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Healthcare really said “no peace” again, so Club Nurse is clocking in to translate the chaos. This week, Colton covers the nurse news everyone’s talking about, from heartbreaking loss to major advocacy moves and strikes that could reshape staffing and patient safety. If you want the context without living on your For You page, this episode does the work for you. This week’s stories: Death of VA ICU nurse Alex Pretti: Honoring his life and the impact on the nursing communityL&D nurse Jen Hamilton calls out unsafe staffing: The one question every birthing patient should askNurses launch national petition on immigration enforcement: Protecting healthcare spaces and public trust31,000 Kaiser nurses begin strike in CA & HI: Safe staffing, wages, and worker protections on the lineHeavy topics, real conversations, and the reminders nurses need right now. >>Dedicated VA ICU Nurse Alex Pretti Dead After Clash with Border Patrol in Minneapolis >>L&D Nurse Jen Hamilton Calls Out Unsafe Staffing: ‘Ask This Question Before You Deliver’ >>‘Nurses SHIFT Change’ Petition Raises Public Health Concerns About Immigration Enforcement >>31,000 Kaiser Nurses and Healthcare Workers Strike Across California and Hawaii Jump Ahead to Listen: [01:05] Coping with a Heavy News Cycle [03:06] Introducing the Case of VA ICU Nurse Alex Pretti [04:05] Honoring Alex Pretti’s Life & Career [05:20] Community Reaction & Where to Learn More [06:18] The Question for Expecting Parents About Safe Staffing [07:09] What AWHONN Safe Staffing Standards Mean [08:06] Why Ratios Matter During Labor & Delivery [09:23] Nurses’ Petition on Immigration & Public Health [10:30] Key Reform Demands in the Petition [11:12] How Nurses Can Take Action on the Petition Connect with Colton on social media: Instagram: @coltonalanlord, @club.nurse TikTok: @nursecolton

In this episode of the Love n’ Leary Nursing Podcast, Marion Leary and Rebecca Love announce the podcast’s new partnership with Nurse.org and reflect on how this milestone represents the power of saying yes to opportunity. They revisit the early conversations that sparked the show, including imposter syndrome and career uncertainty, and connect those experiences to the broader responsibility of nurse leadership. The discussion explores advocacy, the importance of nurses using their voices with confidence, and how storytelling, policy engagement, and diverse communication platforms can expand nursing influence. Together, Marion and Rebecca emphasize how nurses can shape public narratives, strengthen the profession, and drive meaningful change across healthcare.  >>Love n' Leary Nursing Podcast Connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn Connect with Marion on social media: Instagram: @marionleary TikTok: @marionleary Facebook: Marion Leary

This episode is for every nurse who’s ever been like… “am I actually CRNA material?” 😅  It’s CRNA Week, and Colton sits down with Jenny Finnell, CRNA (12+ years in anesthesia and the founder of CRNA School Prep Academy + TeachRN) to talk about what it really takes to get into CRNA school—and to make it through once you’re in. They get into imposter syndrome, fear of rejection, finding your deeper “why,” and how to filter out the noise and focus on feedback that actually helps. If you’re CRNA-curious, ICU, or prepping to apply, this one’s your sign. >>So You Want to Be a CRNA? Let’s Talk Reality, Rejection, and Readiness Jump Ahead to Listen: 02:22 | Jenny’s Origin Story: Discovering Anesthesia 05:07 | What Makes a Strong CRNA Candidate (Beyond Grades) 06:37 | Jenny’s Application Journey: Rejection, GRE, and Persistence 09:15 | How CRNA School Requirements Have Evolved 11:24 | Transitioning from ICU RN to Independent CRNA 15:23 | Finding Your Voice as a Bedside Nurse 16:47 | Imposter Syndrome, Comparison, and Fear of Failure 19:46 | Choosing Yourself & Trying Even If You Might Fail 21:06 | How CRNA School Prep Academy Was Born 23:18 | Jenny’s Deep ‘Why’ for Mentorship & CRNA Practice 25:40 | The Power of Passionate Care in Nursing 27:02 | When to Join CRNA School Prep Academy & What’s Included 28:34 | Community, Connections & Future Classmates 29:29 | Is CRNA School Really That Hard? 30:05 | How Do People Afford CRNA School? Loans, Savings, Strategy 33:33 | Final Advice Connect with Colton on social media: Instagram: @coltonalanlord, @club.nurse TikTok: @nursecolton Connect with Jenny on LinkedIn and social media: Instagram: @crnaschoolprepacademy

Healthcare is doing the most again, so Club Nurse is here to break it all down. This week, Colton covers the biggest nurse news you need to know—from ongoing strikes and major healthcare system headlines to side-hustle warnings and career wins. If you want to stay in the loop without doom-scrolling, this episode has you covered. This week’s stories: NYC nursing strike reaches day 8: Patient safety at the center31,000 Kaiser nurses issue strike notice: Potential walkouts Jan 26 in CA & HIKaiser settles $556M Medicare fraud case: Documentation implicationsFake nurse with stolen credentials injures patient: Employer charged with fraudChicago nurse accused of selling fake Ozempic: Side hustles & license riskNurse practitioners named best job of 2026: Top-ranked in healthcare and STEM>>NYC Nurse Strike Update: 15,000 Nurses Officially on Strike, Largest in City’s History >>31,000 Kaiser Nurses Plan to Strike Across California and Hawaii, From SF to San Diego >>Kaiser Hit With Record $556M Medicare Fraud Payout — Here’s What It Means for Nurses >>Fake Nurse Injured Disabled Patient During G-Tube Procedure, Employer Charged With Fraud >>Feds Say Chicago Nurse Sold Fake Ozempic: What Nurses Need to Know >>Nurse Practitioner Named Best Job in Healthcare, STEM, and Top 100 Jobs 2026 Jump Ahead to Listen: 02:22 | New York City Nurse Strike Update 04:21 | Upcoming Kaiser Strike: 31,000 Nurses 08:11 | Kaiser’s $556M Medicare Fraud Settlement 10:55 | Fake Nurse Injures Disabled Patient 12:24 | Fake Ozempic Case 13:03 | Nurse Practitioner Named #1 Job Connect with Colton on social media: Instagram: @coltonalanlord, @club.nurse TikTok: @nursecolton

NYC nurses said “yeah… no” and walked out — and we’re breaking it ALL down. 🗽💥  In this episode of Club Nurse, Colton dives into the largest nursing strike in New York City history and unpacks what’s actually going on behind the viral posts and protest signs. We’re talking safe staffing, fair pay, workplace violence, unions, picket lines, and the very messy reality of strike contracts. If you’ve ever been confused about: what a nurse strike really meanswhy crossing the picket line is such a hot topichow hospitals keep running during strikesor where you personally stand in all of it…this one’s for you. 👀  >>NYC Nurse Strike Update: 15,000 Nurses Officially on Strike, Largest in City’s History >>New York Governor Declares Disaster Emergency as Nurses Walk Out Jump Ahead to Listen: 2:06 – 3:04 | Announcements: Nurse.org is Hiring 3:04 – 4:05 | Pop Culture Break: ‘The Pitt’ at the Golden Globes 4:05 – 5:12 · Defining Strikes & Picket Lines 5:12 – 6:34 · Purpose of a Picket Line & “Crossing the Line” 6:34 – 8:20 · Strike Contracts, Travel Nurses & The Double-Edged Sword 9:13 – 10:11 · NYC Strike Overview & Scale 10:11 – 11:03 · Emergency Order & Out‑of‑State Nurses 11:03 – 11:52 · On Being a “Scab” & Why Nurses Are Striking 11:52 – 13:03 · If You Take a Strike Contract: Practical Advice 14:03 – 14:38 | Solidarity with NYC Nurses Connect with Colton on social media: Instagram: @coltonalanlord, @club.nurse TikTok: @nursecolton

This week on Club Nurse, Colton sits down with Mama Nurse Tina (L&D nurse, breastfeeding specialist, and creator of Bump to Latch) for a chaotic-wholesome, wildly informative convo about pregnancy, birth, and the realities of modern healthcare. Tina shares why she’s passionate about making actual maternity info accessible, what it’s really like being a healthcare creator online, and why education should never come with shame. They cover the greatest hits: minimalist hospital bag tips (think nips + bits, not your whole house), fed is best (with real talk on breastfeeding, combo feeding, and formula prep), plus a nuanced discussion on home birth vs hospital, Pitocin/oxytocin, the stuff nobody warns you about (yes, mucus plug + bloody show). They wrap with Tina’s spicy take on gender reveals: if you might be disappointed, maybe don’t film it for the internet forever.  >>Being a Nurse, a Creator, and a Voice for Parents: Mama Nurse Tina Jump Ahead to Listen:  [00:01:28] Making healthcare information accessible. [00:05:03] Building an online business. [00:08:21] Stand-up comedy as a hobby. [00:11:21] Essentials for hospital packing. [00:17:01] Breastfeeding versus formula debate. [00:19:54] Supplementing with formula options. [00:21:25] Birth culture and personal agency. [00:25:00] Home birth vs. free birth. [00:28:23] Emergency department and labor delivery dynamics. [00:30:57] Hospital birth vs. home birth. [00:34:24] Pitocin: usage and concerns. [00:37:18] Mucus plug explained. [00:40:31] Gender reveals and expectations. [00:43:10] Gender roles in parenting. [00:46:20] Keep learning for better birth. Connect with Colton on social media: Instagram: @coltonalanlord, @club.nurseTikTok: @nursecoltonConnect with Tina on social media:  Instagram: @mama_nurse_tinaTikTok: @mama_nurse_tinaFacebook: Mama Nurse TinaYouTube: @mamanursetinaWebsite: https://www.bumptolatch.com/

Besties, we’re so back! After a little holiday break, Colton’s kicking off 2026 with a fresh Nurse News drop — and honestly? This week is packed. We’re talking: The heartbreaking loss of certified nurse-midwife & DNP Dr. Janelle Green Smith after childbirth — and why this tragedy is a painful reminder that Black maternal health disparities are still VERY real (even for healthcare leaders).“The Pitt” winning big at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards and actually getting hospital life right (aka finally not cringe medical TV). A literal HIV nurse competing on RuPaul’s Drag Race??? Mandy Mango is serving care + charisma and we are OBSESSED. 21,000 NYC nurses voting 97% yes to authorize a strike — safe staffing ratios, wages, and union power are the main character energy here. And yes… the flu is going absolutely feral this year. Like, hospitals bringing masks back feral.This episode is your reminder that staying informed = staying empowered. So grab your coffee, your scrubs, or your emotional support water bottle… and let’s get into it. >>Nurses Mourn Midwife and Leader Dr. Janell Green Smith, Who Died After Childbirth >>'The Pitt' Wins Big at the Critics Choice Awards + Season 2 Launch! >>Meet Mandy Mango: The Nurse Bringing HIV Care to ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ >>21,000 NYC Nurses on the Brink of a Strike After 97% Vote—What To Know >>Flu Surge 2026: Record Hospitalizations — What Nurses Need to Know Jump Ahead to Listen: [00:02:34] A Heartbreaking Loss [00:06:07] 'The Pitt' Wins Big [00:08:18] Nurse Competes on Drag Race  [00:10:06] NYC Nurses Near Strike [00:13:23] Flu Surge Hits Hospitals Connect with Colton on social media: Instagram: @coltonalanlord, @club.nurse TikTok: @nursecolton

Not gonna lie… most of us are “certified” but still low-key panicking when a real code pops off. 😅 This episode with Susan B. Davis, DNP, RN, EMT-P (Rescue RN + the brain behind CodePRep) is all about closing the gap between knowing the basics and actually feeling ready to use them. We get into why traditional mock codes aren’t cutting it, what actually builds confidence (hint: quick, hands-on reps), and how empowered teams = better outcomes. If you’ve ever frozen in a high-stakes moment, this one’s for you. ⚡🫶 >>Certified Nurse but Panicking During a Code? You’re Not Alone—Here’s How to Feel Ready Jump Ahead to Listen:  [00:02:02] Nursing career transitions. [00:05:49] Flight nursing experiences and insights. [00:07:36] Code Blue Practice Education. [00:11:28] Confidence in nursing emergencies. [00:15:14] Code preparation program. [00:18:06] Cardiac arrest response times. [00:20:27] New nurse code experience. [00:27:06] Empowering healthcare decision-making. [00:30:08] Importance of hands-on training. [00:32:02] Code training preparedness gaps. [00:36:44] Master instructor program for nurses. [00:38:22] Giving yourself grace in nursing. Connect with Colton on social media: Instagram: @coltonalanlord, @club.nurse TikTok: @nursecolton Connect with Susan on LinkedIn & social media: Instagram: @rescue.rn Website: https://www.rescuern.com/

Colton sits down with Nelson Hurtado, founder + CEO of ANP Health, a powerhouse startup helping foreign-educated nurses navigate credentialing, NCLEX prep, immigration, and job placement with 150+ hospitals across the U.S. Nelson breaks down how ANP is changing the game: 🚀 Guiding nurses through credentialing, English exams, and NCLEX prep (including their bilingual app, LearNCLEX 📱✨)🏥 Connecting qualified international nurses to hospitals battling staffing shortages🤝 Offering an ethical recruitment model that benefits both nurses and healthcare systems📈 Helping hospitals plan long-term instead of scrambling for last-minute travel nurses🌍 Bringing in nurses who offer unmatched grit, gratitude, and retentionIf you want to understand how international nurses are strengthening U.S. hospitals — and how ANP is making that pathway way more accessible — this episode is your sign to tune in. >>How to Work in the US as a Foreign-Educated Nurse >>This Startup Helps Foreign-Educated Nurses Land Jobs in The U.S.  Jump Ahead to Listen:  [00:02:07] Nursing career journey in the US. [00:05:02] Impact over income in nursing. [00:07:34] International nursing experience. [00:10:21] International nurse credentialing process. [00:15:37] Nurse sponsorship and hospital roles. [00:19:06] Ethical recruitment for international nurses. [00:20:40] Navigating the nursing process. [00:24:54] Healthcare perspectives and gratitude. [00:29:43] Different nursing specialties discussed. [00:30:58] International nurses in demand. [00:34:14] Facility dependent work experiences. Connect with Colton on social media: Instagram: @coltonalanlord, @club.nurse TikTok: @nursecolton Connect with Nelson on LinkedIn & on social media: Instagram: @enfermeriaenusa

Colton is back with post-Thanksgiving vibes, talking about the reality of working holidays, feeling all the feels, and reminding us that social media perfection is  ✨ fake ✨—but our emotions? Very much real. Then we dive into the wildest nurse news: 👀 A fake nurse in Arizona caught using a stolen license (yes… again. WHY is this a recurring theme?).😭 The sweetest ER staff ever surprises an environmental services worker with a plane ticket home for Christmas. Prepare your tear ducts.🔥 And the big one: The Department of Education just dropped a definition change that excludes nursing from “professional degree” programs… meaning major loan caps for NP and CRNA students. Translation? Huge ripple effects for the future of nursing, rural care, and literally anyone who needs healthcare in this country. Colton breaks it ALL down—what it means, who it hits hardest, and why the frustration is 100% valid.If you’re a nurse, a student, or just a human trying to keep up with the chaos of healthcare, this episode is your sign to stay informed, stay loud, and stay connected.  >>Fake Nurse With Notorious Kenyan Fraud Past Arrested After Working at U.S. Hospice >>ER Staff Secretly Raise Money to Fly Custodian Home For Christmas, Video Will Make You Cry >>Nursing Excluded as 'Professional' Degree By Department of Education >>ANA Leads Petition Calling on DoED to Recognize Nursing as a Professional Degree >>DoED Responds To Nurses With Fact Sheet Clarifying Professional Degree Definitions >>Poll: 59% of Nurses ‘Less Likely’ to Seek Graduate Degree Because of DoED Loan Policy Jump Ahead to Listen: [00:03:53] Fake nurse arrested for fraud. [00:06:14] Heartwarming ER story. [00:08:43] Nursing excluded as professional degree. [00:10:40] Graduate nursing degree funding issues. [00:14:30] Graduate nursing student loan cap. Connect with Colton on social media: Instagram: @coltonalanlord, @club.nurse TikTok: @nursecolton

In this episode of Club Nurse, Colton chats with Jessica Sylvester, MBA, RN, BSN—nurse of 22 years, former ER director, and now founder & CEO of Humla Health, a nurse-built tech platform that lets credentialed W-2 nurses create profiles, match with facilities, and self-schedule like Uber/Rover instead of being chained to traditional agency contracts. She opens up about her roots in rural Minnesota, how her mom’s struggle with mental illness shaped her path into nursing, what COVID exposed about staffing, and why she finally jumped from “stable leader job” into building something totally new for nurses. They get into: Flexibility as a non-negotiable for modern nursesWhy it’s more a morale crisis than a true “nursing shortage”Everyday nurse workarounds as real innovationThe fear, risk, and reality of launching a nurse-led startupProtecting your mental health while still loving nursing againIf you’ve ever thought, “There HAS to be a better way to do this,” this episode is your sign to go make it real.  >>Inside Humla Health: A Nurse-Led Revolution in Staffing, Flexibility & Mental Health Jump Ahead to Listen: [00:02:00] Mental health in nursing journey. [00:05:32] Disruptive nursing technology platform. [00:09:12] Nurse flexibility and control. [00:12:48] Empowering nurses to innovate. [00:14:32] The journey of entrepreneurship. [00:17:59] AI's impact on nursing jobs. [00:22:57] Direct nurse-to-facility relationships. [00:27:31] Nursing entrepreneurship and innovation. [00:28:25] Nurses starting their own companies. Connect with Colton on social media: Instagram:  @coltonalanlord, @club.nurse TikTok: @nursecolton Connect With Jessica on LinkedIn

Ever thought about trading your bedside badge for a flight suit? 🚁💉 In this episode of Club Nurse, Colton chats with Janessa Dean — former ICU + flight nurse turned flight nurse coach and creator of Flight Prep Academy. She breaks down exactly what flight nursing is, how the teams work (pilot + medic + nurse), what actually happens on scene calls vs inter-facility transfers, and why the job is way more about autonomy, critical thinking, and teamwork than TV drama. Janessa gets super real about: What flight nurses actually do in the air (intubations, vents, chest tubes, RSI… all of it)Safety, fear of flying, and how “three to go, one to say no” keeps crews aliveThe experience you really need (spoiler: 3 years ER or ICU, not 47 certs)How to start in flight nursing now as a student: externships, ride-alongs, networkingWhy hopping between units might be holding you back from your dream jobMentorship, coaching, and dealing with the hidden trauma + burnout of caring for critical patientsPay, schedules, and what 24-hour shifts + living at the base actually look likeUsing your RN license as a tool, not your whole identity — and leaning into entrepreneurship as a nurseIf you’ve ever looked up at a helicopter and thought, “That could be me,” this episode is your sign to start making a plan instead of just daydreaming. >>So You Want to Be a Flight Nurse? The No-BS Guide with Janessa Dean Jump Ahead to Listen: [00:01:13] Flight nursing coaching journey. [00:04:25] Scene calls in flight nursing. [00:08:40] Fear of flying in helicopters. [00:11:26] Flight nurse experience requirements. [00:13:09] Importance of networking in nursing. [00:16:28] Burnout in healthcare professionals. [00:21:25] Flight nursing training challenges. [00:22:34] Critical care nursing pathways. [00:27:00] Teamwork and camaraderie in nursing. [00:30:04] Flight nursing reality show idea. [00:32:33] Career changes in nursing. [00:34:45] Be an entrepreneur as a nurse. Connect with Colton on social media: Instagram: @coltonalanlord, @club.nurse TikTok: @nursecolton Connect with Janessa Dean on social media: Instagram: @janessadeancoaching TikTok: @janessadeancoaching

Okay besties… buckle up, cuz this week’s Nurse News episode is honestly a rollercoaster. Colton is back spilling all the nurse-world tea — and some of it is MESSY. We’re talking: 👀 A viral, gut-wrenching ER video showing a Black mom in active labor being completely ignored (how is this still happening??)✂️ An 18-year-old who literally ripped a nurse’s hair out and is now facing felony charges (girl, BE SERIOUS.)💉 The flu-season glow-up: trivalent vaccines are in, quadrivalent is out + the at-home flu mist moment none of us saw coming🏫 A school nurse who stood 10 toes DOWN after being pressured to break HIPAA (Amber Wood = certified icon)🚨 Another “fake nurse” saga because apparently impersonating an RN is everyone’s villain origin story now (???)Colton breaks it all down with his classic mix of humor, real talk, and “pls someone check on healthcare” energy. If you want to stay informed, stay entertained, and stay slightly stressed about the state of nursing… this ep is for you. >>Patient Rips Out Nurse’s Hair — Now Faces Felony Charges >>What Nurses Should Know About Flu Season 2025 >>School Nurse Forced by Superintendent to Compile List of Students with HFM Disease >>Another Fake Nurse Sentenced: Why Credential Fraud Is Rising in Healthcare Jump Ahead to Listen: [00:01:23] Medical racism in emergency care. [00:04:25] Patient faces felony charges. [00:06:16] Flu mist self-administration program. [00:09:07] School nurse protecting HIPAA. [00:11:42] Nurse credential fraud. Connect with Colton on social media: Instagram: @coltonalanlord, @club.nurse TikTok: @nursecolton

This week on Nurse News, Colton Lord is serving up all the feels — from heroic saves to heartbreaking headlines, with a little side of nursing inspo.  Here’s what’s making waves in nursing this week:   🚑 Jamaica issues emergency call for healthcare volunteers at Black River Hospital after Hurricane Melissa💪 Nursing student channels the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” to save a life after motorcycle crash📺 NBC medical drama St. Denis Medical set to return with a star-studded cast🚨 ER staff member brutally beaten by patient at UPMC Altoona — nurse airlifted for emergency surgeryFrom global callouts for help to life-saving hero moments and shocking hospital violence, this week’s stories hit every emotion — joy, anxiety, heartbreak, and hope (basically, the full Inside Out cast).   >>Jamaica Issues Emergency Call for Healthcare Volunteers at Black River Hospital >>Nursing Student Channels the Bee Gees to Save a Life >>Nurses, Get Ready for ‘St. Denis Medical’ to Return with Real-World Hospital Humor >>ER Healthcare Worker Brutally Beaten by Patient at UPMC Altoona Jump Ahead to Listen: [00:02:48] Jamaica emergency issued. [00:05:06] Bee Gees.  [00:09:45] St. Denis Medical returns. [00:10:32] ER nurse brutally attacked. Connect with Colton on social media: Instagram: @coltonalanlord, @club.nurse TikTok: @nursecolton

In this episode of Club Nurse, Colton Lord chats with Dr. Bonnie Clipper, total nursing trailblazer and founder of the Virtual Nursing Academy. Bonnie spills on how she turned her decades in nursing leadership into a movement that’s helping hospitals level up with virtual care and tech-driven solutions. They dive into her new partnership with Collette Health, how AI is changing the game (without replacing nurses), and why it’s time for nurses to stop saying “no” to innovation and start leading it. Tune in for major inspo, real talk about tech in nursing, and a peek at what the future of healthcare actually looks like. >>Pioneering the Future of Virtual Nursing, Bonnie Clipper's Story Jump Ahead to Listen: [00:00:34] Meet Dr. Bonnie Clipper [00:03:30] Why Virtual Nursing Academy Exists [00:06:50] Partnering with Colette Health [00:10:45] What Virtual Nursing Looks Like [00:17:10] AI and the Future of Nursing [00:21:00] Nurses as Innovators Connect with Colton on social media: Instagram:  @coltonalanlord, @club.nurse TikTok: @nursecolton Connect With Bonnie on LinkedIn