Nurse Leadership Dumpster Fire

Cindy & Taresa
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Hello! We are two Nurses who have found our way into leadership within the nursing field. As nurse leaders, our mission is to inspire and connect nursing leaders through authentic dialogue, shared experiences, and practical insights that help leaders grow, so together we can create a lasting impact

  1. Sep 11

    The Fauci Diaries: What Really Happened on the Front Lines?

    Anthony Fauci is under fire after Congress voted to hold him in contempt for pleading the 5th multiple times. There are people with STRONG opinions against or in support of his role in the COVID19 pandemic. But what does the front line who actually saw what was happening say? And what does this say about healthcare leadership and leadership as a country? Check out the conversation from 2 nurse leaders who were there taking care of patients and stepped into nursing leadership all during the course of the pandemic. And lets break this down and look at the facts, the evidence, and what this means from a perspective of High Reliability in healthcare. Tune in regularly to never miss another episode by hitting that subscribe and bell button! Comment below, were you there? What's your take? 00:00 Chapter 1 Intro 00:28 Chapter 2 The Allegations 02:17 Chapter 3 Allegation #1 06:49 Chapter 4 Allegation #2 09:13 Chapter 5 The Front Lines 17:02 Chapter 6 The Experience From the Front and The Back 23:58 Chapter 7 HRO articles: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5994836-fauci-diary-entries-covid/ https://oversight.house.gov/release/final-report-covid-select-concludes-2-year-investigation-issues-500-page-final-report-on-lessons-learned-and-the-path-forward/ https://www.npr.org/2026/07/27/nx-s1-5909531/rand-paul-anthony-fauci-coronavirus-diary-lab-leak-origin https://www.science.org/content/article/i-am-what-i-am-fauci-s-private-notes-reveal-scientist-navigating-science-politics-and https://www.aonl.org/news/voice/may-2021/COVID19-Longitudinal-Study

  2. Aug 27

    Time Management tips for busy nurse leaders

    Busy all day, productive all week, and still somehow stuck on the work that actually matters? This episode is for every manager who ends the day wondering where the time went. Taresa and Cindy break down eight practical systems that help leaders stop reacting to every ping, fire, and meeting request and start running their day on purpose. From using your calendar as a real leadership tool to building buffer time around hard conversations, they share the small shifts that make a huge difference when your plate is overflowing. You’ll discover: How to turn your calendar into a follow-through system, not just a place for meetingsWhy setting your own priorities first protects the work only you can doA simple way to sort tasks into must-do, should-do, nice-to-do, and passion workHow one manager used a self-created time study to expose what was draining her dayWhy accountability, delegation, and progress over perfection can save you from the hamster wheelCindy also shares a powerful real-world example of a psychologist who built her own tracking tool to separate responsibility from obligation, revealing just how much managerial stress comes from doing things you only think you have to do. That insight alone may change the way you look at your to-do list. If you’re a new manager, a seasoned leader who feels constantly behind, or someone who knows their best work keeps getting buried under everyone else’s urgency, this conversation will give you language, tools, and permission to lead differently. And the reminder at the heart of it all? Almost nothing is an emergency. Protect your time, protect your energy, and stop letting the day run you. Perfect for leaders who want less chaos, more clarity, and a system they can actually stick with.

  3. Aug 13

    When 17 Nurses Got Pregnant at Once-and The Leaders Behind the Story

    Staffing a Unit with 17 pregnant nurses at the same time SHOULD be a nightmare! But Chief Nursing Officer, Lisa Gossett, RN, MSN, CENP has created a culture where frontline leaders have the appropriate tools and resources to make not only be successful, but actually CELEBRATE this rare event! Find out the leadership tools, the staffing strategies, and practices Lisa uses that engage staff to make it all possible! Cindy and Taresa interview Lisa to get a behind the scenes view of what she's been doing to support such an incredible story! Lisa shares insights that she has learned over her 30 years of nursing leadership experience, offers invaluable advice, and wisdom for new and experienced leaders alike. Lisa is an incredibly talented nurse leader who uses her humble beginnings and genuine passion for creating an entire hospital system of engaging, present, and system driven leaders who provide excellent care on a daily basis! Subscribe for weekly nursing leadership breakdowns, and comment below on how you handle unexpected staffing shortages on your unit. Referenced articles, stories, and books: Meet the 17 Pregnant Nurses Who All Work at the Same Hospital: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdXd3Bf-GfE&list=PPSV&t=13s @the.nurse.erica video on “Bid Shift” staffing. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1402112248440063 UNC Statement Article: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article316761233.html Book Link: R.E.A.D.I. to Lead https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578250551?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title Strengths Based Leadership: https://bit.ly/4g2R1tS AONL 2nd Generation Insight Study https://www.aonl.org/resources/nursing-leadership-survey Lisa Gossett Contact: lmgossett@premierhealth.com lisa@gossettinsights.com

  4. Aug 10 ·  Bonus

    Difficult Conversations Done Right: The Tools That Work

    Master difficult conversations in nursing leadership. Learn essential strategies to manage conflict and de-escalate situations. Handling difficult conversations is a core skill for any nurse leader. When workplace tensions rise, acting as a calm presence is essential to resolving the issue before it spreads. This guide provides specific techniques to navigate these high-pressure interactions effectively, moving from reaction to resolution. Whether you are addressing performance issues or managing interpersonal conflict, having a structured approach prevents burnout and maintains team cohesion. You will learn actionable steps to keep your cool, maintain professional standards, and ensure your communication remains productive even during a professional dumpster fire. Subscribe for weekly nursing leadership strategies and comment below on which management challenge you want covered next. Books Referenced: Crucial Conversations: http://bit.ly/45zPTsR Non Violent Communication: https://bit.ly/3U86Nw9 Dare to Lead: https://bit.ly/453CpFB

  5. Jul 30

    Growth and Connection a Vulnerable conversation

    In this episode, Cindy and Taresa share their personal experiences with leadership challenges, burnout, and growth in healthcare. They discuss strategies for resilience, the importance of connection, and practical tips for managing stress and imposter syndrome.  Resources Patricia Benner - Novice to Expert - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Patricia+Benner+Novice+to+Expert LinkedIn - Cindy Merritt - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindymerritt LinkedIn - Taresa - https://www.linkedin.com/in/taresa Healthcare Crisis Insights - https://www.healthcarejournal.com/article/healthcare-crisis-2023 Chapters: 00:00 Navigating Areas of Growth 05:59 Imposter Syndrome and Leadership Challenges 12:24 The Impact of COVID on Leadership 16:30 The Journey from Novice to Expert in Nursing Leadership 17:12 Navigating Growth Phases in Leadership 19:31 Emotional Resilience in Nursing Leadership 23:59 Building a Strong Team Culture 26:35 The Importance of Connection and Mentorship 30:09 Sustaining Leadership Through Challenges

  6. Jul 17 ·  Bonus

    Bonus: Comparing when I was a nurse

    Watch Next: 1:1’s for Large Teams: A Nurse Leader’s Guide to Success https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCcmwXZHFpw Cindy and Taresa are Master's-prepared and Certified nurse leaders who entered leadership at the height of COVID with minimal resources and support.  They learned a lot of hard lessons the hard way and don’t want others to have to learn them the same way!  In this episode, they discuss a mistake many leaders make without even realizing it.  Tune in to hear what you might be doing to unintentionally degrade trust and buy in without even realizing it, and how to avoid doing it ever again!  Chapters: 00:00 Chapter 1 01:02 Chapter 2 05:16 Chapter 3 06:49 Chapter 4 08:27 Chapter 5

  7. Jul 2

    Building a Strong Team of Nurses

    Watch Next: Difficulties in Leadership; Nurse Supervisor Stress and Burnout https://youtu.be/5ISc7bXwIbw?si=PV6it_Z-8JgRt9xi Setting a clear vision with your team is essential, and without it, you may be fighting an uphill battle.  But how do you even do that?  Cindy and Taresa, Masters prepared and certified nurse leaders with several years of experience, walk you through exactly how to do that in this video.   Chapters 00:00 Chapter 1 06:36 Chapter 2 09:29 Chapter 3 15:55 Chapter 4 19:29 Chapter 5

  8. Jun 18

    Article review 2025 acuity staffing

    In this episode, we discuss a white paper from the AONL that explores innovative nurse staffing strategies, focusing on acuity-based scheduling, technology integration, and float pool management to improve patient care and staff satisfaction.  https://youtu.be/REuuR9ImtwQ AONL 2025 Nurse Staffing Trends Report - https://www.aonl.org/resources/2025-nurse-staffing-trends Other resources: AccuStaff Scheduling Software - https://www.accustaff.com Nurse Leader Competencies - AONL - https://www.aonl.org/resources/nurse-leadership-competencies Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Conference Insights 02:58 Acuity-Based Staffing vs. Ratios 05:57 Technology in Nurse Scheduling 08:50 Challenges in Staffing and Patient Care 11:44 Key Findings from the Article 14:45 Decentralized vs. Centralized Scheduling 17:50 Float Pools and Their Effectiveness 20:33 Balancing Staff Satisfaction and Patient Safety 23:34 Innovative Scheduling Solutions 26:28 Conclusion and Future Considerations

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Hello! We are two Nurses who have found our way into leadership within the nursing field. As nurse leaders, our mission is to inspire and connect nursing leaders through authentic dialogue, shared experiences, and practical insights that help leaders grow, so together we can create a lasting impact

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