Nurses Healing Nurses

05/14/2026

05/02/2026

Just got home from speaking at NurseCon at Sea… and wow… I’m still processing what an incredible week it was.

There’s something really powerful about being surrounded by nurses from all over the world—different backgrounds, different specialties, different stories… but so much shared understanding.

The conversations.
The laughter.
The “OMG, me too” moments.
The connection.

And being honest… my legs are informing me that the dancing may have gotten just a little out of hand 💃😂

But what struck me most wasn’t just the fun (although there was plenty of that)… it was the depth of the people I met.

Nurses who are showing up every single day—holding so much for others—while quietly carrying their own stress, exhaustion, and life behind the scenes.

It was such an honor to speak, to connect, and to be in rooms where we could feel all the feels. We laughed a lot, and some needed to cry as we talked about things that actually matter… not just what we do as nurses, but how we’re really doing as humans.

Because here’s the truth:

A lot of nurses look like they’re doing just fine…
and they’re not.

And sometimes all it takes is one real conversation… one moment of feeling seen… to remind someone they’re not alone.

So if you were there, thank you. Truly.
You made this experience what it was.

And if you weren’t…

Just know this:
You’re part of this community, too, and deserve to be heard and supported.

More to come… because this week definitely lit something in me! 💙

04/13/2026

Tragedy Sparks Outcry: Nurses at HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital Protest Over Patient Safety

A wave of grief and frustration has hit Port Charlotte as nurses at HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital took to the streets in a powerful protest this week. The demonstration follows a series of recent patient deaths that frontline caregivers explicitly attribute to a "dangerously low" staffing environment.
# # Linking Staffing to Patient Outcomes
The protest, organized by dedicated nursing staff, highlights a grim reality within the facility. Nurses are coming forward with accounts of severe understaffing that they claim has led to delayed treatments and a lack of critical monitoring.
"We are here to be the voice for those who can no longer speak," said one veteran RN during the rally. The nurses contend that when one caregiver is responsible for too many high-acuity patients, the margin for error disappears, leading to the tragic outcomes witnessed in recent months.
# # Demanding Accountability from HCA
The core of the protest is a demand for HCA Healthcare—one of the largest hospital systems in the country—to prioritize patient safety over profit margins. The nurses are calling for:

* Mandatory Staffing Ratios: Enforceable limits on the number of patients assigned to a single nurse.
* Increased Ancillary Support: More nursing assistants and support staff to allow RNs to focus on clinical care.
* Transparent Safety Reviews: Independent investigations into recent patient deaths to ensure systemic changes are made.

# # A Growing National Concern
The situation at Fawcett Hospital is not an isolated incident. It reflects a growing national trend where nurses are increasingly using public demonstrations to sound the alarm on "moral injury"—the distress felt when they are unable to provide the level of care they know their patients require due to institutional constraints.
As the community watches closely, the nurses at Fawcett Hospital remain steadfast: they will continue to protest until they can guarantee that every patient who walks through their doors receives the safe, high-quality care they deserve.

01/28/2026

Hey nurses!

Got student loans?
Need help repaying them?
Do you know about the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program?

It’s the time of year when they take applications. I’m not affiliated with it in any way, but do know some nurses who had great help repaying their loans through it. Here is the link to check it out…

Learn about HRSA's Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program, offering loan forgiveness for nurses serving in critical shortage facilities or underserved areas.

01/25/2026

11/22/2025

🚨 Our Nursing Profession Is On the Line 🚨

The future of nursing education is being challenged, and we cannot sit this one out. The American Nurses Association has launched a petition to protect nursing as a professional degree and to ensure continued funding for the education that prepares us to do this work safely, skillfully, and ethically.

If you believe nursing is — and must remain — a respected professional discipline, please take a moment to sign the petition. Then share it with your family, friends, and colleagues so our collective voice is loud and undeniable.

NURSING IS A PROFESSIONAL DEGREE.

Let’s stand together and make sure it stays that way. 💙🩺

Add your name to the petition for nursing to be included in the definition of 'professional degree' programs.

11/20/2025

🚨 Nurses, You Need to See This. 🚨

Because what the Department of Education just proposed?

Absolutely NOT.

The DOE is trying to exclude nursing graduate degrees from the category of “professional degrees” — which means nursing students and graduate-level NPs could be restricted access to essential federal loan programs.

Yes, really.

Yes, in 2025.

Yes, during a historic nurse shortage.

I’m sharing screenshots from the American Nurses Association’s official statement below because this is something every nurse needs to be aware of.

Here’s the short version, in plain language:
👉 They want to claim nursing isn’t a professional degree.
👉 They want to shut nurses out of loan eligibility.
👉 They want to restrict access to advanced nursing education.

Let me say this with my whole chest:

Nursing is a profession.

Graduate-prepared nurses ARE professionals.

And the idea that we’re anything less is beyond insulting — it’s harmful, short-sighted, and dangerous for public health.
Nurses are the largest segment of the healthcare workforce.
We are the backbone of hospitals, clinics, mental health care, rural access, primary care, and everything in between.

We are the most trusted profession — not occasionally, but for decades.

But somehow… not “professional enough”?

Make it make sense.

This affects ALL of us:
🩺 RNs who want to advance
🩺 APRNs in school
🩺 NPs working in underserved communities
🩺 Students considering nursing pathways
🩺 The entire future of the nursing workforce

We cannot stay silent on this.

Please read the ANA’s statement (screenshots attached).

Share this post.

Talk about it.

Advocate.

Because if we don’t fight for nursing, the people making these decisions certainly won’t.

11/07/2025

A New Jersey nurse was fired after catching a baby mix-up — not causing it. Joyce Fisher’s story exposes a growing crisis in healthcare accountability and the dangers of punishing those who speak up.

03/28/2025

🎉BIG NEWS, NURSE FRIENDS!!🌊⚓️

I’m beyond excited to share that I’ll be joining Nurse Blake and presenting at NurseCon at Sea 2026! 🚢💉💃

We’re setting sail to JAMAICA on April 27, 2026 for an unforgettable 4 days of education, inspiration, CEUs, ocean views, and let’s be honest…a whole lotta fun 🏝️🍹🎶

I’ll be bringing my passion to the stage to talk about what I love most—helping nurses heal from the inside out and reclaim their joy, purpose, and power. 💥🧠💛

So here’s your official invite:
COME WITH ME!! Let’s learn, grow, and dance our scrubs off together (maybe even do some karaoke… no promises 🎤😅). Whether you need the CEUs, the connection, or just the Caribbean sun, this cruise is gonna be EPIC.

🚢🩺🌞 Let me know if you’re thinking about coming—I’d love to see some familiar faces in the crowd (and at the buffet 😎).

Here’s the link to register now for an early bird discount - https://nurseconatsea.com/pages/at-sea-2026

Hope to see you there!!