Nursing the System

Claire Phillips, DNP RN
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  • MEDICINE
  • WEEKLY SERIES
Nursing the System

The Nursing the System Podcast is for nurses who want to change the healthcare system—but are tired of bandaid fixes and ‘just try harder’ advice. This podcast delivers practical tools, real-world case studies, and systems thinking strategies to help you drive meaningful change—without burning out in the process. Brought to you by Nursing the System and your host, Claire Phillips, DNP RN.

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  1. EPISODE 1

    Why 'Us vs. Them' Thinking is Holding Back Your Impact—and How to Fix It

    🎙 Episode Overview: Season 2 is here—and we’re taking this podcast public. In this kickoff episode, we’re tackling one of the most frustrating dynamics in healthcare: the “Us vs. Them” mindset. Whether it’s staff vs. leadership, nursing vs. admin, or bedside vs. boardroom—it’s a pattern that keeps teams stuck, burned out, and spinning their wheels. But it doesn’t have to. This episode is about adopting a systems-thinking approach to shift from blame to collaboration, so we can actually make progress on the problems we care about most. 🔑 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why the “Us vs. Them” mindset is so common—and so limiting.How to use a two-step systems thinking approach to break out of the cycle:Look at Yourself: How are you contributing to the dynamic?Look at Others: What pressures, incentives, and beliefs are shaping their decisions?Why relationships are systems too—and how strengthening them makes every change effort easier.How to ask better questions, understand what drives other people, and build trust without over-explaining or overextending yourself. 🧠 Key Ideas to Take With You: Every relationship is a system. And when relationships work better, everything works better.Shift from frustration to curiosity. Ask yourself: What assumptions am I making? What might I not understand about their perspective?Find the overlap. Even when priorities differ, shared goals like better patient outcomes or team well-being can bring people together.Stop seeing people as obstacles. See them as part of the solution. 🎧 How to Listen to This Season: This podcast isn’t just a place to tune in—it’s a place to learn. And here’s the thing: Every episode will add something to your toolkit, even if it doesn’t seem directly relevant to your role.The best changemakers are the ones who understand the bigger picture, not just their own corner of the system.So stick around. 📣 Heads Up: Something’s Coming! And I’ll be dropping an Easter egg at the end of the next few episodes. Today’s letter to collect is “M”. Keep listening—you’ll want to collect them all!  📲 Call to Action: Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!DM me on Instagram with your thoughts or questions—I’d love to hear from you. 👉 Links & Resources: InstagramSystems Sunday Newsletter

    27 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    Why Bubble Baths Won’t Fix Burnout (But This Might)

    🎙 Episode Overview: When you hear the word “resilience” paired with “nurses,” how does it make you feel? Frustrated? Defensive? Just plain tired? You’re not alone. In this episode, we’re breaking down one of the biggest myths about burnout: it’s not a personal problem—it’s a systems problem. Bubble baths and yoga might offer momentary relief, but they won’t fix the core issue: healthcare systems built for maximum efficiency, not long-term resilience. It’s time to stop blaming individuals for systemic failures and start building systems that can actually absorb shocks and adapt to challenges without burning out their people. 🔑 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why burnout feels so personal—and why it’s actually a systems-level issue.The difference between resilience and efficiency in healthcare systems and why they need balance.How healthcare systems excel at acute crises but fail at addressing slow-burning, chronic problems.Practical strategies for nurses to reframe personal complaints as systemic observations.How to advocate for changes using systems language that leaders understand. 🧠 Key Ideas to Take With You: Burnout isn’t a personal failure—it’s a symptom of an overstretched system.Resilience and efficiency exist on a seesaw: Too much focus on one will destabilize the other.Slow-burn problems (like chronic understaffing) often go unnoticed until they become full-blown crises.Observation beats complaint: Framing problems as system patterns (e.g., “Our system is over-relying on overtime”) shifts the conversation to solutions.True resilience means absorbing shocks while maintaining core functions. 🎧 How to Get the Most Out of This Episode: Listen with a systems mindset: Notice patterns, not just problems.Reflect on where you’ve seen the efficiency vs. resilience seesaw tilt too far in either direction.Share this episode with colleagues—it’s a conversation that needs to happen across teams, not just in leadership meetings. 🛠️ Practical Actions You Can Take: Reframe Complaints → System Observations: For example, replace “I’m exhausted” with “Our system relies too heavily on overtime to meet basic needs”.Spot Patterns of Over-Efficiency: Where are resources maxed out? Where is there no room for error?Raise Awareness of Slow-Burn Issues: Identify trends like turnover or increased workloads before they snowball.Speak Systems Language to Leaders: Highlight systemic solutions like better staffing models, flexible workflows, and improved resource allocation. 📣 Heads Up: Something’s Coming! I’ll be dropping an Easter egg at the end of the next few episodes. Today’s letters are “Y” and “I”. Keep listening—you’ll want to collect them all!  📲 Call to Action:Subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes.Share this episode with your team or a leader who needs to hear it.DM Claire on Instagram with your thoughts or follow-up questions.Leave a review to help other healthcare professionals find this podcast. Let’s stop putting burnout on individual shoulders and start redesigning the systems we work in. 🎧 Hit play and let’s get into it. 👉 Resources Mentioned: InstagramSystems Sunday Newsletter

    26 min
See All Season 2 (2)

About

The Nursing the System Podcast is for nurses who want to change the healthcare system—but are tired of bandaid fixes and ‘just try harder’ advice. This podcast delivers practical tools, real-world case studies, and systems thinking strategies to help you drive meaningful change—without burning out in the process. Brought to you by Nursing the System and your host, Claire Phillips, DNP RN.

Information

  • Creator
    Claire Phillips, DNP RN
  • Episodes
    13
  • Seasons
    2
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Nursing the System All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    Nursing the System

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