My Nurse Specialty

Rebecca Emery, RN
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Medicine

A podcast for nurses who want to explore the many specialties and career paths within nursing. Nursing school teaches us how to be nurses, but when it comes to careers, most of us are only introduced to a handful of specialties, often based on chance conversations or limited clinical experiences. Beyond that, we are expected to figure the rest out on our own. That is often where uncertainty about what comes next begins. Whether you’re a nurse, nursing student, or aspiring nurse, this podcast exists to expand that awareness. In each episode, you’ll explore nursing specialties some familiar and some you may not even know exist through real stories and insight that help you better understand what may be possible for you at any stage of your career. We talk with real nurses who share their stories, their specialties, and the paths they took to get there. Real nurses. Real stories. Real possibilities.

  1. 17h ago

    Ep 19: Nurse Coaching: A Different Way to Use Your RN with Mary Turner

    In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Mary Turner about nurse coaching and the many directions this growing specialty can take. Mary is a board-certified nurse coach, business coach, and founder of CoachRN, where she helps nurses become coaches and build businesses that are sustainable. We talk about what nurse coaching actually is, how nurses can use their existing skills in a coaching role, and why becoming certified is only one part of the journey. Mary also shares what nurses should know about building a coaching business, developing confidence, and transitioning strategically instead of leaving a nursing job before the business is ready to support them. In this episode, we talk about: What nurse coaching is and the different ways nurses can use coaching in their careersWhy certification, coaching skills, and business skills all matter when building a nurse coaching practiceHow to transition into coaching strategically while building confidence, clients, and a sustainable businessAbout my guest: Mary Turner, RN, NC-BC, is a board-certified nurse coach, certified EMyth Business Coach, entrepreneur, speaker, and U.S. Air Force veteran. With more than 16 years of coaching experience, she helps nurses, leaders, and entrepreneurs build confidence, strengthen leadership, and create sustainable businesses. She is the founder of CoachRN and is committed to helping change the culture of nursing through coaching, clarity, and personal growth. Connect with Mary: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryturner-nurse-coach/ Website: https://coachrn.com/ Stay Connected: Learn how we can work together Apply to be on the Podcast Connect with me on LinkedIn Get the FREE guide here on how to choose your specialty!

  2. Aug 5

    Ep 18: Make Your Next Nursing Career Move a SMART One

    In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I introduce the SMART Move Framework, a practical five-step process to help nurses make more intentional career decisions. Whether you are choosing your first specialty, questioning your current role, or considering a change after many years in nursing, this framework will help you understand what needs to change, explore possible directions, and recognize the value of the experience you already have. Instead of applying randomly and hoping the next job will be better, you’ll learn how to research your options, translate your transferable skills, communicate your value, and take a strategic next step. In this episode, I talk about: How to identify what is really not working before making a career moveHow to research specialties and connect your current skills to new opportunitiesHow to reframe your experience and take your next step with strategy Stay Connected: Learn how we can work together Apply to be on the Podcast Connect with me on LinkedIn Get the FREE guide here on how to choose your specialty!

  3. Jul 29

    Ep 17: School Nursing: Where Healthcare Meets Education with Carla Martin

    In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Carla Martin about the depth and complexity of school nursing. After 23 years in the specialty, Carla shares what school nurses really do—from managing chronic conditions and medical procedures to supporting families, collaborating with educators, and advocating for students. We discuss what a typical day can look like, including caring for students with diabetes, seizures, feeding tubes, tracheostomies, and other complex health needs. Carla also explains the importance of communication, relationship-building, public health, and understanding the education system. For nurses considering school nursing, Carla offers an honest look at the learning curve, the benefits of the schedule, credentialing requirements, and the many opportunities to grow within the specialty. In this episode, we talk about: Why school nursing involves far more than basic first aidThe clinical, public health, education, and advocacy responsibilities of a school nurseWhat nurses should know before transitioning into school nursingAbout Carla: Carla Martin has worked in school nursing for 23 years and has been a nurse for more than three decades. Her nursing background includes postpartum, antepartum, nursery, NICU, surgery, home care, hospice, and school nursing. She entered the specialty after learning about school nursing from her sister, a nurse practitioner and school nurse. Carla now serves in a lead nursing role and is passionate about supporting students with complex medical needs, collaborating with families and school teams, and helping nurses grow within the specialty. Carla believes we never stop growing and that every experience is an opportunity to learn, serve, and make a difference. Stay Connected: Learn how we can work together Apply to be on the Podcast Connect with me on LinkedIn Get the FREE guide here on how to choose your specialty!

  4. Jul 15

    Ep 16: What It Really Takes to Become a Flight Nurse with Stephanie Suzadail

    In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Stephanie Suzadail about her path into flight nursing and what nurses should know if they are curious about emergency and transport medicine. Stephanie shares how she started in EMS, became a nurse with a clear goal in mind, and built her career strategically toward flight nursing. We talk about what flight nursing really looks like, including schedules, rural response, critical transports, outreach work, and caring for patients with limited resources in fast-moving environments. Stephanie also shares the experience, certifications, and mindset that help nurses prepare for this specialty. This episode offers a real look at both the demands and rewards of flight nursing, from autonomy and critical thinking to self-care, networking, and the value of early exposure through ride-alongs and professional organizations. In this episode, we talk about: What flight nursing looks like behind the scenes, including schedule, transport types, and rural emergency responseWhat nurses need to become competitive for flight nursing, including critical care experience, certifications, and strategyWhy curiosity, flexibility, networking, and ride-alongs matter when exploring this specialtyAbout Stephanie Suzadail: Stephanie Suzadail, MSN, MA, RN, PHRN, CFRN, CTRN, CEN, TCRN, CPEN, and CBRN, is a flight nurse, educator, researcher, and nationally recognized leader in emergency and transport medicine. With a background spanning EMS, emergency nursing, critical care, and air medical transport, she is passionate about advancing evidence-based practice, mentorship, and clinician development. She has served in national leadership roles, including Chair of the Emergency Nurses Association EMS Advisory Council, and contributes to the profession as a board certification item writer, speaker, and educator. Her work focuses on transport medicine, critical care, simulation, leadership, and emerging topics in prehospital care. Connect with Stephanie: Instagram: @pyrovixi Blog: scrubsnsirens.com LinkedIn: Stephanie Suzadail Stay Connected: Learn how we can work together Apply to be on the Podcast Connect with me on LinkedIn Get the FREE guide here on how to choose your specialty!

  5. Jul 8

    Ep 15: Behind the Data: A Nursing Role in Surgical Quality with Emily Nelson

    In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Emily Nelson about her role in NSQIP, the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Emily shares how she started her career in the OR, moved into quality and safety work, and now leads a remote team of nurses who review surgical data to help hospitals improve outcomes and patient safety. We talk about what this role actually looks like day to day, the kind of experience that helps nurses transition into this work, and why titles can be misleading when nurses are exploring nontraditional or remote opportunities. Emily also shares helpful advice for nurses who want remote work and encourages them to stay curious, look beyond job titles, and apply for roles that interest them. In this episode, we talk about: What NSQIP is and how nurses use surgical data to improve hospital quality and safetyHow OR, perioperative, and critical care experience can open doors into remote quality rolesWhy nurses should look beyond job titles and stay open to unexpected career pathsAbout Emily: Emily Nelson is an RN who began her nursing career in the operating room and later transitioned into surgical quality and safety. She now works in a regional role supporting NSQIP across multiple medical centers, leading a team of nurses who abstract surgical cases, analyze outcomes, and help drive quality improvement efforts. Her work combines clinical knowledge, data interpretation, and collaboration to improve patient safety on a larger scale. Stay Connected: Learn how we can work together Apply to be on the Podcast Connect with me on LinkedIn Get the FREE guide here on how to choose your specialty!

  6. Jul 1

    Ep 14: More Than the Floor: Inside OR Nursing with Mandy Carlile

    In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Mandy Carlile about her path into operating room nursing and what nurses should know if they are curious about the OR. Mandy shares how she started on med-surg, moved into hospice, and eventually found her place in the operating room, where she has now spent most of her nursing career. We talk about what a circulating nurse does, the pace and structure of the OR, the personalities and challenges that can come with the environment, and why procedural nursing can be a great fit for nurses looking for something different. Mandy also shares how OR nursing can open doors into other perioperative roles like pre-op, PACU, and first assist. In addition to her OR work, Mandy is also a board-certified holistic nurse coach who supports women experiencing stress, burnout, and overwhelm through holistic lifestyle changes. In this episode, we talk about: How Mandy moved from med-surg and hospice into operating room nursingWhat OR nursing is really like, including shifts, circulating, and perioperative opportunitiesWhy procedural nursing and holistic nurse coaching may be meaningful paths for nurses seeking a better fitAbout Mandy Carlile: Mandy lives in Missouri with her husband and two boys. She has been a nurse since 2015, and most of her nursing career has been spent in the operating room. She is also passionate about holistic health and is a board-certified holistic nurse coach. Connect with Mandy: Website: mandyholisticcoach.com Instagram: @mandyholisticcoach  Stay Connected: Learn how we can work together Apply to be on the Podcast Connect with me on LinkedIn Get the FREE guide here on how to choose your specialty!

  7. Jun 17

    Ep 13: How to Find the Right Nursing Specialty

    In this solo episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk about one of the biggest questions nurses face: how do you know which specialty is right for you? I share why so many nurses end up in roles by circumstance instead of true fit, and why that uncertainty is not a personal failure, but a predictable part of how nursing careers often begin. I also walk through four practical questions to help you better understand how you are wired, what kind of work energizes you, and what direction may be worth exploring next. This episode is about moving from confusion to clarity so you can make more intentional career decisions. In this episode, I talk about: Why many nurses end up in specialties by default instead of alignmentFour questions to help you identify what kind of nursing work fits you bestHow reflection, networking, and strategy can help you explore your next moveStay Connected: Learn how we can work together Apply to be on the Podcast Connect with me on LinkedIn Get the FREE guide here on how to choose your specialty!

  8. Jun 10

    Ep 12: The Reality of Critical Care Nursing with Jessica Nelson

    In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Jessica Nelson, an ICU nurse and educator with 24 years of experience in critical care. She shares what ICU nursing is really like, what nurses should know before pursuing this path, and why strong support and education matter so much in this specialty. Jessica also talks about the best ways to prepare for ICU, including building experience in step-down or med-surg, learning from mentors, and continuing to study outside of orientation. We also discuss certifications, the emotional side of critical care, and the many ways ICU experience can open doors later in a nursing career. In this episode, we talk about: What ICU nursing is really like day to dayHow nurses can prepare for a future in critical careWhy support, mentorship, and knowing your why matter in ICU nursingAbout Jessica Nelson: Jessica Nelson has 24 years of nursing experience, with most of her career spent in neuro critical care. Her background also includes eight years in interventional radiology, leadership as manager of a Neuro ICU and Neuro Step-Down Unit, and her current role as Clinical Nurse Educator for three high-acuity critical care units. She continues to work bedside twice a month and is passionate about supporting nurses, strengthening clinical judgment, and creating learning environments where nurses feel confident and capable. Stay Connected: Learn how we can work together Apply to be on the Podcast Connect with me on LinkedIn Get the FREE guide here on how to choose your specialty!

See All (19)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

A podcast for nurses who want to explore the many specialties and career paths within nursing. Nursing school teaches us how to be nurses, but when it comes to careers, most of us are only introduced to a handful of specialties, often based on chance conversations or limited clinical experiences. Beyond that, we are expected to figure the rest out on our own. That is often where uncertainty about what comes next begins. Whether you’re a nurse, nursing student, or aspiring nurse, this podcast exists to expand that awareness. In each episode, you’ll explore nursing specialties some familiar and some you may not even know exist through real stories and insight that help you better understand what may be possible for you at any stage of your career. We talk with real nurses who share their stories, their specialties, and the paths they took to get there. Real nurses. Real stories. Real possibilities.

Information

  • Creator
    Rebecca Emery, RN
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 My Nurse Specialty
  • Show Website
    My Nurse Specialty