AACN Voices in Nursing Podcast

Ep. 036: Trauma-Informed Care With Dr. Melanie Gray

Trauma shapes patient behavior and nurse well-being in ways we often overlook. Dr. Melanie Gray explains how trauma-informed care helps nurses recognize triggers, recognize and avoid personal prejudices and respond with intention. Learn practical strategies to manage secondary trauma, strengthen communication and create safer, more supportive care environments. A trauma-informed approach not only improves patient outcomes but also builds resilience, retention and healthier teams across healthcare settings. This episode is brought to you by AACN’s Online Nursing Community Forums, offering support, inspiration and sharing of best practices online, with information available at http://www.aacn.org/aacncommunitieswww.aacn.org/aacncommunities [http://www.aacn.org/aacncommunities].

Ep. 035: Nurse Leadership Well-Being That Drives Retention

Nurse leaders face relentless demands that often leave little room for self-care. In this episode, Dr. Robbin Young shares practical strategies to address leader burnout, from structured well-being initiatives to fostering a culture where rest and support are prioritized. Explore how investing in leadership health creates a ripple effect: strengthening teams, improving retention and elevating patient care outcomes across organizations. This episode is sponsored by AACN’s award-winning, online leadership course, Fundamental Skills for Nurse Managers, with information available at http://www.aacn.org/managerskillswww.aacn.org/managerskills [http://www.aacn.org/managerskills]

Ep. 034: A Nurse’s Guide to Obstetric Critical Care in the ICU

Caring for a pregnant patient in the ICU can feel overwhelming — after all, you're supporting two lives at once. In this episode, Julie Kruithof breaks down a simple, memorable framework — the 3 Ps — to help you stay grounded in high-stakes moments. From understanding normal physiologic changes to building the best partnerships and plan, you’ll gain practical insights to provide support safe, confident care throughout the stages of pregnancy and postpartum.  This episode is sponsored by AACN’s Career Center, offering career resources, free resume reviews and personalized job alerts, with information available at http://www.aacn.org/careercenterwww.aacn.org/careercenter [http://www.aacn.org/careercenter]

Ep. 033: Confronting Bullying and Incivility in Nursing

Bullying and incivility remain persistent challenges in healthcare, affecting nurses’ well-being, team dynamics and patient safety. In this episode, AACN podcast hosts speak with Dr. Renee Thompson, founder of the Healthy Workforce Institute, about why disruptive behaviors occur and how they differ from bullying. She shares practical strategies for nurses and leaders to address harmful behaviors, strengthen accountability, and build cultures grounded in respect, professionalism and psychological safety. This episode is sponsored by AACN’s online course Fundamental Skills for Preceptors, with information available at http://www.aacn.org/preceptorskillswww.aacn.org/preceptorskills [http://www.aacn.org/preceptorskills]

Ep. 032: Night-Shift Napping: A Safety and Wellness Shift

Night-shift fatigue increases the risk of nurse burnout, patient errors and drowsy driving, yet many hospitals still prohibit on-shift rest. In this episode, Dr. Pamela Linds and PJ Eschbach share how they implemented a research-based nurse napping program to improve patient safety, retention and night-shift wellness. Learn how to overcome policy barriers, engage HR and leadership, and use a practical fatigue mitigation toolkit in your organization. This episode is brought to you by AACN’s Clinical Scene Investigator Academy, providing the knowledge, skills and tools to lead innovation, with information available at http://www.aacn.org/csiaacnwww.aacn.org/csiaacn [http://www.aacn.org/csiaacn]