Send us a text As we close out 2025 and step into a brand new year, this episode is your invitation to pause, reflect, and reset. Whether you’re a new nurse, a nursing student, or somewhere in the early stages of your nursing career, today’s conversation will help you understand why the things that feel uncomfortable are the very things that help you grow. In this episode, I break down the science behind trying new things including neuroplasticity, novelty, dopamine, confidence-building, and ...
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Send us a text As we close out 2025 and step into a brand new year, this episode is your invitation to pause, reflect, and reset. Whether you’re a new nurse, a nursing student, or somewhere in the early stages of your nursing career, today’s conversation will help you understand why the things that feel uncomfortable are the very things that help you grow. In this episode, I break down the science behind trying new things including neuroplasticity, novelty, dopamine, confidence-building, and ...
Send us a text As we close out 2025 and step into a brand new year, this episode is your invitation to pause, reflect, and reset. Whether you’re a new nurse, a nursing student, or somewhere in the early stages of your nursing career, today’s conversation will help you understand why the things that feel uncomfortable are the very things that help you grow. In this episode, I break down the science behind trying new things including neuroplasticity, novelty, dopamine, confidence-building, and ...
Send us a text In this episode of The Life After Nursing School Podcast, host Caroline Danna, MSN, RN, shares her biggest takeaways from attending the Indeed Careers in Care networking event in New York City. What started as a few days in Times Square turned into a powerful reminder about connection, courage, and career growth. Caroline reflects on meeting online connections in real life, finding unexpected mentors, and learning why human connection is truly irreplaceable. You’ll hear how one...
Send us a text In this episode of the Life After Nursing School podcast, host Caroline Danna sits down with Stephanee Beggs, the nurse, educator, and entrepreneur behind RNExplained and author of the bestselling book Debrief. After reading Debrief cover to cover, Caroline knew she had to connect with Stephanee to dive deeper into the real, unfiltered side of nursing — the part that goes beyond exams and clinicals. Together they unpack the emotional highs and lows of life as a new nurse, the c...
Send us a text What if nurse burnout wasn’t the end of your story—but the beginning of your healing? In this episode of Life After Nursing School, host Caroline Danna sits down with Kelly Dubowski, Holistic Nurse Coach and founder of Hope With Kelly and Nurturing the Nurse. After experiencing the exhaustion and emotional toll of burnout herself, Kelly transitioned from bedside nursing to holistic nurse coaching, where she now helps nurses regulate their nervous systems, set boundaries, and re...
Send us a text When life as a nurse feels heavy and burnout starts to blur your sense of purpose, sometimes the only way forward… is through. In this inspiring conversation, host Caroline Danna, MSN, RN sits down with Gaige Matthews, former ER nurse and founder of Beyond Bedside Fitness, to unpack what it really takes to rebuild your confidence, discipline, and faith when you’re running on empty. Gaige has helped over 800 nurses transform their health and mindset through her nurse-specific co...
Send us a text Feeling like your days off vanish before you can actually rest? In this episode of Life After Nursing School, host Caroline Danna, MSN, RN shares how to romanticize self-care and find calm, beauty, and joy in your everyday nurse life — no spa day required. Inspired by Taylor Swift’s song “Opalite,” Caroline explores how happiness can be man-made and how slowing down can recharge your mind, body, and spirit. From brewing coffee like a ritual to turning your commute or shower int...
Send us a text Did you know that 33% of new graduate nurses leave their first job within a year, and nearly one in five leave nursing altogether? In this episode of Life After Nursing School, host Caroline Danna, MSN, RN (a clinical instructor and new nurse career coach) dives into why so many new nurses are walking away from the bedside… and what you can do to protect your passion, peace, and purpose in this profession. Caroline breaks down the real reasons behind new nurse burnout and turno...
Send us a text Level up your nursing career with some necessary tough love. In this episode, I share 10 tough-love lessons every nurse needs—perfect for nursing students, new grad nurses, and working nurses navigating today’s high-stress healthcare environment. From letting go of what you can’t control to building confidence before you feel ready, these are the mindset shifts that reduce burnout, boost performance, and help you use your nursing license in a way that actually adds color to you...
Send us a text Critical thinking is one of the most important skills you’ll ever develop as a new nurse but it doesn’t come overnight. In this episode of Life After Nursing School, Nurse Career Coach Caroline shares how you can use ChatGPT as a practical tool to strengthen your clinical judgment and build confidence at the bedside. You’ll learn how to apply ChatGPT to the nursing process (ADPIE) - Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation - and discover how it can ...
Send us a text Are you curious about how nurses can build flexible, remote careers? In this episode of Life After Nursing School, Caroline sits down with David Rosenbeck, co-founder of Go Beyond the Bedside, to talk about breaking free from traditional hospital roles. David shares his journey from bedside nursing to launching a platform that connects nurses with remote nursing jobs, virtual care opportunities, and innovative ways to use their clinical skills outside the hospital. If you’re a ...
Send us a text This week, I’m joined by a very special guest - my husband, Bryan Danna, PA-C and Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force. Together, we’re celebrating our 10-year wedding anniversary with a conversation that blends love, laughter, and a behind-the-scenes look at life as a dual healthcare couple. From marathon training to raising three kids, from military commitments to launching my nursing business, Bryan and I get real about what it takes to balance marriage, family, and dema...
Send us a text In this episode of Life After Nursing School, I chat with Nicole Johnson, BSN, RN, CCRN - Critical Care Nurse and founder of Unwound Retreats. Nicole knows firsthand the challenges of burnout and has built a career around helping nurses reconnect with themselves and their purpose. With certifications in Happiness at Work, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and Psychological First Aid, she blends evidence-based wellness with real-world nursing experience. Since 2019, Nicole has...
Send us a text Fall is here - pumpkin spice, busy schedules, and all the chaos that comes with it. Whether you’re a nursing student heading back to clinicals or a new grad nurse starting your first job, this season can feel overwhelming. In this episode, I’m sharing 5 simple strategies to help you stay organized, reduce decision fatigue, and actually enjoy pumpkin spice season. From creating a weekly reset routine to building a bedtime wind-down and protecting your energy, these practical nur...
Send us a text Starting your first nursing job is exciting, but what if your preceptor isn’t the right fit? Orientation sets the foundation for your nursing career, and a mismatched preceptor can make it harder to build confidence and independence as a new grad nurse. In this episode of Life After Nursing School, we’ll break down what a supportive orientation should look like, the red flags of an ineffective preceptor, and how to advocate for yourself if you’re struggling. You’ll hear practic...
Send us a text In this episode, we’re diving into Mel Robbins’ “Let Them” Theory and how it can transform your nursing practice, especially if you’re a new grad or navigating the pressures of the job. The “Let Them” Theory is simple yet powerful: Let Them: Release the need to control other people—their actions, emotions, or opinions.Let Me: Give yourself permission to focus on what you can control—your goals, growth, and well-being.We will walk through real-life nursing scenarios - from being...
Send us a text If you’re a nursing student or new grad nurse dreaming of financial freedom or just wanting more control over your career this episode is for you. Today, I’m joined by Savannah Arroyo, The Net Worth Nurse, who went from hustling to land her first job in California’s saturated market to building a $3+ million real estate portfolio and leaving bedside nursing behind. Savannah shares how she climbed the nursing ladder from bedside RN to nurse manager with her sights set on becomin...
Send us a text Are you a new nurse feeling overwhelmed by everything they didn’t teach you in nursing school? You’re not alone—and in this episode, I’m answering some of the most commonly asked questions from both listeners and members of The New Nurse Society. We’re covering real-life topics every new grad nurse wants (and needs) to know about: ✅ What the heck is a 401(k) and how do you use it? ✅ What to do if your preceptor just isn’t a good fit ✅ How to handle scary nurse...
Are you a nursing student or new grad nurse dreaming of a life that feels aligned, balanced, and fulfilling - both in and out of scrubs? In this episode of Life After Nursing School, we’re diving deep into manifestation, not the vague, "wish-upon-a-star" kind, but a grounded, step-by-step approach to creating the life and nursing career you actually want. Whether you’re spiritually curious, full-on into manifestation, or just looking for more clarity in your post-nursing school journey, thi...
In this episode of Life After Nursing School, I share how I accidentally manifested my dream life and nursing career - without even realizing it. Whether you're a nursing student, new grad nurse, or feeling burnt out in your current role, this story will give you hope, clarity, and a new way to think about your career. I open up about my early struggles as a cross-country runner and how a session with a hypnotist introduced me to the power of the subconscious mind. Years later, after burnou...
Feeling stuck in survival mode as a nursing student or new grad nurse? In this episode, I sit down with ICU nurse, fitness coach, and content creator Niko Saunders (@officialfitrn) to talk all things nurse burnout, healthy habits, and building a life outside the bedside. Niko opens up about the moment he realized he wasn’t okay, how a medical diagnosis led to a wake-up call, and the powerful mindset shift that helped him reclaim his health. We dive into nurse-friendly fitness tips, the trut...
Send us a text As we close out 2025 and step into a brand new year, this episode is your invitation to pause, reflect, and reset. Whether you’re a new nurse, a nursing student, or somewhere in the early stages of your nursing career, today’s conversation will help you understand why the things that feel uncomfortable are the very things that help you grow. In this episode, I break down the science behind trying new things including neuroplasticity, novelty, dopamine, confidence-building, and ...
