Send a text A nursing program let an unlicensed instructor teach fundamentals and lead clinicals for nearly a year—and the fallout exposes a deeper question: who is minding the gate in healthcare education? We break down what went wrong, why oversight failed, and how students and nurses can protect themselves with simple checks that keep patients safe and careers intact. From there, we follow the money. A 2025 compensation report shows leadership roles scoring the biggest gains, with solid movement in critical care, anesthesia, oncology, and emergency nursing. We compare hourly rates across regions, weigh cost of living, and look at turnover trends that suggest a slightly steadier labor market for RNs even as LPN turnover rises. If you’re deciding between the specialty track or the leadership ladder, we map the signals to help you make informed moves. Policy shifts add another layer. With cannabis moving to Schedule III and major nursing associations voicing support for research, we outline what this means at the bedside: documentation standards, dosing guidelines, risk communication, and interprofessional workflows that balance access with safety. Finally, we examine a high-stakes lawsuit over federal pediatric grants that fund newborn screenings, SUID reduction, FASD prevention, and rural training—programs that quietly safeguard child health every day. It’s a full-spectrum look at trust, pay, policy, and public health. Listen for practical steps: how to verify credentials, track pay trends that matter, prepare for cannabis-related practice changes, and advocate for programs that keep families safe. If this resonated, subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a quick review—what topic should we tackle next? Support the show https://linktr.ee/WakandaRN
