Infectious Laughter Podcast

CN Wilson Waddell

Nurses have special senses of humor. They find themselves in situations that were never imagined. Can we, as real nurses, use those stories to teach others as well as ourselves and share a few laughs? We sure can! Created by two nurses who care, love & laugh. We've seen some things! Cindy Waddell, APRN-C: A nurse for over 25 years only 2 of those as an RN. Nancy Wilson, RN, PCCN: A nurse for over 30 years, most of that time at the bedside of patients.

  1. Sep 28

    Season 2 Episode 12: STI in the EYE!

    Infectious Laughter Podcast — STIs in the Eye 👁️ Can you really get an STI in your eye? Spoiler: yes — and it's more common (and more complicated) than you'd think. This episode, we're stepping away from the nether regions and heading straight to the orbit to talk about which sexually transmitted infections can show up in your eyes, how they get there, and what the symptoms look like. In this episode: Which STIs can affect the eye (syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes) How ocular syphilis is diagnosed and treated — including a jaw-dropping story about how one patient's eye symptoms revealed a very uncomfortable secret The difference between primary, latent, and neurosyphilis Why there's a penicillin shortage (and why that matters for treatment) Gonorrheal conjunctivitis: why it's so dangerous and can lead to corneal perforation and vision loss How chlamydia and herpes present differently in the eye A surprising case of shingles in the eye in a young patient — and why it stumped the entire care team The RPR blood test explained (and why reading your own MyChart results can be terrifying if you don't speak "medicalese") Needle gauge sizes, 16-gauge Bicillin shots, and why you really don't want to look down the barrel of one Why the shingles vaccine matters, especially after 50 ⏱️ Chapters: 0:00 — Intro & "How do you even get an STI in your eye?" The STIs that can affect the eye (syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes) Ocular syphilis: real patient stories Penicillin: how it's dosed, why there's a shortage Gonorrhea conjunctivitis & neonatal eye care Reading your own lab results: the MyChart problem Shingles in the eye: a zebra diagnosis What shingles is, how it works, and why you should get vaccinated Wrapping up: all the STIs in the eye, reviewed About the podcast: Welcome to Infectious Laughter — a podcast hosted by nurses where real, ridiculous, and relatable moments from working in healthcare are shared. We respect HIPAA because it's real and we like our licenses. Listen, laugh, and learn with two nurses calling back to you from the padded room. 🔔 Like, subscribe, and share with a friend — because laughter is the best medicine, but laughter with friends is even better medicine. ⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information and entertainment only and is not medical advice. Always consult your own healthcare provider for any medical concerns or decisions. We laugh with our patients and coworkers, never at them — because nursing is serious work, but it comes with seriously funny moments.

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Nurses have special senses of humor. They find themselves in situations that were never imagined. Can we, as real nurses, use those stories to teach others as well as ourselves and share a few laughs? We sure can! Created by two nurses who care, love & laugh. We've seen some things! Cindy Waddell, APRN-C: A nurse for over 25 years only 2 of those as an RN. Nancy Wilson, RN, PCCN: A nurse for over 30 years, most of that time at the bedside of patients.