Miguel Bustos Bismonte made a bold pivot —leaving a high-tech career at the center of innovation to pursue nursing. He wasn’t stepping away from progress; he was redefining it. Drawn to a field where science, systems thinking, and human connection intersect, he saw nursing as the next frontier for real-world impact.  Now a Johns Hopkins School of Nursing graduate, Miguel applies the same analytical mindset that once shaped cutting-edge technology to the complexities of health care. His story, featured on the On The Pulse podcast, explores how nurses are expanding the boundaries of innovation and shaping the future of care.

This episode digs into the disconnect between the public’s perception of nursing and the reality of what nurses know, do, and shoulder every day. Guest Sarah DeGregorio, author the books "EARLY: An Intimate History of Premature Birth and What it Teaches Us About Being Human" and "Taking Care: The Story of Nursing and Its Power to Change Our World," shares insights from her reporting on nursing, including why nurses are often left out of media conversations, how this invisibility fuels moral distress, and what happens when stories that should be told never reach the public.

In this episode of On the Pulse, Dr. Rodney discusses with Dr. Cecília Tomori the intricate dynamics of breastfeeding within the context of societal norms and healthcare. They delve into the impact of cultural expectations on breastfeeding practices, the role of media, and the importance of supportive environments for new parents. The conversation sheds light on how the narratives surrounding breastfeeding can influence personal choices and highlight the need for informed support during critical periods of parenthood. Access the full National Academies Report

School of Nursing Associate Professor, Dr. Michelle Patch, and alumna, Dr. Alainna Crotty, have both served in the military as nurses. In this episode, they share what drew them to serve, the unique challenges of their roles, and what their experience has taught them.

This year marks 25 years since the creation of the Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute (UHI). To help recognize and celebrate this milestone, Dr. Lisa Cooper, MD, MPH, MACP, and UHI Director, joins the podcast to reflect on UHI’s legacy and what’s ahead as UHI continues its mission of advancing health equity locally and nationally. Links to UHI Resources: Baltimore Health Equity Impact Grants (BHEIG) Bunting Neighborhood Leadership Program (BNLP) Speakers Bureau Henrietta Lacks Memorial Award (HLMA) Social Determinants of Health Symposium (SDOH) Nobody Asked Me Campaign

Dr. Sharon Pappas, Chief Nurse Executive at Emory Healthcare, returns to the podcast to discuss how creating a healthy practice environment fosters nurse retention.

Criminalizing homelessness doesn’t solve it. In this episode, we talk with experts about why forced treatment and punishment fail—and what real solutions, like Housing First, actually look like.

In this episode, Dr. Cynda Rushton sits down with Dr. Christine Pabico, Sr. Director of the Pathway to Excellence and Well-being Excellence Programs at the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to talk about the incredible impact these programs have had on healthcare organizations. These programs provide evidence-based standards to evaluate and enhance well-being efforts. This credential builds upon ANCC's legacy of recognizing healthcare organizations that prioritize their workforce's well-being and foster a culture of safety and health. Learn more about the program: https://www.nursingworld.org/organizational-programs/well-being-excellence/

During Disability Pride Month, Dr. Bonnie Swenor, founder and director of the Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center (DHRC) and inaugural Endowed Professor of Disability Health and Justice at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, shares her personal experience living with a disability and how she and her team utilize data to inform their research.

How can nurse leaders go beyond inclusion and build an environment where everyone feels like they belong? In this episode, Dr. Cynda Rushton is joined by Dr. Deborah Stamps, a former CNO herself, to talk about how belonging boosts retention and resilience. Dr. Stamps also shares insights on a new toolkit developed by AARP, which offers resources and strategies for nurse recruitment and retention, along with ways to foster a sense of belonging among nurse teams and address gaps in current approaches to diversity and inclusion. Check out the toolkit here: campaignforaction.org/resource/recruitment-and-retention-toolkit/

Evan LaChance and Emma McWaid, students in the MSN (Entry Into Nursing) program, are the president and vice president of the LGBTQ+ Health Curriculum Initiative student group at the School of Nursing. In this episode, they share the origins of the group, the importance of LGBTQ+ education in healthcare, and what they hope to achieve as leaders of this initiative.

In this episode, Dr. Rushton talks with Dr. Rose O. Sherman about how nurses in the workforce can frame professionalism and professional identity through the lens of professional branding. https://emergingrnleader.com/framing-professionalism-and-professional-identity-through-the-lens-of-professional-branding/

Dr. Laura Samuel, Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, and PhD student, Fernando Mena-Carrasco discuss the implications and impacts surrounding budget cuts to programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and more. Editor's Note: Mena-Carrasco states that Medicaid covers 60-70% of births by Latina Women. This figure is actually for Black mothers. For Latina mothers, it is 59%.

This episode features a conversation between Dr. Cynda Rushton, Lauren Geiling, BS, ADN, RN, and Rachel Robinson, BSN, RN, CCM, DNP-S, about the recently released film project, "Harnessing the Promise of Nursing." Both Lauren and Rachel participated in the film and shared their takeaways from the experience and what they hope nurses and health care workers take away from it. "Harnessing the Promise of Nursing" is a short film that promotes a new narrative about nursing, builds community and support networks, and invites nurses to rekindle a sense of joy and fulfillment that is an integral part of their irreplaceable work, created by Dr. Cynda Rushton and the R3: Resilient Nurses Initiative team, in conjunction with the iDeas Lab at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics. Watch the full film here: https://nursing.jhu.edu/faculty-research/research/centers/r3/harnessing-the-promise-of-nursing-film/

Dr. Jason Farley and his team of researchers have spent years working to find solutions to treating tuberculosis (TB) among South African populations. In this episode, Dr. Farley explains how he and his team have developed nurse-led models of care to make treatment for TB accessible and affordable throughout South Africa.

In this conversation, Dr. Cynda Rushton and Dr. Allison Pugh, Professor of Sociology at Johns Hopkins University, investigate key insights from Dr. Pugh's new book, "The Last Human Job." The discussion centers on how new technology is integrated into the nursing field and what this means for the future of healthcare.

Dr. Jessica Gill, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, discusses her groundbreaking research on traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). She explores the advances in technology revolutionizing TBI detection and treatment and the unique challenges of treating brain injuries in military personnel and communities. 

Dr. Cynda Rushton is joined by Dr. Joyce Batcheller, President of The Nurse Legacy Institute, to discuss how the relationships between nurses, supervisors, and leadership build the foundations of trust, creativity, and collaboration.

Nurse Supervisor, Christal White, BSN, shares the challenges and highlights from the first year of the School Health Nursing program.

In this episode, Dr. Cynda Rushton is joined by Dr. Deb Zimmermann, Chief Executive Officer at The DAISY Foundation, to discuss workplace violence's effects on our nursing workforce and what changes are being implemented to increase safety.