Happy New Year! On today's episode of The Self Care Unit, we discuss New Year's resolutions, exploring the real psychological impact they can have, whether it is worth it for nurses to use them as a method to care for themselves, and the mechanisms behind the "fresh start" effect. We also talk about realistic goals, approach vs. avoidance, and why we should try our best not to compare ourselves to others!
The BBC Article referenced in the episode is Linked Here!
This week, we are focused on the night shift! Carley and Micheline are joined by Ashleigh Small, AKA, That Night Shift Nurse. As the mentor behind Flip the Shift, Ashleigh is a certified NICU nurse who has developed her own method to make working the night shift work for you. We talk about the realities of night shift work, what's important to help manage your schedule, and practices that can help new nurses take it on!
For more of Ashleigh, check out her Instagram @that.nightshift.nurse or on her website fliptheshift.com!
This week, Carley and Micheline discuss the challenges and the joys of the holiday season as nurses. They reflect on what they are grateful for in their personal and professional lives, share stories of finding purpose in nursing, and offer coping strategies for those nurses who are spending the holidays away from family, maybe for the very first time.
We wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and a holiday season full of love and cheer!
CW: Suicide/Suicide Ideation
This week, Carley and Shannon are joined by Drew Robinson! Drew is a former MLB player, mental health advocate, and professional speaker who miraculously survived a suicide attempt, resulting in a newfound purpose of helping others and de-stigmatizing mental health. The conversation centers on Drew's story, the ways to share our struggles and build support systems, and Drew's tagline: "strength isn't always physical."
Drew and links to all his work can be found on Instagram @drewrobbb !
This week, Shannon speaks with Colton Lord about his life as a nurse, advocate, and content creator. They discuss navigating transitions, the importance of community and support systems to take on burnout, and the complexities of finding purpose in nursing. Colton also shares his thoughts on the significance of storytelling in connecting with others, particularly as an advocate for LGBTQ+ representation and mental health awareness
For more of Colton, check out Club Nurse and follow Colton on Instagram and Twitter @nursecolton.
Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! We were thrilled to have Nurse Sibyl join us this week to discuss the importance of her cultural heritage in shaping her nursing journey — from the bedside to social media. We also talk about what representation means in healthcare and the challenges and rewards of being a nurse, particularly for those from immigrant backgrounds. Sibyl's passion absolutely shines in this conversation, so tune in!
For listeners who just can’t get enough Sibyl, she is @sibs.rn on TikTok and @Nurse.Sibyl on Instagram. We hope everyone had a lovely Hispanic Heritage Month!
CW: This podcast contains discussions of mental health that may be sensitive to some listeners.
This week, the conversation gets personal, as Micheline discusses her decision to start anxiety medication, specifically Lexapro. Micheline talks about her history with anxiety, her experiences having panic attacks, her initial reluctance to pursue medication, and what it has meant to share her journey and hear from others going through similar experiences on social media. Seeking help is always worth it!
This week, Carley and Micheline review The Pitt, Doctor Odyssey, and St. Denis Medical. All three TV shows portray healthcare and nursing, but how do they actually resonate with nurses? We discuss the ways they depict work at the bedside, laugh at some of the accuracies and inaccuracies, and discuss what makes each show good. The shows are very different from each other, but ultimately, we recommend all three for both medical and non-medical audiences!
CW: This podcast contains discussions of mental health that may be sensitive to some listeners. Suicide
"I’m not a therapist, but I know you."
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. We were honored to have Dr. Shairi Turner, Chief Health Officer at Crisis Text Line, to learn about their mental health support and crisis intervention services. We also discuss the importance of cultural competency and the ways to challenge stigmas and support each other.
By leading with empathy, Crisis Text Line's staff and volunteers have created an invaluable resource. If listeners want to learn more about Crisis Text Line, you can visit CrisisTextLine.org. And if you ever need their support, you can text HOME to 741741. From anywhere across the US. It’s free, confidential, and 24/7.
This week, we learn more about Integrative Health from RN and Integrative Health Practitioner, Emily Gardner! Emily walks us through how balancing conventional and complementary methods can help tackle the root causes of the most stubborn chronic conditions, such as acne, gut issues, and/or hormonal problems. Our discussion focuses on the role of stress, gut health, what functional lab testing can reveal, and the realistic timelines for recovery in integrative health practices!
Emily can be found at www.emintegrativewellness.com or @nurseacne on socials!
This week on The Self Care Unit, we dive into the 2025 State of the World's Nursing Report and discuss the challenges faced by the nursing profession. We cover the causes and impacts of staffing shortages, the gender dynamics of the profession, and what mental health support really looks like. What systemic changes are necessary in healthcare to build a brighter future?
This week, Sarah Lorenzini — Rapid Response nurse, host of the RapidResponseRN podcast, and nurse educator — talks with us about rapid response nursing and how to prepare yourself to succeed during emergencies. We discuss what makes her love nursing, how to develop the critical thinking and resilience you'll need in high-stress environments, and the role of intuition in patient care. For anyone who wants the confidence and skills to jump into action in emergencies, tune in!
Sarah's an absolute well of knowledge and experience, so if you want to learn more, we highly encourage you to check out the RapidResponseRN courses and podcast!
This week, Micheline, and Carley delve into the world of books, relaying their personal journeys into reading, the influence of social media on reading habits, and why nurses read. They talk about when and why they're drawn to certain genres, how books can impact a nurse’s perspective of themself and their patients, and wrap things up with some solid book recommendations!
Book Recs:
Micheline: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Anything by Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, or Ashley Poston
Daisy Darker: A Novel by Alice Feeney
Carley: The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
This week, The Self Care Unit explores the world of cold therapy with guest Aryan Davani, founder of IcePass, a community wellness club in LA. Focusing primarily on the mental health benefits of cold plunging, we get the details from Aryan on why this practice has exploded in popularity in recent years. Whether it's calming our minds, connecting with others, or overcoming our self-limiting beliefs, we learn all the benefits of cold therapy so you can take the plunge!
For this past Nurses Week, our goal was to showcase the nursing community by hearing from nurses directly. So for this episode of the Self Care Unit, nurses generously share their stories on the podcast, including what they love about the job, what motivates them, the challenges they face, and their hopes for the future. In the process, they give a personal insight into what is actually happening in the profession, the pride nurses take in their work, the many paths that a career in nursing can take, and the ways working as a nurse can change you as a person.
CW: This podcast may contain discussions of mental health that may be sensitive to listeners.
This week, we are thrilled to have The Pitt’s Katherine LaNasa on the show! Earning praise from healthcare workers for its accuracy and realism, The Pitt does not shy away from showing the everyday realities of life in the hospital. As Charge Nurse Dana, Katherine is a fan favorite, and she talks with us about the show's authenticity, the nuances she brought to her role, and how she portrays the emotional and physical demands of nursing.
As with her work on screen, Katherine’s compassion absolutely shines in this conversation — she may have asked more questions than we did! So, on behalf of all the nurses who have loved watching Dana keep things moving, we are so grateful to Katherine for chatting with us!
CW: This podcast contains discussions of mental health that may be sensitive to listeners.
On this week’s episode of The Self Care Unit Podcast, Micheline and Carley had the pleasure of chatting with @minaa_b . Minaa is a social worker, the author of Owning Our Struggles: A Path to Healing and Finding Community in a Broken World, and the founder of I’m So Mature ( @imsomaturemedia ), a media company that explores art and entertainment as forms of healthy escapism. Minaa helps people in areas like resilience, building relationships, and creating a community where well-being thrives. We covered some very tangible and important interventions we can use in our daily lives, especially when we’re going through difficult times.
CW: This podcast may contain discussions of mental health that may be sensitive to some listeners.
This week, we tackle the complex issue of bullying within the nursing profession. Carley and Micheline share some personal experiences, discuss how bullying behavior emerges, and give listeners some strategies for handling workplace bullying in direct and indirect ways. What's clear is that we can all work together to create a more supportive profession, especially for new nurses and students!
CW: This podcast may contain discussions of mental health that may be sensitive to some listeners.
This week, Sarah and Micheline explore the concept of wellness through a collective lens, emphasizing the importance of community and relationships in achieving overall well-being. We particularly compare this to the more individualized approaches that go viral on social media. We also highlight the importance of community support and peer networks and emphasize the need for education, empowerment, and safety nets outside traditional institutions. Finally, we touch on the role of storytelling in healing and share some ideas or practices we can all pursue to improve our collective wellness!
The Yale piece that we reference can be found here
For more on eudaemonia as Sarah mentioned, check out Andrew Soren’s work
CW: This podcast may contain discussions of mental health that may be sensitive to some listeners.
This week, we discuss nurses getting “fired” by patients and how to build back your confidence! There are many reasons behind these firings, so we need compassion and understanding for ourselves and support fellow nurses facing similar challenges. We also address being fired from jobs or assignments by reading stories and discussing workplace dynamics that can lead to trouble. Nurses are human and make mistakes, but recovery from setbacks is possible!