Nurse Converse, presented by Nurse.org

Nurse.org
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Welcome to Nurse Converse, a collaborative podcast, presented by Nurse.org. Picture this: In each episode, we bring you a fresh perspective with a rotating lineup of incredible nurse hosts from various backgrounds, specialties, and experiences. From seasoned nurse veterans to passionate newcomers, our hosts share the spotlight. What makes this podcast truly unique is that all of our hosts were selected by the nursing community.💜 Help more nurses find this amazing podcast by subscribing, leaving a 5-star rating and a positive review of Nurse Converse!Learn more about Nurse Converse here: https://nurse.org/articles/nurse-podcast/

  1. 2d ago

    (Part 1) Flight Nurse Helicopter Crash Survivor Speaks: 90% Burns & a Miracle Recovery — Dave & Amanda Repsher

    This is episode one of a two-part series.  Flight nurse Dave Repsher and his wife Amanda — also a nurse — join host Jana Price on Nurse Converse to share one of the most powerful survival stories in nursing. On July 3rd, 2015, Dave was working a shift on a Flight for Life helicopter when it crashed 32 seconds after takeoff. Covered in jet fuel and on fire, he suffered burns over 90% of his body. The pilot did not survive. Doctors did not expect Dave to make it through the night. Almost a year later, he walked out of the hospital alive. Jump Ahead:  02:09 — Introducing Dave and Amanda Repsher 02:53 — Dave's path into nursing: from ski bum to flight nurse 04:29 — Amanda's path: raft guide, EMT, paramedic, ICU nurse 05:58 — How Dave and Amanda met at an ACLS class 06:43 — Setting the scene: July 3rd, 2015, the helicopter crash 27:55 — The lifetime impact of small acts by nurses 30:26 — Arriving at the burn unit in Denver and being let into the "tub room" 34:18 — Severe inhalation injuries and renal failure 35:42 — The everyday battle for survival 37:28 — "The perfect storm of good" 39:08 — Dave wakes up after five and a half months 42:53 — Amanda fills in what really happened: emergent thoracotomy and SVC syndrome 49:58 — Wrap-up and tease for part two In part one of this incredible two-part conversation, Dave and Amanda walk through the day of the crash, what those first hours in the burn unit looked like, and how Amanda fought to be part of his care team. They share the small moments from nurses — a phone call, a hand on a shoulder, a tech explaining each burn degree — that changed everything. Dave also opens up about what it was like to wake up after five and a half months and beg his wife to let him die, not knowing the medical crisis that had just nearly killed him. This episode is for every nurse who has ever wondered if the small things they do for patients and families actually matter. They do. Sometimes for a lifetime. Listen to part one now. Part two coming soon. Learn more at nurse.org/nurseconverse. For more information, full transcript and videos visit Nurse.org/podcast Join our newsletter at nurse.org/join Instagram: @nurse_org TikTok: @nurse.org Facebook: @nurse.org YouTube: Nurse.org

    51 min

  2. 2d ago

    (Part 2): Flight Nurse Helicopter Crash Survivor Speaks: From Kidney Transplant to Saving Lives Through Legislation — Dave & Amanda Repsher

    This is episode two of a two-part series.  Part 2 of one of the most powerful survival stories in nursing. Host Jana Price welcomes back flight nurse Dave Repsher and his wife Amanda — also a nurse — to continue the story they started in part 1. After a helicopter crash left Dave with burns over 90% of his body, the fight to survive was only the beginning. In this episode, Dave and Amanda pick up where they left off and walk through the long road of recovery: a year of home dialysis, a kidney transplant from a stranger named Matt who has now become family, getting married in the ICU after 16 years together, and what life looks like on the other side of it all. Jump Ahead:  00:38 — Welcome back and recap of part 1 03:40 — Dave's decision to fight: "We can't be angry" 08:05 — The power of hope and small acts from staff 11:21 — A nurse-patient's plea: talk to your sedated patients 12:45 — What separates new nurses from experienced ones 15:20 — A year of home dialysis: "Dialysis keeps you alive, but it's no way to live" 17:18 — Amanda's stress and the first 911 call from home 17:51 — Finding humor and independence on a tricycle with a bell 21:11 — The phone call: a donor named Matt 23:13 — Choosing to know your donor — Matt becomes family 25:56 — Married in the ICU after 16 years together 28:02 — The documentary "D-Rep" and the milk-jug fuel system 30:37 — A 2014 helicopter built to 1965 safety standards 32:19 — Why military helicopters got safer after Vietnam but civilian ones didn't 34:00 — Two federal laws in five years thanks to advocacy 35:52 — "Dave was the least physically injured from the crash" 37:57 — A company's staff who refused to fly without crash-resistant fuel systems 40:03 — 85% of the non-military fleet had no crash-resistant fuel systems at the time of the crash 41:23 — Life today: running a community ice rink in Colorado 42:23 — Continued advocacy and burn survivor support 44:32 — Closing thanks and where to find resources They also share the advocacy work that came out of the crash. Dave's helicopter was brand new, but its fuel system was built to 1965 safety standards. The same fuel system has been described as no stronger than a milk jug. Together with the pilot's widow Karen, Dave and Amanda helped push two pieces of federal legislation through Congress to require crash-resistant fuel systems on newly manufactured helicopters. A medic recently texted them after walking away from a crash because of the very system they fought for. This is a conversation about hope, advocacy, and what it really means to make good come out of tragedy. Listen to part 1 now at nurse.org/nurseconverse. For more information, full transcript and videos visit Nurse.org/podcast Join our newsletter at nurse.org/join Instagram: @nurse_org TikTok: @nurse.org Facebook: @nurse.org YouTube: Nurse.org

    46 min

  3. May 6

    Your Nursing License Could Be at Risk—Here’s What No One Tells You

    Your nursing license is everything—but most nurses were never taught how easily it can be put at risk. In this episode, Nurse Converse host Jana Price sits down with legal expert and nurse practitioner Jaime Weiland (aka “The Legal NP”) to break down the real-world legal risks nurses are facing today—from social media missteps and documentation gaps to drug diversion and off-duty conduct.  They unpack what actually triggers board investigations, why good intentions won’t protect you, and the critical mistakes nurses make without even realizing it. If you’ve ever assumed “that would never happen to me,” this episode might change your perspective—and how you practice—forever. For more information, full transcript and videos visit Nurse.org/podcast Join our newsletter at nurse.org/join Instagram: @nurse_org TikTok: @nurse.org Facebook: @nurse.org YouTube: Nurse.org

    30 min
  4. Starting a SANE Program When You’re Not a SANE Nurse (Yes, You Can) — With Jana Price, Marcina Doze and Shannon Krebs

    Apr 21

    Starting a SANE Program When You’re Not a SANE Nurse (Yes, You Can) — With Jana Price, Marcina Doze and Shannon Krebs

    Two Alabama nurses saw a glaring gap in care and decided not to ignore it. Hosted by Jana Price, this episode of Nurse Converse features Shannon Krebs and Marcina Doze as they share how they built a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program from the ground up in a fast-growing community with zero prior access. They walk through the real-world barriers, from funding challenges to training and emotional toll, and explain how collaboration with hospitals, law enforcement, and community leaders made it possible.  Beyond logistics, this conversation highlights the human impact, showing how access to compassionate, timely care can change outcomes for survivors. It’s a practical and deeply personal look at advocacy, resilience, and what it takes to create meaningful change in healthcare.  Jump Ahead to Listen: [00:01:20] Identifying zero SANE access in a fast‑growing Alabama county [00:04:19] Patients sent an hour+ away for exams during tourism season [00:08:46] Saying “that’s enough” and deciding to build a local SANE program [00:09:14] First moves: collaboration, admin support, and community awareness [00:12:59] Finding, training, and “growing your own” SANE nurses [00:17:32] Barriers: money, staffing shortages, on‑call demands, and trauma [00:20:59] Court as education: testimony mindset and mock‑trial practice [00:27:12] Year‑one wins: major grant, dedicated exam room, local backing [00:30:13] Exceeding case projections and constant education of law enforcement Connect with Jana on LinkedIn and on social media: Instagram: @gentlyusedrn For more information, full transcript and videos visit Nurse.org/podcast Join our newsletter at nurse.org/join Instagram: @nurse_org TikTok: @nurse.org Facebook: @nurse.org YouTube: Nurse.org

    36 min
  5. From Bedside to City Hall: How One Oncology Nurse Became Mayor of Plymouth, Michigan (With Linda Filipczak and Jana Price)

    Apr 8

    From Bedside to City Hall: How One Oncology Nurse Became Mayor of Plymouth, Michigan (With Linda Filipczak and Jana Price)

    In this episode of Nurse Converse, Linda Filipczak shares how over 40 years in nursing shaped her approach to leadership in Plymouth, Michigan. From bedside care to city hall, she explains how skills like listening, crisis management, and relationship-based care translate directly into serving a community. This conversation challenges what leadership looks like and why nurses are uniquely equipped to step into it. Because whether it’s one patient or an entire city, it all comes down to people. >>From Bedside to City Hall: How One Oncology Nurse Became Mayor of Plymouth, Michigan Jump Ahead to Listen:  [00:02:16] Early calling to nursing at age four [00:02:51] Father’s cancer diagnosis shapes oncology focus [00:04:43] First nursing job on post‑op unit in Detroit [00:06:17] Becoming a mentor and preceptor on the floor [00:07:03] Moving into recruitment and executive leadership [00:09:20] National oncology committees and presenting to leaders [00:11:29] Recruited onto local Historic District Committee [00:12:59] Running for city commission and path to mayor [00:14:30] Applying nursing skills to nonpartisan city leadership [00:18:34] Balancing full‑time cancer center role with being mayor Connect with Jana on LinkedIn and social media:  Instagram: @gentlyusedrn For more information, full transcript and videos visit Nurse.org/podcast Join our newsletter at nurse.org/join Instagram: @nurse_org TikTok: @nurse.org Facebook: @nurse.org YouTube: Nurse.org

    33 min
  6. How New Federal Loan Limits Could Reshape the Future of Nursing (With ANA President Dr. Jennifer Mensik Kennedy and Jana Price)

    Apr 1

    How New Federal Loan Limits Could Reshape the Future of Nursing (With ANA President Dr. Jennifer Mensik Kennedy and Jana Price)

    Proposed federal student loan caps could significantly impact the future of nursing. In this episode of Nurse Converse, host Jana Price speaks with ANA President Dr. Jennifer Mensik Kennedy about what these changes mean for nurses, education access, and patient care. They break down how loan limits could restrict access to advanced nursing degrees, worsen workforce shortages, and disproportionately affect underserved communities. Dr. Mensik Kennedy also shares how the ANA is advocating for nurses and what actions listeners can take. If you’re a nurse—or rely on one—this conversation highlights what’s at stake and why it matters. >>How New Federal Loan Limits Could Reshape the Future of Nursing Jump Ahead to Listen:  [00:01:23] Federal loan limits on graduate nursing degrees [00:03:02] ANA calls loan‑limit logic flawed [00:04:47] HR1, RISE committee, and changing loan definitions [00:07:04] ANA’s first advocacy steps and coalition letter [00:10:28] What happens to nursing if rule takes effect [00:13:31] Why private loans don’t solve the problem [00:18:02] Funding gaps: Title VIII and nursing vs physician support [00:21:35] Evidence on APRN care quality and independence [00:26:20] How to get involved: RNAction.org and ICAN Act Connect with Jana on LinkedIn and social media:  Instagram: @gentlyusedrn For more information, full transcript and videos visit Nurse.org/podcast Join our newsletter at nurse.org/join Instagram: @nurse_org TikTok: @nurse.org Facebook: @nurse.org YouTube: Nurse.org

    37 min
  7. These Nurses Built the “Facebook Marketplace” for Healthcare Gigs (With Jana Price, Jaclyn Passante, Katherine Brennan and Amanda Ciardiello)

    Mar 3

    These Nurses Built the “Facebook Marketplace” for Healthcare Gigs (With Jana Price, Jaclyn Passante, Katherine Brennan and Amanda Ciardiello)

    Nurse burnout is real, and “just pick up overtime” is not a personality trait. In this episode of Nurse Converse, Jana Price sits down with Jaclyn Passante, Katherine Brennan, and Amanda Ciardiello, the team behind Nurse Connect: a marketplace that helps nurses (and CNAs/HHAs/LPNs/NPs) find flexible, paid care gigs directly with patients. Think Facebook Marketplace meets TaskRabbit, but built for healthcare and packed with safety features like license verification and secure messaging. Currently live in New York and Florida, Nurse Connect lets clinicians set their own rates, choose their own jobs, and keep 100% of what they earn. Nurses calling the shots? Wild concept. >>These Nurses Built the “Facebook Marketplace” for Healthcare Gigs Jump Ahead to Listen:  [00:01:20] Jackie’s story and idea for “TaskRabbit for nursing” [00:03:27] Partnering with Kat and Amanda to build Nurse Connect [00:05:47] Amanda’s first reaction and using her ops background [00:07:05] Kat’s side‑gig goals and family struggle finding care [00:09:35] Jana explains Nurse Connect as a marketplace for nurses [00:11:18] How patients find nurses on the platform [00:13:35] Who can join (HHA, CNA, LPN, RN, NP) and pricing [00:16:10] Scope of practice questions and working within your license [00:18:26] Licensure checks, insurance links, and safety support [00:25:09] Expansion plans and Nurse Connect ambassador program Connect with Jana on LinkedIn and social media:  Instagram: @gentlyusedrnKeep Updated With Nurse Connect:  Instagram: @nurseconnect_ Facebook: Nurse ConnectWebsite: www.nurseconnectnow.com/For more information, full transcript and videos visit Nurse.org/podcast Join our newsletter at nurse.org/join Instagram: @nurse_org TikTok: @nurse.org Facebook: @nurse.org YouTube: Nurse.org

    31 min
  8. Millions Laugh at Her Videos—But Her Real Work Happens at the Bedside (With Jana Price and Courtnee Stagner)

    Feb 24

    Millions Laugh at Her Videos—But Her Real Work Happens at the Bedside (With Jana Price and Courtnee Stagner)

    In this episode of Nurse Converse, Jana Price welcomes palliative care nurse practitioner Courtnee Stagner, the viral nurse who makes millions laugh online while doing some of the most sacred work in healthcare. Beneath the humor is a clinician guiding families through life’s hardest decisions. Courtnee shares her unexpected path from ICU to hospice, unpacks the truth about morphine at the end of life, and tackles the cultural, spiritual, and ethical tensions nurses face around death. With candor and compassion, she reminds us that palliative care isn’t about giving up. It’s about living well until the very end and advocating fiercely for what matters most. >>Millions Laugh at Her Videos—But Her Real Work Happens at the Bedside Jump Ahead to Listen:  [00:01:07] Introducing Courtnee and her story [00:01:32] Courtnee’s role as a palliative care NP [00:02:13] From critical care ICU to hospice and palliative [00:04:27] Seeing patients as people, not numbers [00:06:03] Patient story: going home to see his dog [00:08:32] How to become a palliative care nurse/NP [00:10:02] Shortage of palliative specialists and services [00:13:49] Talking about morphine at end of life [00:17:34] Helping families cope with grief and “fighting” [00:20:30] Why advanced directives and early talks matter [00:23:59] Honoring cultural and religious needs after death [00:26:51] Using personal faith in end-of-life care [00:31:19] Advice for burnt-out nurses and setting boundaries Connect with Jana on LinkedIn and social media:  Instagram: @gentlyusedrnConnect with Courtnee on social media:  Instagram: @CourtneeStagnerTikTok: @CourtneeStagner12For more information, full transcript and videos visit Nurse.org/podcast Join our newsletter at nurse.org/join Instagram: @nurse_org TikTok: @nurse.org Facebook: @nurse.org YouTube: Nurse.org

    33 min
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Welcome to Nurse Converse, a collaborative podcast, presented by Nurse.org. Picture this: In each episode, we bring you a fresh perspective with a rotating lineup of incredible nurse hosts from various backgrounds, specialties, and experiences. From seasoned nurse veterans to passionate newcomers, our hosts share the spotlight. What makes this podcast truly unique is that all of our hosts were selected by the nursing community.💜 Help more nurses find this amazing podcast by subscribing, leaving a 5-star rating and a positive review of Nurse Converse!Learn more about Nurse Converse here: https://nurse.org/articles/nurse-podcast/

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