Ep04: Advocating for Nurses - Interview with "Citizen Nurse" Gilanie De Castro

In this conversation, Nurse Gilanie shares her background as an oncology nurse and her journey into advocacy and healthcare policy. She discusses her realization during the pandemic that the nursing profession lacked the necessary resources and support, which led her to become @citizennurse on social media and use her platform to advocate for change.

"I thought if I could do something so that if there is a pandemic or something of the scale that happens in the future, the nursing profession will not have to go through what we went through again."Gilanie explains how she uses social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn to engage and educate nurses about civics and healthcare policy. She also highlights the importance of nurses being involved in decision-making positions and reframing the narrative around the nursing profession.

The conversation between Rosa and Gilanie focuses on the value of nursing and the need for recognition and fair compensation. They discuss the difficulty of quantifying the compassionate care that nurses provide and the importance of recognizing the impact they have on patients' lives. Gilanie shares her experience of receiving the 2024 American Nurses Association Advocacy Award and emphasizes the need for nurses to have a voice and influence in healthcare decision-making.

Answering the Billion dollar question: Gilanie describes the idea of creating a nurse-led think tank to conduct research and education in health policy. The conversation highlights the power of nurses in advocating for quality healthcare and the importance of nurses being both authentic and professional in their roles.

Follow her on social media @CitizenNurse or connect on LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilaniedecastro/

Subscribe to the CitizenNurse podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CitizenNurse_News_Network

Connect with Rosa on LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosa-hart-scrn/

03:08

The Need for Nurses in Decision-Making and Policy

11:23

Engaging Nurses in Advocacy through Social Media

15:19

Reframing the Narrative: Showcasing the Positive Aspects of Nursing

17:33

The Importance of Education on Civics and Healthcare Policy

20:36

Creating Intentional Social Media Content for Nursing Leaders

23:03

Recognizing the Invaluable Contributions of Nurses

23:39

The Challenge of Quantifying the Value of Nursing Care

25:38

Advocacy: Giving Nurses a Voice and Influence

27:39

Being Authentically Professional as a Nurse

29:15

Nurses in Politics and Advocacy

33:40

Creating a Nurse-Led Think Tank: Advancing Nursing and Healthcare