The Conversing Nurse podcast

Flatline Ethics- When Burnout is a Leadership Failure, with Aimee Ellis

25 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send us Fan MailToday, we’re talking about something that most nurses have felt — but few organizations are willing to name honestly.Burnout.But w...

Changing Nursing Culture- Why Is It So Hard?

04 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textIf nursing is consistently ranked as the most trusted profession in America…Why do so many nurses feel unheard inside their own workplace...

From the ER to Interoperability — Why Nurses Belong at the Health IT Table with Julie Smith

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textToday’s guest has one of those careers that doesn’t follow a straight line—and that’s exactly what makes it powerful.Julie Smith’...

Going Beyond the Diagnosis of Schizophrenia with Dr.Tracy Hicks

28 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThis week, my guest is Tracy Hicks, a doctorally-prepared and dual-certified family and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Sh...

"Be Your Own Xanax"- My Health Scare and Battle with a Benzo

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a text**CAUTION** This episode discussed suicide, suicidal ideation, drug dependency. PROCEED WITH CAUTION.This is a chronology of my serious ...

Founding Dean of the College of Nursing at Columbia Southern University, Dr. Bonny Kehm, Ph.D

17 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textDr. Bonny Kehm is the Founding Dean and Assistant Provost of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Columbia Southern University....

Pulmonary Critical Care Intensivist, Dr. Mahmoud Ibrahim, M.D.

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textToday’s guest is someone who brings compassion, intellect, and a genuine love for medicine to everything he does. Dr. Mahmoud Ibrahee...

Fighting for the Underdogs, Lia Xiong-Ratley, MSN, FNP-C, RNFA

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMeet Lia Xiong-Ratley, a Family Nurse Practitioner, women’s health advocate, and rescuer of the underdogs, literally.Lia has worn many...

Simulation Specialist, Dr. Christine Heid

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textToday’s guest is someone whose work sits right at the intersection of education, innovation, and human connection.Dr. Christine “Chr...

Surgical Oncology Nurse Practitioner, Kim Kish

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a text"Life is a journey, not a destination."  This quote perfectly describes the path of my guest this week, Kim Kish, a surgical ...

The Creators of Get Vitals, Kevin Dickinson and Amber Smith

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textToday’s episode is one that really hits close to the heart — because it’s about the people who spend their lives caring for others...

Critical Care Educator, Sarah Vance

22 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAre you a critical care nurse or aspiring to become one? If so, you won't want to miss my guest this week, Sarah Vance. With over 1...

Patient and Nurse Advocate, Lori Schellenberg

15 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textToday, I’m honored to welcome on the podcast, Lori Schellenberg, a registered nurse with nearly 45 years of experience. Lori’s caree...

Pediatric Nurse, Monica Reyes

08 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWow, when you hear my interview with Monica Reyes, you will realize what I’ve known for a while, that she was born to be a pediatric n...

CEO of Health Nuts Media, Tim Jones

01 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textToday, I’m joined by Tim Jones, the CEO of Health Nuts Media and a true innovator in the world of health education. With over 30 years...

Labor & Delivery Nurse, Christine Daniel

24 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHave you ever wanted to know what a labor and delivery nurse does? Well, in this episode, Christine Daniel, a labor and delivery nurse f...

Nurse Leader, Educator, and Advocate, Randy Morris

17 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textToday’s guest, Randy Morris, is a dynamic leader in the world of nursing, education, and patient advocacy. You may know him on social ...

Preemie Dad, Author, and Advocate, Adam Wood

10 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAdam and Jenn Wood,  with their son Brady, born at just 25 weeks, lived in the NICU for 135 days. And what did Adam do in those 135 day...

Oncology Nurse Practitioner, Lakeisha Falwell

03 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMeet Lakeisha Falwell, an oncology nurse practitioner who is truly inspiring. Her passion and commitment to her craft shine through in h...

Pioneering Visionary, Dr. June Forkner Dunn, Ph.D.

20 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textFrom launching Kaiser Permanente’s first website to building a global food & wine CEU tourism company, today’s guest has reinven...

Advancing Medical Knowledge as a Live Case Presentation, Dan Dry Dock Shockley

13 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textToday’s interview is one that I truly enjoy because it focuses on the patient's experience.  Meet Dan Drydock Shockley, a Navy ...

From the Frontlines to the Boardroom: Military Wisdom and Executive Impact with Brandon Young and Blayne Smith

06 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textToday, I’m honored to introduce you to Brandon Young and Blayne Smith—co-authors of the impactful book “Perseverance is Greater th...

The Teaching NP, Sunny Khangura

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textToday’s guest is The Teaching NP, Sunny Khangura. Sunny wears many hats—nurse practitioner, educator, mentor, entrepreneur, and pass...

What I've Learned in Three Years of Podcasting

23 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThree years!!! 145 episodes!!! Here's what I've learned. Thank you for being here!Episodes I discussed:Preemie Dad, Author and...

Summer Series: Research 101- Part THREE

16 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWelcome back to Part Three of our Summer Series on Research 101! I'm once again joined by Chris Patty here in my recording closet. ...

Summer Series: Research 101-Part TWO

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWelcome back to the summer series, Research 101, this is Part Two. I'm once again joined in my closet by Chris Patty, and you may b...

Summer Series: Research 101- Part One

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWell, the long-awaited summer series Research 101 is finally here. I know you have heard me talking about it quite frequently. I just ha...

Academic Nursing Program Director for Columbia Southern University, Dr. Nancy Bellucci, Ph.D.

25 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMy guest this week, Dr. Nancy Bellucci, is the academic program director for the College of Nursing at Columbia Southern University. She...

The Work From Home RN, Philip Layog

18 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textPhilip Layog is known as the "Work From Home RN" on Instagram, where he helps fellow nurses transition from hospital roles to ...

Nurse Psychotherapist, Tara Tourloukis

11 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMeet Tara Tourloukis. Tara is a registered nurse psychotherapist with more than 20 years of experience in mental health care. It’s a t...

Founder of Brainstorm Soft Skills Solutions, Wendy Dixon-Jewitt

04 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWendy Dixon-Jewitt is on a mission. As the founder and CEO of Brainstorm Soft Skill Solutions, she strongly advocates for creating safer...

Operating Room Nursing with the OR RN Mentor, Yasmin Sharifi

21 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMy guest this week is Yasmin Sharifi, an operating room nurse with many decades of experience. She’s here to give us a glimpse into, a...

Military Mental Health Nurse, Author, and Host of the Crazy Black Girl Podcast, Lt. Shatara Jewell

14 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhen I first stumbled upon Shatara Jewell’s Instagram, I thought, “Wow, she’s making an impact—I bet I could learn a lot from he...

Bounce out of Burnout with Sheena Johnson

07 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMeet Sheena Johnson, a remarkable Jamaican-born woman residing just outside London, where she serves as an ICU nurse practitioner with t...

Flight Dispatch Communications Supervisor, Erin Johansen

30 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textErin Johansen is a communications supervisor for a medical flight company, and she’s got her finger on the pulse of the air transport ...

A Story of Grief and Growth with NICU Nurse, Jade Barrera

23 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textDo you believe in divine intervention? After waking early one morning with Jade on my mind, I couldn't help but feel once again tha...

Nurse on Purpose, Chinelo Okoye

16 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textChinelo Okoye is a remarkable double-board-certified nurse practitioner specializing in both adult and pediatric care. Beyond her clinic...

Making Money Moves with Farah Laurent

02 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThis week, I had the pleasure of catching up with a returning guest, the OG Nursepreneur, Farah Laurent. Since our last conversation ove...

Healing the Healers with Jacqui O'Connor

26 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn the heart of northern New Zealand, nestled between rolling hills and lush green valleys, lay Heart Place Hospital, a beacon of innova...

From Pregnancy Loss to Maternal Health Advocate with Rachell Dumas

19 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhat can I say about Rachell Dumas? Or perhaps, what can't I say about her? Rachell is an extraordinary nurse with a powerful stor...

Former NICU Mom and Author, Jennifer Bernardo

12 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThis week, I had the pleasure of speaking with NICU mom and author, Jennifer Bernardo. Jennifer gave birth to twins—a boy and a girl—...

A Life of Service with Dr. David Borge, M.D.

05 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThis week, I had the great pleasure of speaking with my friend and colleague, Dr. David Borge. David is an OB/GYN who has retired from t...

Founder and CEO of Advocates for Nurses, Maggie Ortiz, MSN, RN

26 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textFor today’s episode, I’ve got questions and Maggie's got answers. Do you need a nurse advocate? Well, consider this your lucky ...

CEO of Avail Health, Joseph Harrison, NP-C

19 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMy guest this week, Joseph Harrison, is a nurse practitioner who facilitates the creation of independent practices for other nurse pract...

A Voice of Nurses, Sachin Chauhan

12 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThis week my guest is Sachin Chauhan, the founder and CEO of An Extra M. This India-based organization has provided education and traini...

Your Favorite Pediatric Nurse, Deon Huffman

05 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textImagine being a sick or injured child entering the healthcare system and being approached by nurses and doctors wielding strange objects...

Pediatric Sleep Consultant, Lacy Hess

29 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textSleep. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders, quality sleep is as essential to survival as food and water. It is...

Thought leader, nurse coach and keynote speaker, Angie Gray

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textImagine for a moment if Angie Gray were a recipe. She would be equal parts professionalism, inspiration, and compassion, with just a pin...

Vitamin D Researcher, Beth Sanford, DNP, RN

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a text Beth Sanford is known as the "Sunshine Nurse" for two reasons. First, she is a doctorally-prepared nurse who has conducted e...

What's New for 2025?

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHere's a quick look at some of the great interviews and plans for 2025!Contact The Conversing Nurse podcastInstagram: https://www.i...

Tulare County Fire Chief, Charlie Norman

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThis week I stepped way outside my comfort zone and spoke with Tulare County Fire Chief, Charlie Norman.  I can confidently say that ma...

Rebel Nurse, Erika Browning

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textErika Browning is one of the most interesting guests I've had to date. She has a diverse educational background, earning degrees in...

Nurse Blogger, Sallie Jessee

04 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textI jumped at the opportunity to talk to my guest this week, Sallie Jessie. Sallie is an incredible person with a unique perspective! Fir...

Bioethics with Sandra Shadley, LMFT, HEC-C and Dr. Ryan Howard, M.D.

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn my working days, I was a member of my institution’s Bioethics committee. I’m now a retired nurse and continue to serve as a commu...

ICU Revolutionist, Kali Dayton

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Kali Dayton. Kali Dayton is an ICU nurse practitioner and like Gandhi, MLK Jr.,...

Rapid Response Nurse and Podcast Host, Sarah Lorenzini

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textPablo Picasso said, “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” Sarah Lorenzini has a life f...

Your Spooky Stories!

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHappy Halloween Eve! Today's episode is all about the spooky. A few weeks ago on Instagram, I posted my call to action for your spo...

Wound Care Expert, Karen Zulkowski

23 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textKaren Zulkowski is the GOAT of wound care nursing. Her professional journey began with earning a BSN in 1972 and culminated with a Docto...

The Intuitive Nurse, Jennifer Johnson

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThe current state of healthcare, especially under the strain of a pandemic, has put immense pressure on those in the field. Nurses are b...

Locum Tenen Family Nurse Practitioner, Ebony Thyme

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textEbony Thyme does not let grass grow under her feet. Whether traveling for her job as a locum tenen family nurse practitioner or for leis...

Why are Nurses the Most Trusted Profession? Your Responses!

02 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThis episode is a compilation of your responses to my Instagram post asking "Why are Nurses the Most Trusted Profession?"  Th...

CRNA, Investor and Podcast Host, Joshua Condado

25 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textI don't know when side hustles became a thing but they are officially a thing. Instead of picking up extra shifts, nurses are picki...

Citizen Nurse, Gilanie De Castro

18 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIf you're my age and can remember over 50 years ago, you might recall those lazy Saturday mornings spent watching Schoolhouse Rock....

Founder of Nurses for Nurses, Jennifer Crow

21 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textI want you to think outside the box for a moment. What if there was a platform where nurses could connect with other nurses to network, ...

Project Management for Nurses with Kevin Pannell

14 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textToday's episode is all about project management. I'm sure many of you have heard of this topic, but what exactly is it? My gue...

Host of the Up My Nursing Game Podcast, Annie Fulton

07 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAre you an experienced emergency, acute, or critical care nurse who needs a refresher on some of nursing’s most complex conditions? Th...

The 100th episode interview of Michelle Harris, by Dr. Chris Patty

31 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWow, can you believe it's my 100th episode already? Before I dive into the details of this episode, I want to express my gratitude ...

Physical Therapist and Burnout Coach, Dr. Ricky Fernandez

17 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAccording to Coachfoundation.com, passion is one of the most important qualities of a good coach. Enter Dr. Ricky Fernandez, a doctor of...

Certified Enneagram Coach and Nurse, Gwen Sledge

10 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMeet Gwen Sledge, a retired nurse and Certified Enneagram Coach. Gwen has a deep understanding of the Enneagram and is passionate about ...

The New RN, Dave Dovell

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAs a student nurse or a new RN, Dave Dovell is someone you should know. Dave is a registered nurse working on a Progressive Care Unit, w...

Flight Paramedic and Podcast Host, Samantha Brawley

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhen I hear the words “flight paramedic” I immediately think of aviator glasses, compact spaces, aircraft propellers, jumpsuits, hig...

Stem Cell Transplant Nurse, Dora Loun

19 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textI recently came across Dora Loun's LinkedIn profile, and her bio as a stem cell transplant nurse piqued my interest. However, when ...

Your Nurse Lawyer, Irnise Williams, Esq.

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMy guest this week, Irnise Williams, has been a nurse for 16 years. Starting with her eye on medical school, she opted for nursing schoo...

Hallmarks of a Great Nurse Leader with Kirsten Ferren

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMeet Kirsten Ferren, a nurse who has been serving in healthcare for over 23 years. She brings to the table her experience as a former Ch...

Closet Cocktails with Prada and Patrick

29 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhat happens when two friends have cocktails and dish on a movie? Magic, pure magic. My first returning guest this week is Patrick Picka...

Death Doula, Haley Diltz

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMeet Haley Diltz, an exceptional woman who had a childhood dream of being Indiana Jones but instead grew up to become a Neurotrauma ICU ...

Cannabis Nurse, Ashley Wynn-Grimes

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textDo you ever come across someone on Instagram who is meant to teach you something? For me, that person is Ashley Wynn-Grimes, also known ...

Nurse, Poet, and Author, Susan Farese

08 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textSusan Farese is a nurse who has done it all. Well, let me rephrase that. Susan is a nurse who has done a lot. Maybe not all, but her car...

Founder and CEO of CodePRep, Susan Davis

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textSusan Davis is a class act. She's also a doctorally-prepared nurse and CEO of Code PRep, an in-hospital cardiac arrest mock code tr...

Adverse Childhood Experiences with Gaby Morales

24 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhen I heard Gaby Morales speak about adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, on the Nine One One Nonsense podcast, I knew I had to brin...

Chief Happiness Officer, Sarah Ratekin

17 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textI was completely captivated by my guest this week, Dr. Sarah Ratekin. Sarah is the Owner and Chief Happiness Officer of Happiness is Cou...

The Break Nurse, Alex Whitefield

10 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn 375 BC, the ancient philosopher Plato wrote, "Our need will be the real creator." But over time, the phrase has been conden...

Host of the Direct Admission podcast, Brian Cerezo

03 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBrian Cerezo is a nurse who likes to have fun, but he's also passionate about the nursing profession and proud about being able to ...

Emotional Intelligence Consultant, Tiffany Gibson

27 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textTiffany Gibson is a radical nurse leader who has been featured in Oprah Daily and Ebony magazines and proudly shares her two cents on so...

NICU Nurse Manager, Felicia Torres Vaughn

20 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAccording to Forbes magazine, the relationship between managers and their employees has a significant impact on their mental health, sim...

Nurse and IBCLC, Rochelle Caldwell

13 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIt was great reconnecting this week with my old friend and colleague, Rochelle Caldwell. Now let me rephrase that: we are not old, our f...

CRNA School Prep Academy Founder and CEO, Jenny Finnell

06 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThis week, I had an informative conversation with the Founder and CEO of the CRNA School Prep Academy, Jenny Finnell. Like a great nurse...

PICC Nurse, Kristin Hansen

28 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textKristin Hansen is an enthusiastic, energetic, and highly skilled PICC nurse. However, she admits that it wasn't always easy for her...

Nurse and Finance Coach, April Waddell

21 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThis week I had an informative and fun conversation about money with my guest, nurse, and finance coach, April Waddell. Yes, you heard m...

Trauma ICU Nurse and Travel Host, Myra Gamble

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMyra Gamble is so chill and laid-back, it’s hard to believe she’s a Trauma ICU nurse. She’s also done emergency room nursing, hosp...

Nurse and Real Estate Investing Consultant, Lynn John

07 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMy guest this week, Lynn John, is a smart, tenacious woman. Deciding in high school to become a nurse, Lynn was told that would never ha...

Fertility Nurse, Cassidie Thomas

31 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textCassidie Thomas is a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. This week, I had a conversation with her about fertility nursing, which is a fasci...

Registered Nurse First Assist, Bill Patty

24 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a text**This episode discusses suicide, depression, and addiction, which may be triggering topics for some. Reach out to a mental health profe...

Retirement from Nursing- Is it all it's cracked up to be?

17 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHey guys! Today I’m talking about retirement because it's been two years since I retired from nursing! And for anybody who's...

Remote Nursing with Maggie Lajaunie and Blaire McElroy

10 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThis week I had a great conversation about all things remote nursing. My guests are Maggie Lajaunie, Head of Clinical Services, and Blai...

NICU Nurse and Military Wife, Kari Replogle

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIt was a thrill to reconnect with my colleague and friend, Kari Replogle. Kari has a gentle personality that perfectly suits her role as...

Bullying and Incivility in Nursing with Dr. Phyllis Quinlan

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIf you've been listening to the podcast for a while you’ve heard me say that we would be discussing bullying and, I’m happy to ...

PMHNP and Powerlifter, Tara Kittrell

06 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a text**CAUTION** In this episode we discuss mental health, including suicide. If you are experiencing mental health challenges and have thoug...

Trauma Nurse, Healthcare Lawyer, and Innovator, Kwamane Liddell

29 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textEver since I started this podcast, I have been looking forward to talking with a nurse who is also a JD. Recently, I got the opportunity...

Medical mission nurse and humanitarian, Paras Barnett

22 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textParas Barnett was leading a robust life as a nurse. She worked at a prestigious institution, provided expert nursing care to her patient...