to entrepreneurship as a registered nurse. She recently earned her certificate of completion from RNterprise Academy, with a focus on coaching, speaking, and writing.
Driven by the passion of empathy, Keeonna Williams founded Holistic Balance with the vision to educate and empower busy women with self-care and resilience strategies to prevent burnout, manage stress, and enhance their overall well-being. She is creating her path as a speaker, writer, and coach. She is also the author of “The Golden Rose: My Journey towards Conquering Stress,” an anthology that serves to share the triumphs and victories of 30 nurses' victories of achieving successful arrival towards their unique destination. Her experience as a nurse has equipped her with the necessary tools to assess the individuals’ and situations, collaborate with them to develop a plan, assist and hold them accountable for implementing the plan, serving as their self-care advocate.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
Links & Notes * Holistic Balance LLC * The Golden Rose * Holistic Balance on Facebook * Keeonna on Facebook * Keeonna on LinkedIn * Keeonna on Instagram * email Keeonna
Rachel Smiddy understands how important it is to take care of yourself, especially nurses that seem to always be caring for others. Rachel decided to seek out a coaching certificate program and completed one so that she can work one on one with people to help them through issues that might be bringing them down. It is becoming more apparent that nurses are suffering from burnout, so Rachel also started a FB group called Nurses Against Burnout (NABO). She discusses the need to have goals beyond our careers and the responsibilities of life outside of work. An important piece of self-care is to find ways to make your life easier, like meal prep and staying hydrated.
Rachel talks about how, if you can stay open to new possibilities, the right path will open itself up to you. Don’t be afraid to try new things. It is scary to think about leaving your comfort zone, but trust in yourself and follow your instincts. Now is the time to take care of yourself and find what is right for you.
About Rachel Smiddy Rachel Smiddy is a Registered Nurse currently working as a Fertility Nurse Case Manager. She has been a nurse for 18 years after graduating from the University of Delaware with a BSN in Nursing. She started her Career at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. After 5 years of floor nursing in pediatrics and moving to a different state she landed in the OR/PACU in a fertility clinic. She has transitioned through different roles as a fertility nurse over the last 13 years. Along the way Rachel experienced getting married, buying a home, having children and raising doggies too. One of the things Rachel enjoys to do in her spare time is reading. She came across Brene Brown on Oprah and started reading her books. This began an interesting and fun personal growth journey which inspired her to become certified as a Life Coach. The Life Coaching skills have helped her navigate rough experiences through life and her nursing career. Now Rachel coaches other nurses to help prevent burn out, manage career changes and avoid jobs that suck!
Links & Notes * Rachel Smiddy * Join Rachel’s Facebook Group
Kelley Anaas worked as an intern when she was a nursing student which helped her land a job on a med/surg floor. After 6 years she decided she was ready for a change and moved into the ICU. She spent a lot of time training for that job, but it still didn’t prepare for the Covid crisis that hit in March, 2020.
Kelley takes us through her experiences as an ICU RN in a Covid unit and the transformation that took place during that time. On top of her regular nursing duties caring for extremely ill patients and their families, her and her colleagues took on extra roles such as stocking supplies, cleaning the rooms and becoming the telecommunication specialists between the patients in the hospital and their loved ones on the outside. Despite all of the added work, stress and exhaustion, Kelley and her team continued to show up to care for our loved ones.
We will hear what nurses have gone through and the lasting effects that this time has had on both their mental and physical health. Kelley wants to encourage nurses to seek out help if they need it and to also give support to nurses and other teammates that might be struggling. A big thank you to all of our nurses and every person out there working in hospitals taking care of the patients through this difficult time.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
Emily Mazurak was an RN in a busy PICU at a Level I Trauma Center. She was ready for a change and took her talents on the road and because a traveling PICU nurse. Through that experience, and feeling like she didn’t fit in to some of the cliques within the units that she worked in, not having a sense of community, she felt that is where her burn out began. She loved taking care of her pediatric patients and their families, but was spending too much time at work, and not spending enough time taking care of herself. When she realized that she had many of the symptoms of burn out, such as dreading work and not sleeping, she decided to take care of herself and start her Fill Up Your Cup project.
Emily’s Fill Up Your Cup project is a way to help other nurses find a way to put themselves first. Her first tip is that “No” is a complete sentence. When you are asked to do something but you don’t have the desire or time to do it, like picking up an extra shift at work, the only answer that you need to give is no.
About Emily Mazurak
Emily Mazurak is a second degree, critical care certified nurse with experience in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. After four years of working in high paced, high intensity PICUs around the US, she was forced to come face to face with her own crippling burnout during a job interview. On the car ride home she realized that if she did not make a change, and fast, her career as a nurse would be over just as quickly as it began. She started to put as much emphasis on personal development as she did on professional development and slowly redefined what it meant to be a “real nurse.” Emily, the creator of the Fill Up Your Cup Project, is now helping other nurses reignite their spark and their love of nursing by helping them pour into their own cups before helping everyone else around them so they can live a life they love on and off their shift.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
Links & Notes * Follow Emily on Instagram * Connect with Emily on Facebook * The Fill Your Cup Project
Mary Buffington had been a nurse for several years before feeling the effects of burnout. She was working in a chaotic oncology clinic, which was stressful enough, but then didn’t feel supported by her own leaders which added to the toxic environment. She finally chose to leave that job and almost gave up on nursing all together. She decided to take some time and find her self-purpose and self-love. In those years, she returned to school and received her Master’s in Leadership/Management, worked with a Life Coach, and got a new job as a Nurse Navigator.
Because of her experiences, she knew that she didn’t want anyone else to go through that and started her business called The Burnout Ward. She is now the one coaching others to find their self-purpose and self-love. The work that she is doing is incredible. Mary is enamored with Florence Nightingale, the way Florence lived life on her own terms, saw a need for caretaking and went to Crimea, despite that not being “the norm” at that time. She says that nurses are taught that our worth is in giving and caretaking, but we are so much more and can contribute in many meaningful ways, including leadership roles and politics.
About Mary BuffingtonMary Buffington is a registered nurse and certified life coach who works exclusively with nurses. She teaches nurses how to create the careers and lives they want without the burnout. Her company the Burnout Ward has served nurses using her signature program The Unbreakable Nurse Society. She believes the more empowered, resilient nurses there are, the better healthcare will be for all.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
Links & Notes * About Burnout Ward * Follow Burnout Ward on Instagram * Connect with Burnout Ward on Facebook
Deanna Tikhonov is a Women’s Health NP, but it took her a couple years to decide that’s where her passion was and take the steps to get there. As a nursing student, she hated her med/surg rotation, but later attributed that to working with preceptors that were burnt out, overworked and didn’t like having students. After graduating as an RN, it took her several months, and over 30 applications, to find a job on a med/surg unit. She said that she ended up loving med/surg because of the supportive nurses that she worked with there. Since that experience as a nursing student, Deanna has become a patient and supportive mentor for the students that she works with. Deanna discusses how it is important for nurses to be honest with themselves about their feelings of working with students, not everyone likes to teach.
Deanna decided that women deserved more than a 15 minute office visit to help them with their issues, so decided to start educating women about how to help themselves by changing their lifestyles. She believes that changes to our diet can impact our hormones, leading to less negative symptoms and a more balanced hormone response. She started doing YouTube videos and education on IG as The Lady’s Guide, and offers simple, attainable goals to help us with many of our PMS symptoms and women’s health.
About Deanna Tikhonov
Deanna Tikhonov is a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner and has been practicing at public clinics and private practices in New Jersey since graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 2014. Prior to that, she worked as an RN on a Med/Surg Unit.
Through her time as a clinician, she noticed a gap in what women are taught about their bodies and women’s health topics. So she founded The Lady’s Guide, an educational, cross-media platform where she discusses common women’s health topics from knowing your birth control options to how to empower yourself during your GYN exam. Deanna offers virtual coaching sessions teaching women how to rebalance their hormones and improve their fertility without the use of medications but through lifestyle changes.
Lastly, Deanna recently became a 200hr certified Yoga Teacher with an additional Prenatal Yoga certification, gaining more knowledge on the mind/body connection. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and dog on hikes, traveling around the world, and practicing yoga.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
Links & Notes * Follow @_theladysguide on Instagram * Subscribe to The Lady’s Guide on YouTube
Lois Hollis has been in nursing for over five decades and has moved our profession in the right direction. She has been a forward-thinking leader and took on new challenges in order to promote and push the scope of practice of nurses to a higher level. We all stand on the shoulders of nurses like Lois.
Lois’ abuse in her younger years led her to help herself and others. The pain that she endured as an adult was attributed to her past struggles and she made a decision to heal herself. She was able to overcome the guilt and shame that had followed her for so many years. Since that time, she now uses her gifts to help others heal as well.
With her extensive experience in caring for others and healing from shame and guilt, Lois has authored 3 books and produced a short film that will premiere in January of 2021.
About Lois HollisLois Hollis was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1943. She earned her RN from St. Joseph Hospital and achieved her BSN from the University of Pennsylvania. For 30 years, she gained experience as a nurse in open-heart surgery, neurosurgery, gastroenterology, and nephrology where she helped establish one of the first kidney hemodialysis units in the USA at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.
Today Lois uses her own healing journey from an abusive childhood of broken bones and emotional pain to shift our opinion on one of the most taboo subjects… shame and guilt. For the past 15 years, she has been sharing new information about shame and guilt that helps us release these obstacles and live our greatness.
Emotional and physical pain was Lois’ life until she uncovered shame. She came to learn that the solution to her anger, depression, 30 yrs of migraines, rage, fears, pain, etc. was in recognizing and releasing shame. Lois, as a trailblazer, created a way to health that she shares with us today.
Lois is the author of three books and a short film. Her newest book, “Now is The Time”, contains her Light Language readings that enhance our spiritual growth by dissolving resistant mental/emotional patterns. Her latest film, “I’M Good”, exposing shame and guilt, will be produced in January 2021.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
Links & Notes * Visit loishollis.com * Connect with Lois on Facebook * Connect with Loise on LinkedIn * Follow Lois on Twitter * Follow Loois on YouTube
Christina Dunbar started her nursing career in the pediatric ICU and worked in several other areas before going back to school for her FNP and finding her place in adult oncology. After some time in the clinical world, she saw an opportunity and took a management position leading a team in oncology. This was a challenging position and she found herself burning out. We discuss the need for more support for nurses in those management roles where they are between the team that they lead, and their needs, all while trying to manage within the confines of a healthcare system that is trying to keep a business running. She made a decision to put herself first and chose to leave that leadership role and focus on intentional living and spending more time with her family.
Out of her own burnout, Christina started with daily journaling and taking 10 minutes to practice mindfulness. This eventually led her start a podcast called Intentional Ten: Intentional Living with Christina Dunbar, which she calls her passion project. Her business focuses on setting intentions, and taking time out of each day to care for yourself and set goals that work for you. Starting in January 2021, Christina will be offering a monthlong challenge that will include daily podcasts and intention setting. Visit her website for more information about her January offering.
Intentional Ten is a guide to health, wellness, and balance through habits of mindfulness and intentional living led by Christina Dunbar (a busy wife and mom just trying to be a little more intentional). Get ten-minute inspiration on the podcast, find tips on the blog, and download your free journal to join the Intentional Journey! You can register for the January Intentional Living Challenge: One Month of Journaling, Mindfulness, and More at www.intentionalten.com/events. Use code DONTEATYOURYOUNG for 10% off your ticket. Register by December 31st!
Links & Notes * Subscribe to Intentional Ten: Intentional Living with Christina Dunbar
About Christina Dunbar Christina is a wife, mom of three, plant-based food enthusiast, and yoga teacher! Inspired to change her lifestyle after a stress-induced illness, she slowed down and redesigned her life to improve her mental and physical health. She created the Intentional Ten Podcast, Blog, and Journal to share these life-changing habits with others, focusing on Mindfulness, Gratitude, and Intentional Living. When she's not recording episodes or writing posts, Christina enjoys a hot cup of coffee, sitting outside in the rain, and dance parties with her kids.
Casie Lamp has been a nurse for 20 years, serving in the Army, before working in the civilian world. Casie is seeing firsthand, the toll that our current healthcare crisis is taking on our nurses. After going through her own burnout 5 years ago, which was revealed while she was completing a CE article on burnout, she learned to heal herself. Casie realized that she wanted to help other nurses prevent the same fate, so she started to coach nurses.
The stress of the job makes some nurses feel like they are doing enough for their patients. They feel guilt when they leave their coworkers at the end of the shift, or worse, when they don’t pick up an extra shift on their day off. Casie has seen both lateral violence among nurses, and at the same time, a larger sense of teamwork.
About Casie Lamp“I work to empower extraordinary nurses and healthcare workers to experience shifts where they are free of guilt and have less stress and overwhelm. After spending the past 19 years working at the bedside, I understand the importance of work-life balance, feeling under appreciated, and the need for camaraderie. Not only am a certified critical care nurse and an Aroma Freedom Practitioner, I served in the US Army for 9 years as a lab technician and a nurse. I am an Integrative Nurse Coach, have my Bachelor of Science in Nursing and currently live in the Seattle, Washington area.”
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
Links & Notes * Balanced Wellness 365 * Follow BalancedWellness365 on Instagram * Connect with Burnout Coaching on Facebook
When Kim Klein was a nurse’s aide and decided to go back to school to be an RN, she didn’t realize how much different it would be. She quickly learned that being a new grad, moving straight into the OR, would prove very difficult. She left the OR after a year, only to find out that her LTC job did not give her the support that a new nurse needed. There was a question that she asked herself - am I doing the right thing by being a nurse? Kim ended up back in the OR as a circulator. Kim experienced, first hand, what it means for nurses to eat their young. She also had to deal with surgeons that didn’t trust her as a new person to the team. Kim decided that she would turn that around by mentoring the new nurses that came into the OR and reminding them that they were doing a good job - something that she says nurses don’t hear enough.
Kim dealt with some physical symptoms from her burnout and turned to functional medicine when she couldn’t get answers from her conventional healthcare team. That experience led her to work on her Functional Medicine certification. She now hopes to help others get answers through her knowledge of functional medicine and experience as a resilient nurse.
Tips for Nurses
- What is your Why? What steps can you take to get to the point that makes you happy?
- If you start to notice the signs of burnout, take a step back, and take care of yourself.
- Stick in there, but stick up for yourself. Don’t let people walk all over you.
Learn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page!
About Kim KleinKim Klein, a Certified Sleep Coach, Certified Stress Management Coach, Registered Nurse, Alternative Medicine Provider, and soon to be Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P). I have had the opportunity to coach and mentor others for a vast majority of my 18 years in the healthcare industry and look forward to working at a deeper level to serve others’ health and well-being as an FDN-P.After personally suffering from and overcoming Stage 3 HPA Dysfunction, Chronic Fatigue, and Insomnia, I have decided to hang up my surgery nurse hat and set out on a new mission to help other healthcare providers suffering from fatigue and sleep issues. My program focuses on working together to explore the underlying causes of your symptoms to help you overcome fatigue and sleep disturbances to restore your health for optimal lifestyle functioning where you can live a fuller, healthier, and happier life.
- For more information, e-mail: support@healthcoachkimk.com
- Schedule Your Free 30 Minute Consult
Lisa Dunlap is a Geriatric NP that practices holistic and integrative medicine. A little over a year ago, while dealing with burnout from her job, she was having health issues that were finally diagnosed just as the COVID pandemic was ramping up. Finding out that she had an ovarian mass, and without the option for surgery at the time, she turned to her mindfulness practices, awareness, and self-care. When she was finally allowed to go to surgery, there was no sign of the mass and her stress was gone; she attributes this to her healing practices and efforts to manifest health.
Lisa believes that we can’t control what happens in the environment around us, but we can control how we think and be present in the moment. Through her nursing journey, Lisa was told by her teachers that she just needed to do her time and start on med/surg—they didn’t think she would make it very far because she “believed in woo-woo stuff”. Her mindful self-care has not only helped to heal, but she is now helping others to heal as well.
Tips for nurses:
- One deep breath can move us from SNS (fight or flight) to the PNS (more relaxed) state
- Hang in there and stay strong in yourself - no one can tell you different
- Encourage a practice of self-care throughout the day
Links & Notes * Self-Compassion Connections * Purchase Compassion Connections Toolkit * Join Lisa's Facebook Group
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About Lisa Dunlap
Lisa Dunlap Integrative ARNP, a Seattle native and mother of 2 small children, trained in adult geriatric primary care. Most recently worked in Seattle for Providence Hospice. Also trained in herbal medicine, reflexology, healing touch, clinical aromatherapy, & mindfulness practices. A certified Fit4mom fitness instructor. Has a love & passion for yoga & alternative healing and an ongoing desire for achieving spiritual, physical, and mental balance. Loves to participate in outdoor adventures, including surfing, hiking, camping and back-country snowboarding. Has been a nurse for 12 years and an NP for 6 of those. She received all her nursing education in Honolulu, and practiced there for 9 years. Currently Pursuing Mindfulness Self-compassion based trainings.
Jeri Cates went from being a homeless, single mom on welfare to being a nurse practitioner and entrepreneur. She defines herself as a crusader for self-love. Jeri became interested in nursing when she was told that nurses are teachers, among others.
The BON sanctioned Jeri for marijuana use and a complaint from a patient. That patient bullied Jeri when she refused to order him medications that he requested.
Nurses have a high incidence of codependency. We must learn to take care of ourselves before caring for others. If we don’t, it could lead to burnout.
Teaching/Learning theory shows us that students cannot learn when they are stressed or scared. Treat students with kindness and support.
Jeri says that nurses “don’t necessarily eat our young, but sometimes we’re just not nice. ... Eating our young is like eating ourselves”.
Each one of us can set our intention to have an amazing day.
Three tips for nurses:
- Have authentic self-love, be honest with yourself
- Self-care
- Self-compassion
About Jeri Cates Jeri Cates is an RN and Nurse Practitioner. She has been a nurse for 20-years, starting her career with hospital bedside nursing. In 2009, she earned her MSN and FNP Certification. Jeri’s first NP job was providing free health care to her community on a Project Hope Van. As an NP, Jeri has worked in Holistic medicine and various urgent care and Family Practice settings. Jeri’s background also includes wound care, vascular surgery, and addiction medicine.
Jeri is also a certified Feminine Power, Transformational Life Coach. She obtained her coaching certification after being faced with her codependency. Jeri’s journey has brought her through many challenges, healing, and new insight; her experiences have led her to explore the high incidence of burnout in the nursing profession. She is a crusader for self-love, raising awareness of our tendency to put others first. Her stories will inspire you to prioritize taking the best care of yourself, so you can more fully be there for others.
Get in touch with Jeri at jeri@jericates.com.
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Links & Notes * Jeri’s Facebook Group * Jeri on Instagram
Welcome to Don’t Eat Your Young — the podcast that brings you stories from the trenches of the incredible, wonderful, exhausting, terrifying, joyous world of nursing.
Host Beth Quaas been in the world of nursing for nearly decades and has worked in hospitals large and small. She's worn the hats of the floor nurse, ICU, ER, and anesthesia. She's been a manager, an educator, and a co-worker.
On Don't Eat Your Young, Beth highlights stories from nurses around the country that are doing amazing things for their nursing colleagues to support them and let them know that they are not alone. This is a show celebrating a positive culture of nursing and care, and we can be a part of this culture by sharing wins — and struggles — across the field.
We will also explore opportunities that are unique in nursing that may inspire you to go in new directions. These voices from the field are an inspiration to care for your self, and those around you.
Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. Don’t Eat Your Young will launch in two weeks. For more information and to support this show, visit donteatyouryoung.com.
Nurses. Making our world better, one shift at a time!