My Nurse Specialty

Ep 9: Helping Patients Navigate Healthcare: The Nurse Advocate Role with Lori Schellenberg

In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Lori Schellenberg about patient advocacy and why this role can be such a natural fit for nurses. Lori shares how her background in bedside nursing, case management, and years of advocating for patients and families led her to build her own advocacy business and mentor nurses who want to move into this work. We also talk about what a nurse advocate actually does, how this role differs from bedside advocacy, and why it can be such a meaningful way to walk with patients and families through the full healthcare journey. Lori also shares the challenges of building this kind of work, the different niches available in advocacy, and why nurses already have many of the skills needed to thrive in this specialty. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: What nurse advocacy looks like beyond the bedside. Why nurses are well positioned to pivot into patient advocacy. What challenges and opportunities come with building an advocacy career. About My Guest Lori Schellenberg is a nurse with 45 years of experience and a certified case manager with more than 20 years in case management. She is the owner of Stepping Stone Advocacy Services, where she advocates for patients and families and also mentors nurses who want to become nurse advocates. Lori is passionate about helping nurses use the skills they already have in a way that brings them joy while making a real difference for patients navigating the healthcare system. Connect with Lori Stepping Stone Advocacy Services: https://www.steppingstoneadvocacy.com Alliance of Professional Health Advocates: https://aphadvocates.org/ Umbra Health Advocacy: https://umbrahealthadvocacy.com/about-umbra/ GNA Now: https://gnanow.org/ Stay Connected: Learn how we can work together [https://mynursespecialty.com/] Apply to be on the Podcast [https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/cfsytQNRJrzQgw3d979H] Connect with me on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-emery-msn-rn-phn-1b5ab245/] Get the FREE guide here [https://mynursespecialty.com/resources] on how to choose your specialty!

Ep 8: The Heart of Nurse Education with Heather Bohman

In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Heather Bohman about her path from NICU nursing to becoming a nurse educator. She shares how her love of patient education, precepting, and teaching led her back to school for her master’s degree and into faculty teaching in a nursing program. We also talk about what nurse educators actually do, from classroom teaching to clinical instruction, the educational path to becoming one, the challenges of the role, and the many ways nurses can grow within education. Heather also shares why she is passionate about supporting nurse educators and helping prevent burnout in those who spend so much time pouring into others. In This Episode, You’ll Learn * How Heather transitioned from NICU nursing into nurse education. * What it looks like to teach both in the classroom and in clinicals. * Why nurse education can be meaningful, challenging, and full of growth opportunities. About My Guest Heather Bohman is a nurse educator in San Antonio, Texas, a former NICU nurse, and a board-certified nurse coach. She teaches in a nursing program, works closely with students in both clinical and classroom settings, and is passionate about helping future nurses succeed. She is also focused on supporting nurse educators through wellness, resilience, and burnout prevention. Connect with Heather Website: heatherbohman.com [https://heatherbohman.com] Stay Connected: Learn how we can work together [https://mynursespecialty.com/] Apply to be on the Podcast [https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/cfsytQNRJrzQgw3d979H] Connect with me on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-emery-msn-rn-phn-1b5ab245/] Get the FREE guide here [https://mynursespecialty.com/resources] on how to choose your specialty!

Ep 7: What Nurses Need Beyond Experience

In this solo episode of My Nurse Specialty, I speak directly to nurses who have been told to “just get experience” but still feel unsure, overwhelmed, or stuck. Because experience matters, but experience alone is not enough when you do not have direction, support, or a strategy for what comes next. I talk about how to look at your experience more intentionally, recognize the skills you have already built, and stop seeing every pivot as starting over. This episode is a reminder that changing direction in nursing is not failure. It can be a smart, strategic move. In This Episode, You’ll Learn * Why experience alone is not a full career plan. * How to reframe your transferable nursing skills. * Why pivoting can be a wise next step. Stay Connected: Learn how we can work together [https://mynursespecialty.com/] Apply to be on the Podcast [https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/cfsytQNRJrzQgw3d979H] Connect with me on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-emery-msn-rn-phn-1b5ab245/] Get the FREE guide here [https://mynursespecialty.com/resources] on how to choose your specialty!

Ep 6: When Every Second Counts: A Nurse’s Life in Critical Care with Jaclyn McPheeters

In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Jaclyn McPheeters about her path into critical care nursing and what it really means to care for patients in the ICU. She shares how a powerful early experience as a CNA led her into this specialty and why critical care requires both technical skill and emotional resilience. We also talk about what ICU nursing looks like day to day, the level of critical thinking it demands, the importance of teamwork, and why this specialty can be both deeply rewarding and incredibly intense. Jaclyn also shares advice for nurses considering this path, including shadowing, onboarding, certifications, and the many ways critical care experience can open doors later in your career. In This Episode, You’ll Learn * What critical care nursing really looks like beyond the patient ratio. * Why emotional resilience and teamwork matter so much in the ICU. * How ICU experience can lead to growth in leadership, advanced practice, and beyond. About My Guest: Jaclyn McPheeters, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with experience in critical care, internal medicine, urgent care, skilled nursing, and nursing education. She brings more than a decade of high-acuity critical care experience to her work and is known for her patient-centered, compassionate approach. Jaclyn is also a former Assistant Professor of Nursing and the founder of Nurse Education & Empowerment LLC, where she supports nurses and nurse practitioners through education, coaching, and professional development. She is active in nursing leadership, healthcare quality improvement, and community engagement. Connect with Jaclyn: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaclynmariemcpheeters-444a92223/] Stay Connected: Learn how we can work together [https://mynursespecialty.com/] Apply to be on the Podcast [https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/cfsytQNRJrzQgw3d979H] Connect with me on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-emery-msn-rn-phn-1b5ab245/] Get the FREE guide here [https://mynursespecialty.com/resources] on how to choose your specialty!

Ep 5: Emergency Nursing Explained with Jessica Smith Dos Santos

In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Jessica Smith Dos Santos about her path into emergency nursing and what it really takes to succeed in the ER. Jessica shares how she entered the specialty unexpectedly after another unit closed, and how what started as a default move eventually became a role she grew into and learned to love. She also speaks honestly about how overwhelming the ER felt in the beginning, including the steep learning curve many nurses experience when starting in this fast-paced environment. Jessica explains that not all ERs are the same and why understanding the different levels of emergency departments matters. She talks about the difference between high-acuity trauma centers and lower-acuity community ERs, and how that can shape a nurse’s experience, especially early in their career. She also shares what certifications are helpful, what nurses should know before applying, and why it is so important to be honest about the kind of pace and pressure you want in your work. We also talk about the many directions an ER nurse can grow within the specialty, from trauma roles and triage to charge nurse, leadership, freestanding ERs, and education. Jessica gives a realistic but encouraging look at the specialty and offers valuable perspective for nurses who feel drawn to emergency nursing but want to understand the reality behind the role. In This Episode, You’ll Learn * Why not all ERs offer the same experience. * What new nurses should know before starting in emergency nursing. * How ER nurses can grow into leadership, trauma, and education roles. About My Guest: Jessica Smith Dos Santos is an ER nurse and nurse educator with a background in telemetry, pre- and post-procedure care, and emergency nursing. Over the course of her career, she has worked in different ER settings, including high-acuity trauma environments and lower-acuity emergency departments, and has also developed experience in pediatric emergency care. She now supports nurses as an emergency room educator while still working per diem at the bedside to keep her skills sharp. Connect with Jessica: YouTube [https://youtube.com/@badasslove1267?si=NanJEyZ2z4XpFtIk] LinkedIn [http://linkedin.com/in/jessica-smith-dos-santos-a1a33678] Instagram [ https://instagram.com/badass_love_coach?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=] Stay Connected: Learn how we can work together [https://mynursespecialty.com/] Apply to be on the Podcast [https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/cfsytQNRJrzQgw3d979H] Connect with me on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-emery-msn-rn-phn-1b5ab245/] Get the FREE guide here [https://mynursespecialty.com/resources] on how to choose your specialty!