Doctor Nurse Podcast: The NP Career Resource

Dr. Sandra Pagenta, DNP, APRN
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The Doctor Nurse Podcast with Sandra Pagenta, DNP helps new and experienced nurse practitioners navigate every stage of their careers. From landing your first NP job and building clinical confidence to career growth, entrepreneurship, leadership, and nontraditional opportunities, Sandra shares practical advice and real conversations with NPs and industry experts. Whether you're just starting out or ready for your next chapter, discover what's possible with your NP career.

  1. Oct 5

    #144: How to Build Confidence Without Years of Experience as an NP — Part 2

    After an unexpected eight-month pause, I’m back behind the microphone—and there couldn’t be a more fitting episode to return with than one about confidence. In Part 2 of How to Build Confidence Without Years of Experience as an NP, we’re talking about what confidence actually looks like when you’re still learning, still questioning yourself, and sometimes getting things wrong. But this conversation goes deeper than clinical confidence. Over the last eight months, my own confidence has been challenged through health struggles, career changes, the closing of a business, and the realization that we have far less control over the journey than we sometimes think. So what happens when things don't go according to plan? You keep learning. In this episode, we talk about: ​Why new NPs can strategically borrow confidence while gaining experience​Using mentors, evidence-based resources, checklists, and clinical systems​Why saying “I don’t know—let me look that up” can actually demonstrate confidence​Turning mistakes into data instead of identity​Why confidence comes from action, support, reflection, and repetition—not perfection​Building systems that support you when your confidence feels shaky​Why your NP career is part of your life—but it is not your entire life​Learning to redefine success when life doesn't follow your plan​The difference between controlling the journey and trusting yourself to take the next step​Why sometimes getting back up is success A question for you: What does success look like to you right now? Not what it was supposed to look like. Not what social media says it should look like. Not what someone else chose. What does it look like for you in this season of your life? Because your answer is allowed to change. Mine did. Doctor Nurse Clinical Resources Looking for practical support during your NP clinical journey? The Doctor Nurse Clinical Resources were created to help NP students feel more prepared and supported as they move from the classroom into clinical practice. And through our Buy One, Give Back mission, 10% of booklet proceeds are dedicated to NP scholarships and educational opportunities. When you invest in your own learning, you're helping another future NP continue theirs. Stay Connected Subscribe to the Doctor Nurse Podcast so you don't miss upcoming conversations about clinical practice, career growth, entrepreneurship, and all the different directions your nursing and NP career can take you. Because you don't need to have the entire journey figured out. You just need to keep taking the next step. Follow Doctor Nurse Sandra on Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@doctornursesandra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Keep learning. Keep asking questions. Keep becoming. And, as my kids would say... “Never stop learning, Mom!”

  2. Jan 26

    #143: How to Build Confidence Without Years of Experience as a Nurse Practitioner

    Confidence doesn’t magically appear with time — especially for Nurse Practitioners early in their careers. In this episode, we break down how NPs can build real clinical confidence without years of experience. You’ll learn why confidence isn’t about knowing everything, how to trust your clinical thinking, and practical ways to reduce self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and anxiety in practice. In this episode, we cover: Why experience alone doesn’t create confidenceWhat clinical confidence actually looks likeHow to build confidence without memorizationStay Tuned for next week to hear about: The role of systems in building confidenceHow new and early-career NPs can grow fasterWhether you’re a new grad NP, NP student, or early-career Nurse Practitioner, this episode will help you feel more grounded, capable, and confident in your role. 🎧 Share this episode with a fellow NP who needs reassurance today. Sponsors: ⁠Goby Meds⁠; SUCCESSNPS to get $50 off. ⁠LaSara⁠ Follow Doctor Nurse Sandra on Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@doctornursesandra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Go to the Doctor Nurse Sandra website:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.doctornursesandra.com⁠⁠⁠

  3. Jan 12

    #142: The Complete NP Playbook Course: What School Didn’t Teach You (and How to Be Prepared)

    The first year as a Nurse Practitioner can feel overwhelming, isolating, and nothing like what school prepared you for. In this episode, Sandra discusses openly the biggest challenges new NPs face—from confidence and decision-making to documentation, expectations, and burnout—and what actually helps during the transition from NP student to provider. If you’re a new nurse practitioner or preparing to start your first NP job, this episode will give you clarity, reassurance, and a realistic roadmap forward. Absolutely—let’s switch angles so it doesn’t feel repetitive and hits a different emotional + practical nerve. This one leans into career protection, confidence, and long-term success, not just “new NP overwhelm.” Sponsors: ⁠⁠Goby Meds⁠⁠; SUCCESSNPS to get $50 off. ⁠⁠LaSara⁠⁠ Follow Doctor Nurse Sandra on Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@doctornursesandra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Go to the Doctor Nurse Sandra website:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.doctornursesandra.com⁠⁠⁠

  4. 12/29/2025

    #141: The First 90 Days as a New NP: What No One Told You

    In today’s episode, we’re breaking down what your first 90 days as a brand-new NP will really look like, even if it means fighting for an office space. From documentation and coding surprises to the emotional shift of becoming a provider, this episode gives you the roadmap you never got in school. If you want to feel confident and prepared before day one, check out my new course designed specifically for new NPs entering the workforce. Sponsors: ⁠Goby Meds⁠; SUCCESSNPS to get $50 off. ⁠LaSara⁠ Follow Doctor Nurse Sandra on Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@doctornursesandra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Go to the Doctor Nurse Sandra website:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.doctornursesandra.com⁠⁠⁠

  5. 12/15/2025

    #140: Navigating Nursing Education: DNP vs. MSN Part 2

    In this conversation, Reygan Tawney discusses her journey in nursing education, particularly the decision to pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) over a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). She reflects on the pressures within the nursing field that influenced her choice and expresses regret for not fully understanding the implications of her decision. Sponsors: Goby Meds LaSara Follow Doctor Nurse Sandra on Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@doctornursesandra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Go to the Doctor Nurse Sandra website:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.doctornursesandra.com⁠⁠⁠

  6. 12/01/2025

    #139: Navigating Nursing Education: DNP vs. MSN Part 1

    In this conversation, Reygan Tawney discusses her journey in nursing education, particularly the decision to pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) over a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). She reflects on the pressures within the nursing field that influenced her choice and expresses regret for not fully understanding the implications of her decision. Follow Doctor Nurse Sandra on Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@doctornursesandra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Go to the Doctor Nurse Sandra website:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.doctornursesandra.com⁠⁠⁠

  7. 11/17/2025

    #138: Navigating the Vaccine Debate with Dr. Joel Warsh

    In this episode, Dr. Joel Warsh, a board-certified pediatrician, discusses the complexities surrounding vaccines, informed consent, and the role of healthcare providers in addressing parental concerns. He emphasizes the importance of open dialogue, ongoing research, and the need for healthcare professionals, especially nurse practitioners, to educate themselves and their patients about vaccines. The conversation highlights the significance of understanding both the benefits and risks associated withœ vaccines, as well as the broader issues affecting children's health, such as nutrition and environmental toxins. Dr. Joel Warsh IG: https://www.instagram.com/drjoelgator/ Book: https://a.co/d/2Lds3ce Follow Doctor Nurse Sandra on Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@doctornursesandra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Go to the Doctor Nurse Sandra website:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.doctornursesandra.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

  8. 11/03/2025

    #137: Nurses Bridging the Gap in Foot Care Services

    In this conversation, Sandra Pagenta interviews Heather Wilson, a former bedside nurse turned entrepreneur, who discusses her journey in identifying gaps in foot care services for seniors and how she created successful businesses to address these needs. Heather emphasizes the importance of patient connection, the role of nurse practitioners in foot care, and shares clinical pearls for assessing foot health. She also reflects on the true definition of success, which transcends financial metrics and focuses on personal fulfillment and the ability to care for others. Heather’s Links:  www.footandnailinstitute.com www.everydaydivinity.com https://tiktok.com/@fnifootcarenurse https://www.facebook.com/footandnailinstitute https://www.instagram.com/footandnailinstitute.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/footcarenurse https://www.instagram.com/everydaydivinity.com Check out Epocrates: https://www.epocrates.com/ CODE: SUCCESS Follow me on Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@doctornursesandra⁠⁠⁠⁠ Go to my website:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.doctornursesandra.com⁠⁠⁠

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4.3
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6 Ratings

About

The Doctor Nurse Podcast with Sandra Pagenta, DNP helps new and experienced nurse practitioners navigate every stage of their careers. From landing your first NP job and building clinical confidence to career growth, entrepreneurship, leadership, and nontraditional opportunities, Sandra shares practical advice and real conversations with NPs and industry experts. Whether you're just starting out or ready for your next chapter, discover what's possible with your NP career.

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