At the Nurses' Station with Kelly and Sam Podcast

A weekly podcast diving into the skills, challenges, and experiences of nursing beyond direct patient care.

At the Nurses’ Station Welcome to At the Nurses’ Station — the podcast where we dive into the unfiltered world of nursing beyond direct patient care. Hosted by Kelly and Sam, two experienced nurses with a lot to say (and maybe a few things to rant about), this is your place for honest conversations about the highs, lows, and everything in between. From the chaos of triage to the dark humor that gets us through a tough shift, we’re talking about the parts of nursing that don’t make it into the textbooks — workplace dynamics, cultural shifts, and the emotional toll of this profession. Whether you’re a new nurse figuring it all out, a seasoned pro wondering how you’re still standing, or just someone curious about what really happens behind the scenes, you’re in the right place. Expect real stories from the trenches, expert insights, and the kind of humor only nurses will understand. Grab your coffee (or wine — we don’t judge) and join us for some much-needed nurse therapy. 👉 New episodes every week. Subscribe and stay connected — because at the nurses’ station, no topic is off-limits. atthenursesstation.substack.com

  1. Strange and Unusual

    Mar 10

    Strange and Unusual

    Nursing school teaches you a lot. But it does not always prepare you for the truly strange things you might see at the bedside. In this episode of At the Nurses’ Station, Kelly and Sam dive into some of the odd, rare, and sometimes bizarre diagnoses nurses encounter in real clinical practice. From massive cysts to rare congenital conditions, the stories highlight just how unpredictable healthcare can be. The conversation explores cases like pilonidal cysts, AV malformations, other unusual medical conditions that can leave even experienced nurses saying, “I have never seen that before.” Some of the cases are fascinating from a medical perspective, others are gross in the way only healthcare workers truly appreciate, and a few are simply unforgettable moments from years working at the bedside. But beyond the shock factor, the episode is also about the curiosity that keeps nurses learning. Medicine is full of surprises, and sometimes the strangest diagnoses become the most memorable teaching moments. If you are a nurse, nursing student, or someone fascinated by the unusual side of medicine, this episode offers a glimpse into the kinds of cases that make healthcare both challenging and endlessly interesting. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit atthenursesstation.substack.com

    1h 5m
  2. Why do I work here?

    Mar 3

    Why do I work here?

    Why do nurses stay at one hospital over another? It is not just about salary. In this episode of At The Nurses’ Station, we talk about union contract negotiations, nurse pay raises, health insurance changes, PTO policies, and what really impacts nurse retention. We also dive into VIP patients in the emergency department, hospital leadership decisions, and the reality of working in a competitive healthcare market. If you are navigating a union hospital job, questioning your benefits, or wondering what truly matters beyond hourly wage, this episode is for you. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit atthenursesstation.substack.com

    1h 9m

  3. Feb 24

    The Next Generation

    Are We Teaching Nurses to Pass the NCLEX… or to Survive a Trauma? A pediatric ICU nurse educator gets real about simulation labs, bedside chaos, and what nursing school is really preparing students for. If you’ve ever precepted a new grad and thought,“Okay… but what do I actually do right now?” This episode is for you. On this week’s At the Nurses’ Station, Kelly and Sam sit down with Jameson — pediatric ICU charge nurse, clinical instructor, and master’s-in-nursing-education student — to talk about what’s changed in nursing education, what COVID did to clinical training, and why simulation labs can only take you so far. Spoiler: mannequins don’t curse at you, kick you, or ignore your plan of care. What We’re Talking About This episode dives into: * The impact of COVID-19 on nursing clinical hours * Simulation-based learning vs real bedside experience * Concept-based nursing curriculum * Teaching to the NCLEX vs teaching clinical judgment * Why new grad nurses sometimes struggle with prioritization * Generational differences in resilience and accountability * The gap between academia and real-world nursing Jameson shares how watching students graduate during the pandemic, many with heavily simulation-based clinical experiences pushed him toward teaching. And he’s on a mission: bring reality back into nursing education. Because running a trauma isn’t multiple choice. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit atthenursesstation.substack.com

    1h 17m

  4. Feb 17

    Dear Mr. Maslow,

    This week on At the Nurses’ Station, we break down Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in nursing and why understanding it might be the key to supporting new nurses, preventing nurse burnout, and building stronger emergency room teams. From brand new grads who don’t yet know where the IV tubing is, to experienced nurses navigating safety and workplace stress, we explore how physiological needs, belonging, and esteem show up in real hospital life. If basic needs like knowing where supplies are or feeling supported during a critical patient aren’t met, it’s nearly impossible to grow into a confident, competent nurse. We talk about what it really takes to move from “baby nurse survival mode” to respected, steady team member and why belonging and professional confidence can’t happen before safety and foundational skills are secure. Whether you’re a new grad nurse, travel nurse, charge nurse, or healthcare leader, this episode reframes nurse development through the lens of Maslow’s hierarchy and challenges us to ask: are we expecting self-actualization from nurses who don’t know where US is? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit atthenursesstation.substack.com

    1h 9m

  5. Feb 10

    Workplace Violence ... Exception or Expectation?

    In this episode of At the Nurses’ Station, Kelly and Sam dive headfirst into workplace violence in healthcare, focusing on the daily reality of patient and visitor aggression toward nurses and hospital staff. From verbal threats and intimidation, to physical assault, they examine why so many healthcare workers are told this behavior is “not tolerated”, yet continue to experience it shift after shift. They discuss how nurse safety is often deprioritized in the name of patient satisfaction, why hospitals rely heavily on de-escalation training instead of real security support, and how repeated exposure to violence leads to normalization and burnout. The episode also explores the legal and ethical gray areas surrounding assault on healthcare workers, including intoxicated, psychiatric, or cognitively impaired patients and why meaningful change in hospital workplace safety won’t happen until violence against nurses is treated as unacceptable, not inevitable. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit atthenursesstation.substack.com

    1h 7m

  6. Feb 3

    Nurses on Vacation

    Kelly and Sam are finally back after the holidays and they’re spilling ALL the tea on what “vacation” really means when you’re a nurse and a mom. In this hilarious & honest return episode: * 10 days in Mexico without kids = actual rest (and why 7 days would’ve been torture) * Coming home to a surprise fourth cat (and teenage boy smell emergency) * Why vacations with kids are just parenting in a new zip code * The mental load of planning, packing, and coming home to laundry mountain * Mom guilt when you’re finally alone vs. the freedom of child-free travel * Jorge the hot-stone massage guy, fantasy football winnings, and why freckles are apparently all sun damage 😭 * Bonus: teeth roots dissolving, burning nursing textbooks, and why makeup = face paint If you’ve ever come back from vacation more tired than when you left or cried because your kid texted “I’m crying right now” at midnight, this one’s for you. New episodes drop Tuesdays. Hit subscribe and join two bedside nurses who tell it like it is (with zero filter). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit atthenursesstation.substack.com

    1h 9m
  7. Personality Types in Nursing: What the Enneagram, Myers-Briggs, and Big Five Really Tell Us

    Jan 6

    Personality Types in Nursing: What the Enneagram, Myers-Briggs, and Big Five Really Tell Us

    In this episode of At the Nurses’ Station, Kelly and Sam talk about personality types in nursing and what tools like the Enneagram, Myers-Briggs, and Big Five can (and can’t) tell us about ourselves at work. From communication styles to conflict and burnout, they explore how personality shows up on the unit. Personality tests are everywhere in nursing, from team-building exercises to leadership workshops, but do they actually help? In this episode, Kelly and Sam break down some of the most common personality frameworks nurses encounter and talk honestly about how useful they really are in healthcare settings. They discuss: * What the Enneagram focuses on versus Myers-Briggs and the Big Five * Why nurses are often drawn to personality typing * How personality differences affect teamwork, conflict, and communication * Where these tools can help and where they fall short * Why no test should be used to excuse behavior or box people in This is a grounded conversation about self-awareness, curiosity, and using personality tools as a starting point — not an identity. Whether you love personality tests or roll your eyes at them, this episode offers a thoughtful, nurse-centered take. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit atthenursesstation.substack.com

    1h 4m

  8. 12/30/2025

    Leaving the Bedside: How One Nurse Practitioner Built a Remote Nursing Career

    In this episode of At the Nurses’ Station, Kelly and Sam talk with nurse practitioner David Rosenbeck about leaving the bedside, nurse burnout, and how remote nursing jobs are changing what a nursing career can look like. From ICU and ER work to working remotely, David shares what life beyond the bedside actually looks like. David Rosenbeck is a nurse practitioner with a background in ICU and ER nursing who decided traditional bedside care wasn’t the long-term answer for him. After working in oncology and experiencing firsthand how burnout shows up in healthcare, David began exploring non-bedside and remote nursing roles — something most nurses aren’t taught even exists. In this conversation, we talk about: * Why so many nurses are thinking about leaving the bedside * What nurse practitioner careers can look like outside the hospital * The reality of remote nursing jobs (pay, flexibility, and tradeoffs) * How burnout, life priorities, and timing shape career decisions * Why nurses don’t have to leave the profession to find something better David also shares how Go Beyond the Bedside was created to help nurses find legitimate remote and non-bedside nursing jobs without sorting through thousands of misleading listings. This episode is for any nurse who’s wondering if there’s another way — and wants an honest look at what’s possible. Find David, legit job possibilities, and maybe your new future at Go Beyond the Bedside This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit atthenursesstation.substack.com

    1h 11m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

At the Nurses’ Station Welcome to At the Nurses’ Station — the podcast where we dive into the unfiltered world of nursing beyond direct patient care. Hosted by Kelly and Sam, two experienced nurses with a lot to say (and maybe a few things to rant about), this is your place for honest conversations about the highs, lows, and everything in between. From the chaos of triage to the dark humor that gets us through a tough shift, we’re talking about the parts of nursing that don’t make it into the textbooks — workplace dynamics, cultural shifts, and the emotional toll of this profession. Whether you’re a new nurse figuring it all out, a seasoned pro wondering how you’re still standing, or just someone curious about what really happens behind the scenes, you’re in the right place. Expect real stories from the trenches, expert insights, and the kind of humor only nurses will understand. Grab your coffee (or wine — we don’t judge) and join us for some much-needed nurse therapy. 👉 New episodes every week. Subscribe and stay connected — because at the nurses’ station, no topic is off-limits. atthenursesstation.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    A weekly podcast diving into the skills, challenges, and experiences of nursing beyond direct patient care.
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © At the Nurses Station
  • Show Website
    At the Nurses' Station with Kelly and Sam Podcast