Found Down

Welcome to the Found Down Podcast, a podcast for nurses. On this episode, you learn a little bit about me, the host, why I called the show Found Down and what is coming up. You won't want to miss out on some of the upcoming episodes. I'm so excited to start this project and hope to connect with many of you out there. In this time of Covid-19, I see you and feel you. This is a tough time a) be alive and b) be in healthcare. Hopefully, we can bond over some things together and laugh from time to time. If you want to be on the show or want to write in some stories, please email me at founddownpodcast@gmail.com XO Nicole

Can you imagine arriving to the scene of an accident with only the geographic coordinates as your information to go on? As a flight nurse, this is often their reality. We will learn about this very things from the esteemed Aries Gum as he tells us about his nursing arch from becoming a baby ICU nurse to a coveted Flight Nurse, working at the top of his license at the highest stakes position. Come listen along and get ready for a riveting tale. Nicole

On today's episode I catch up with my old nursing school friend, Susan Collins. She is a firefighter turned nurse and has over a decade of experience working at a Level One Trauma Center in the Trauma Intensive Care Unit. She now holds her Masters in Nursing and is the Magnet Program Coordinator. On this episode, Susan talks about the importance of storytelling in nursing, what "Trauma Season" means and a hit parade of the top summer activities to avoid based on her experience. To be fair - I asked her to tell us.... This episode is full of dark humor - a coping mechanism for those of us that see the worst of the worst. Susan eloquently talks about how we often have "ghosts" that linger with us and how to cope amidst the darkness. This is a very special episode. I hope you enjoy it! Nicole

On today's episode, I have the opportunity to talk with fabulously accomplished Des Wood, DNP, ARNP, AGPCNP-BC, CCRN. She is Nurse Practitioner working in the ICU with over 13 years of experience in Critical Care. She also is a yoga instructor and has a new business called Seattle Beauty where she provides at holistic approach to the traditional medical spa. You can find more about that https://www.instagram.com/seattle.beauty/ (here). Des and I get to talking about the stories that stay with us... the ones that linger in our minds. As Des says, the point in talking about this is to lift the veil on some of what we as nurses experience so that our colleagues out there know that they are not alone. A lot of us have had walk into situations where we feel ill-prepared or struggle with what is happening. Yet, somehow we do it with grace and compassion. We both share experiences that were difficult and how it impacted us. I discuss a time when I felt profound moral distress and Des shares her experience transitioning a beautiful, young woman to comfort care. If you are struggling with anything out there, please seek out help. Check out Betterhelp.com and talkspace.com for online counseling services. Check-in with your employee assistance program for their counseling options. Also, here is some resources from the https://www.aacn.org/clinical-resources/moral-distress (AACN on moral distress). Thank you so much for tuning in! Nicole

Hey guys, Thanks for listening to this show and sharing it with you friends! I truly appreciate it! Can you do me a favor, especially, if you are a friend of mine? Can you please rate and leave an honest review Found Down on whereever you listen to your podcast? It truly helps get the show up the ranks and gives the show a better chance of success. Thanks so much for your support! I have a new episode coming out tomorrow with the super awesome and brave Madeline Dahl! You won't want to miss it! Nicole P.S. Thank you to those out of you out there that have already done that! :)

Would you be able to do the right thing at the right time for a total stranger? That is the exact position ICU nurse Madeline Dahl found herself in when she did her first ever organized bike ride the STP; a two day 200 mile bike ride from Seattle to Portland. On today's episode not only do we learn about this EPIC Good Samaritan tale, we catch up with Madeline and talk about the reality and intensity of working in a COVID ICU, how she adapted and is still processing her feelings in real time. We learn how going back to the basics kept her afloat in this intense time, including revisiting 'Notes on Nursing' by Florence Nightingale. This was a truly inspirational interview. I hope you enjoy this episode! It was a roller coaster! Nicole

On today's episode, I sit down with my "work wife" Martha Oldenburg, an exceptionally talented ICU nurse and assistant nurse manager who is always cool and collected. We chat about our times traveling and working abroad in Phnom Phen, Cambodia for the http://www.internationalnursingprogram.org/ (International Nursing Program) set up by the esteemed and accomplished Lia Golden. We swap thoughts and stories about seeing a hospital setting so different from our own. We both were so impressed by the nurses and how they are excellent clinicians in spite of having such limited resources. It drove home the message that a nurse is a nurse is a nurse. We all want the best for our patients, we just have vastly different resources. True to Found Down form, there are a few stories in there that will make you say, "what??" I hope you enjoy this one! Nicole

On today's episode, I chat with ICU nurse Mandie Allen about her experience working in a COVID ICU, contracting COVID and laugh about one of my favorite funny nurse stories - a "Nurse Down" story. It was a joy and a pleasure to catch up with my former colleague. This is an interesting, frightening and funny episode. I hope you enjoy it! Nicole

On today's episode, I catch up with the beloved and infamous Critical Care Nurse Practitioner Cameron "Cam" Wright. He discusses candidly how his working environment changed overnight from a SICU to a Covid ICU and the implications that had on him and his family. We talk shop about how working in critical care leaves its "collateral damage," Plus, we discuss the importance of creating a cohesive team. Don't worry, we round it out with some funny nursing stories. Cam was an absolute delight to have on and he made sure to take full advantage of our 'E" for explicit rating. You won't want to miss this episode! Nicole

Today I interview Sam Doyle, a Critical Care Nurse Practitioner about how she got into oncology, what makes her stay when things are hard and her history as a boxer and the life lessons it taught her. Sam says oncology chose her but she is drawn to it by the hope for a cure, the science and the challenge of it - and what a challenge it can be! She also is in a unique position where she is the one who delivers hard news, news nobody wants to hear and she openly discusses what that feels like. "It is a skill with a lot of emotion." As for what makes her stay - it is part calling, part opportunity to help people, she loves what she does and her co-workers. Additionally, Sam boxed for a few years in her twenties at https://www.cappysgym.com/ (Cappy's) and she offers up some life lessons she learned that stay with her today. Everyone could use this advice. Sam was a delight and a pleasure - always cool and funny. I hope you enjoy this episode! Nicole

Today I catch up with Cardiac Cath Lab nurse Marci Ross about how she has been holding up and what she has been up to. Turns out she has been making masks and also doing street medic work during the protest. So awesome! We go WAY BACK to nursing school and talk nursing care plans, to terrible scrubs and tough lessons. Thank God we all made it out alive. If you are currently in nursing school, THANK YOU! We need you and you can do it! Hang in there because it gets better! Thanks, Marci for taking me back! Hope you enjoy this episode! Nicole

HOLD ONTO YOUR SHORTS. This episode I interview former Naval Medic and soon to be nurse, Jerard Cook. He shares the most epic tale from his time a search and rescue swimmer in the Sea of Japan in 2005 - you can read about it https://www.stripes.com/news/uss-kitty-hawk-sailors-recount-rescue-after-f-a-18-night-landing-accident-1.28941?fbclid=IwAR3daYALoY4Kc07fVVa0y1V_yptacvzJH4ndAsqcb4issHlwmqauwYG4Fv8 (here). This story is riveting and had me on the edge of my seat. Also, Jerard opens up about the day he almost quit his dream of having a career in the medical field which caught me totally by surprise. Thank you SO much for being on the show and for being such an amazing person. Nicole

Today I chat with my old friend Amy Kanigher, a Nurse Practitioner who has a history of working in the ED both as an nurse and APRN, she was a hospitalist for 7 years and now she is practicing in Infectious Disease in Reno, Nevada. We discuss the phenomenon of "frequent flyers" those patients that just keep coming back and share a few stories. Inevitably, things get heavy and she shares what burnt her out. Amy says that everybody has a story and we shouldn't forget that. It was such a joy to sit and talk with Amy. She is a true gem and this episode is full of heart. Thank you, Amy. I hope you enjoy this episode. Nicole

Today I catch up with a former colleague, Kelsey Ferguson, RN, BSN, CCRN who started her path in nursing in the ICU at a big academic medical center, then moved to rural Washington, to try life full time in the mountains near Leavenworth to suit her lifestyle. Kelsey is a badass and an athlete of super human ability once riding her bike from Canada to Mexico by herself for 60 odd days. Kelsey's move east brought her to a more rural setting and working in acute care. She shares why she made this move, how the transition felt and the adjustments she had to make to her practice. Also, having just been diagnosed with Covid-19, she let's us in on that experience, how she thinks she got it and some scary revelations. Kelsey! It was so wonderful to have you on the show! And I'm so happy you are feeling better! I hope you enjoy this one. XO Nicole

On today's episode, I am checking in the middle of the pandemic. How are you doing? This has been a wild ride especially considering recent events. I have some thank yous to share, announcements about future episodes and a call to action for an upcoming episode. Also, merch is coming and please check out the website www.founddownpodcast.com to see the pictures of the guests who have been on the show! Thanks for being amazing and thanks for the support! Nicole

On today's episode I sit down again to talk with my friend and colleague, Cam Wright ICU Acute Care NP about a topic, near and dear to my heart - accidental Tylenol overdose or acetaminophen toxicity. But before we delve into that topic, we clear the air about our feelings on Donald Trump contracting Covid-19. As healthcare providers, it is hard not to have some feelings about this development, his behavior and latest tweets about it so we discuss this with our honesty and colorful language. The second half of the show we have a conversation about accidental Tylenol overdoses and the complexities behind it, as well as share some of our own stories from the bedside. Please check out this resource about https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441917/ (acetaminophen toxicity) which lists that Tylenol toxicity is responsible for 56,000 annual ER visits a year, 2600 hospital admissions and over 500 deaths. Tylenol OD is the number one reason for liver transplantation in the US annually. If you have the time, please listen to https://www.thisamericanlife.org/505/use-only-as-directed ('Use Only As Directed' a This American Life) podcast episode that does a beautiful job covering this topic. Stay safe out there and remember to read your labels and use only as directed! Hope you enjoy this one and thank you, Cam! Nicole The thoughts expressed on this show do not represent my employer or the employer of my guests.

On today's episode, I sit down via zoom with Critical Care Pulmonologist and Scientisthttps://www.nationaljewish.org/doctors-departments/providers/physicians/katherine-hisert ( Katherine Hisert, MD, PhD) from her home in Denver, Colorado.   She shares her experience working in New York City during the height of the surge of Covid-19 cases in April 2020.  Katie talks openly about being a physician during a pandemic, her decision to assist during a national health crisis, what is was like to be there and her takeaways about the disease. This is a fascinating, educational and heartbreaking episode. Dr. Hisert reflects on what is going to stay with her and as we know, some of this stuff just stays forever.  Thank you so much, Katie. It was an honor. I hope you enjoy this episode! You are definitely going to want to listen to this one! Nicole

On today's episode, I sit down with the legend herself, Nicole Kupchik, MN, RN, CCNS, CCRN-K, PCCN-K, Critical Care Clinical Care Nurse Specialist, educator, author, speaker and founder of https://www.nicolekupchikconsulting.com/ (Nicole Kupchik Consulting). We chat about how Nicole is holding up during the pandemic, how she expertly pivoted her business the moment she realized everything was going to change and her thoughts on the fallout of the pandemic for healthcare providers. She offers up some really thoughtful advice for how we should take care of ourselves and opens up about one of the most difficult experiences of her life - unexpectedly losing her mom. Nicole shares an amazing and riveting Found Down story where she performed bystander CPR story at the airport. Talk about being in the right place at the right time! You are really going to want to listen to this! And she tells us her thoughts about how we can get better bystander cpr rates. Thank you Nicole for doing the show! You are an absolute inspiration, leader and pioneer. Much love, Nicole J.

Today I talk with Christina Kim, a nurse practitioner who has practiced on the palliative care service, also as an inpatient oncology hospitalist and now is working in the outpatient oncology setting for a large hospital in Boston, MA. Christina shares the very personal reason she decided to go into healthcare, become a nurse practitioner and she reflects on the relationships she has with her patients. We also discuss a more recent turn of events which is Christina's Tiktok platform. During the pandemic, she has gained an enormous following where she is dispelling falsehoods, combatting the anti-maskers with science. She does a wonderful and funny job doing so and on behalf of all of us who believe in science, we thank you. Please follow Christina on tiktok and instagram @christinaaaaaaanp You won't regret it! This is a good one! Thank you! Nicole

Today I sit down virtually with Jerry Luedke, a recently retired and very influential and accomplished respiratory therapist (RT) with almost 50 years of experience. Jerry and I chat about his incredible career, how he changed the field of respiratory therapy in WA state, the beautiful relationships between nursing and RTs and some patient stories that stayed with him. ALSO - This is overdue but shout out to all of the respiratory therapists for a belated respiratory therapy week! You literally are the cheese to our macaroni. Jerry! It was such a pleasure to chat with you! May you and your wife get back to traveling as soon as it is safe to do so! Nicole

On this episode, I interview Nichole Doane, a seasoned trauma nurse about her near death experience, how it changed her and put her on a path of doing the very important work of crafting resiliency in healthcare. Nichole shares her story of how she set out to watch the solar eclipse in the most beautiful of places canyoneering with some of her fellow ICU nurse friends. And while out in the wilderness, in a moment, everything changed for her. She tells her remarkable story, her rescue and how she was able to find the beauty in the moment, even when she was staring death in the face. Nichole is currently making a documentary film about her experience called http://belikewaterfilm.com/ ('Be Like Water') and all proceeds will go to search and rescue. Nichole also offers amazing wisdom and advice to us, her fellow nurses and how being a patient changed how she sees the way we do our work. Bring the tissues, this one is tear jerker. Nichole - Thank you so much for such a special episode. It was truly a gift to get to chat with you. XOXO Nicole

Today I sit back down with Dr. Katie Hisert to swap stories where the both of us have responded to medical emergencies either mid-air or on the ground. I don't want to give them away here, so you will have to listen. Some of the stories are bizarro, funny and terrifying. We both had a ton of fun telling our stories, I hope you enjoy listening to them. Have you responded to emergencies while flying? What was that experience like? Please email founddownpodcast@gmail.com. As mentioned in the beginning of the show, thank you for the support! Please rate, review https://founddownpodcast.com/ (Found Down) on whatever platform you are listening. Also, Found Down has https://teespring.com/stores/found-down-merch (merch)! Check it out! Do you want to support a non-profit this holiday season? Check out http://hcresources.org/ (Hope Center Resources), a Seattle non-profit that delivers much needed toiletries to the homeless. Also, with the real possibility of vaccines on the horizon, http://unwoundretreats.com/ (Unwound Retreats) is planning some exciting upcoming events. Click http://unwoundretreats.com/ (here) to get on my email list! Thank you so much for listening and supporting the show! Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving on this very weird, bizarre, crazy Thanksgiving Day. I feel some feelings on this bonus episode but I want you to know, you are not alone. I'm so thankful for you and this Found Down Community. Thinking of you and sending you all kinds of love. What are you doing today? Sending you so much love and gratitude, Nicole

This is the most important episode of this podcast I've done to date and I really want you to share it wide and far with any health care provider you think is struggling right now. Today I interview my friend and colleague, Marie Cockerham, MN, RN, CCRN Staff Support Specialist about why the pandemic is hard especially in our 9th month, wellness in nursing and ways to support yourself and mental health during this difficult time. This episode brings up a lot of feelings and we touch on suicide so I want to list some resources if you are struggling: https://www.crisistextline.org/ (Crisis Prevention Line) https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ (Suicide Hotline) https://www.talkspace.com/ (Talk Space) Better Help https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/ (Greater Good Resource Center) https://mobile.va.gov/app/covid-coach (Covid Coach) https://sherecovers.org/ (She Recovers) YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Remember, it is imperative we check in on each other and take care of our mental health so we will be here on the other side. I love you, Nic

I'm beyond elated to have Susan Collins, MN, RN, CCRN back on the show to share and swap funny tales from the bedside as well as from her days as a firefighter. Susan is a seasoned trauma nurse and is now the magnet program coordinator. This episode acts as a counterbalance to the heaviness of last weeks. I hope you laugh along with us. Susan - it is always a pleasure. XOXO Nic

Today the tables are turned upside down and Des Wood, DNP, ARNP interviews the Found Down Podcast host, ME, Nicole Johnson, RN, BSN, CCRN. Des inquires about the origin of the podcast, my nursing career and how it has impacted my life. Hint - I did not take the traditional path. We discuss my thoughts on self-care including my own practices and why the pandemic is hard for us right now. I talk about my nurse wellness business Unwound Retreats and my exciting plans to take nurses travelling all over the globe. Morocco is going to be the first international destination in 2021! Check out my website here! I'd love to have you join us. Also! We touch the topic of my Found Down Podcast Merch! If you want cool swag from the podcast, check it out https://teespring.com/stores/found-down-merch (here)! I also have a voicemail! Please call 662-446-2834 if you want to leave any comments about the show, have stories to share, or have ideas for the show. I'd love to play and/or read the messages on the air. Thank you, Des for this opportunity to open up. It is always such a pleasure talking with you. XOXO Nicole Don't forget to follow Des' business https://myseattlebeauty.com/ (MySeattleBeauty.com) for any of your pandemic beauty needs.

On this very special episode of Found Down, Christina Kim, NP is back on the show to help de-bunk myths about this new vaccine. Here are the few that we cover on this episode: COVID-19 VACCINE MYTHS: This vaccine was rushed so therefore it is unsafe. This is new mRNA vaccine will modify my own DNA. This vaccine uses fetal tissue. This vaccine causes infertility. I already had Covid, so I don't need to be vaccinated. This was developed to control us and implant a mircochip. More people will die from negative side effects of the vaccine than of the virus. The flu vaccine will cover me for Covid-19 so I don't need the vaccine. I won't need to wear a mask post Covid-19 vaccination. Herd immunity through natural immunity is better than herd immunity through vaccination. If you have concerns about the vaccine, please do your research and get vaccinated when you feel safe about it. At this time, it is not recommended for those with anaphylaxis issues - severe allergic reactions. For transparency, I received the Pfizer vaccine on 12/18 and I'm feeling great. I had a soreness in my injection site that lasted two days. I did develop a migraine two hours after getting the vaccine. However, I get migraines so I'm unsure if it was related or not. Please follow Christina Kim on Instragram and Tiktok @christinaaaaaaanp Here is the https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMoa2034577 (New England Journal of Medicine article) about the Pfizer vaccine clinical trial. Here is a great https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/14/well/live/covid-vaccine-questions.html (New York Times article) that answers frequently asked questions about the vaccine. Thank you so much for listening to this episode. I hope you enjoy it! Nicole

On this episode of Found Down, I chat with Becky Schmidt, CRNA about her decision to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, her path for becoming this type of provider as well as thoughts on how the Covid-19 pandemic is affecting her rural Wisconsin hospital. Becky reflects on what life is like as a CRNA and she describes it is as "99% boredom and 1.0% sh&t your pants." She shares a few stories that have stayed with her over the years and discusses what parts of her job bring her joy as well as what is challenging. Becky, thank you so much for talking with me. I hope you get back to traveling as soon as we are able. I always love your ethos on living life. Sending you so much love. Nicole

Today I talk with Nurse and Licensed Massage Therapist Nichole Leibov about her decision to stepdown from ICU nursing. She describes the fateful day that changed her trajectory and the impact it has had on her nursing career, especially in the middle of this pandemic. We also get into the way that her licensed massage therapist role has complimented her nursing career and has enabled her to stay in this field longer. Thank you so much for being on the show today. You are a gift and I hope to get to meet you in person. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

Today we are listening to the second half of the interview with Nichole Leibov, nurse and license massage therapist. I thought this episode was forever lost, but I was able to recover it thanks to my good friend and audio master, https://aaronschlein.com/ (Aaron Schlein). So hence, you are listening to this very special lost episode. Part one of this interview is just one episode back. You can listen to it https://founddownpodcast.com/episodes/sidelined-in-a-pandemic-with-nurse-and-licensed-massage-therapist-nichole-leibov/ (here). We cover all kinds of topics in these 30 minutes, including an amazing, truly Harborview story. WARNING TO THE SQUEAMISH - your stomach might do a cartwheel listening to this episode. Nichole! Thanks again for being so amazing and I hope to meet you in person someday. Stay safe and stay sane! Nicole P.S. I have new merch with my tag line - "Stay Safe and Stay Sane." Check it out https://teespring.com/stay-safe-stay-safe?tsmac=store&tsmic=found-down-merch&pid=972 (here).

Today I sit down with Melissa Fermin, RN, BSN, CMSRN to talk about life as an acute care nurse, working on a Medical Surgical floor. She opens up about how this pandemic caught up with her unexpectedly and how she handled it. Additionally, she shares why she got into nursing, what she loves about her field and what is challenging. Melissa offers up sage advice to new nurses coming into the field and how self care is such a needed practice. She says - "Don't give up! We need you!" I could not agree more. Melissa and I go way back, so it was an absolute joy to catch up and share stories. Thank you so much for being on the show. Your patients are so lucky to have you. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

On this episode of Found Down, I interview ICU nurse Pauline Poblete about her experience getting Covid-19 in the beginning of the pandemic, what it felt like to be so sick, being admitted to her own ICU and what it was like being on a ventilator. Pauline shares her terrifying story and her road to recovery. She also gives us, nurses and healthcare workers her wisdom on how we can do better for our patients. This is an intense story as Pauline shares her journey with this diagnosis and how she is doing today. Thank you so much for being on the show. I'm so happy you are almost back to your baseline. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

Today I interview https://www.luther.edu/magazine/?story_id=665685&issue_id=665653 (Assistant Nursing Professor Angela Kueny) about her interest and experience working the Amish community as well as her thoughts on what nursing students are struggling with as they get ready to enter into the workforce. This is a very interesting episode. Angela has many insights into what our new nurses are experiencing and the implications for onboarding new staff who haven't had the traditional practicums. Also, Angela offers up her reflections on the assets the Amish bring to their community health. Thank you, Angela for being on the show. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

Today I interview ER nurse Hanna Anderson about what ER nursing is really like at one of the biggest ERs in the state. She shares what she loves about it, what is hard and what has been particularly challenging in the pandemic. We laugh, almost cry and I definitely got goosebumps. Thanks so much for doing this episode, Hanna. I appreciate your insight and what you are doing in the Emergency Room. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

On this episode of Found Down, I interview Leah Buck, Nurse and Organ Donation Coordinator about all things organ donation. There are currently over a 100,000 people waiting for life saving organs in the United States because this opportunity does not come as often as one would think. Today we get into why that is and the different paths for organ donation. If you were ever curious about the complexities of organ donation, please listen in. It is definitely a very complicated but meaningful thing and it takes a village to accomplish - from the patient themselves and their families, the onsite nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists, the organ donation coordinators, the surgeons and the transport crew AMONG MANY OTHERS. A special thanks to all people who are registered donors and for the donors themselves that have saved hundreds of thousands of lives. And for the families out there that already know this, organ donation can often bring so much hope in a tragic time. This is a very important episode and I promise you will definitely learn something new. I did. Thank you, Leah for being on the show. You are so amazing and are doing such incredible work. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

On today's riveting episode, I interview Patient Safety Director Krista Haugen, MSN, RN, CTFE about her experience surviving a helicopter crash as a former flight nurse and how this experience put her on a trajectory for patient safety. Krista has a background in ER, ICU and flight nursing. She shares her story of being in this crash on the heels of losing a crew; two nurses and a pilot only one month prior. Krista talks about how this crash impacted her well-being, the toll it took and how she sought help to get to the other side. In her current role, Krista is a Patient Safety Director at a major medical air and ground transport organization reviewing adverse events. She is passionate about just culture and has a systems view of how mistakes are made. She speaks openly about how we need to support the clinicians who are involved in such events so they know they are not alone. This is such an inspirational episode. Thank you for being on the show, Krista. Thank you for your message of hope and encouragement to keep going even when things are hard. As Always, Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

Today I talk with Des Wood, Critical Care NP about how to deal with uncertainty in the ICU. We swap stories and share methods about how to stay grounded and how to survive in the land of "you never know what is going to happen". In nursing, everything is always changing and there is so much uncertainty. We discuss how to not hang your hat on the outcome, how to set boundaries, how to ask for help and find balance when things have been hard. Carving out time for self care, doing the things you love and leaning on your colleagues can be so helpful. Des and I are hosting the next Unwound Retreat this Wednesday. You can find out about it https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-virtual-mini-nurses-retreat-tickets-139135655491 (here.) We'll be teaching stress reduction strategies as well as practicing restorative yoga. We hope to see you there. I'm so grateful for your friendship mentorship and leadership, Des. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nic

Today I sit down with https://www.umass.edu/nursing/faculty-staff/faculty/raeann-leblanc (Raeann LeBlanc), Seedworks Endowed Clinical Associate Professor in Nursing at University of Massachussetts about social justice in nursing, the social determinants of health and the important implications to our nursing practice. Raeann is also a part of http://www.nurstory.org/ (Nurstory.org), a digital story telling workshop. Naturally, we discuss storytelling in nursing, its impact and what happens when nurses come together and swap stories. As she said, nurses hold so many stories that often don't ever get told. Thank you for this very interesting and informative episode, Raeann! It was a pleasure! Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

Today, I interview Shana Cantoni, Psychiatric Nurse Practioner about her experience working in the correctional system, taking care of the mentally ill. She talks about her role and the services she provides. She shares the day to day of her work and what it means to show up for this vulnerable patient population. I definitely learned so much and I promise you, you will too. Shana also has her own business where she does trauma informed care for private clients at https://liquidsunshinepsychiatricservices.com/ (https://liquidsunshinepsychiatricservices.com/). This is a fascinating interview. I hope you enjoy it. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

If you are a new nurse, you will definitely want to listen to this! This episode is for you! Today I interview Corey Palmer to find out about their experience being a new ER nurse in the pandemic as well as thoughts on how nursing school prepared them for the reality of nursing. They reflect on how their orientation was changed to adapt to the Covid-19 pandemic and thoughts on what they would have done differently. Corey also was an EMT for six years before going into nursing school and they share their thoughts on the learning curve that presented, as well as reflect on their time as an EMT. Corey offers touching words of encouragement and advice to new nurses coming into the profession right now. "I'm so proud of you." Thank you, Corey for sharing you thoughts on this episode. You are awesome. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

Today I interview my friend Chantelle Dykstra, an acute care nurse about humor in nursing, including pranks and otherwise. Turns out, Chantelle comes from a line of jokesters and her absolute favorite day of the year is April Fools. On this episode, Chantelle shares stories from the bedside and her personal life. We discuss why humor is so important in nursing and she says, "If we don't laugh, we might cry." That is a true statement. It was an absolute pleasure to have you on the show, Chantelle! I hope you all enjoy this episode. Stay Safe and Stay Safe, Nicole

Today I am thrilled to have Patient Safety Director Krista Haugen, MSN, RN, CTFE back on the show to discuss medical errors and mistakes in healthcare. She gives her insight as to why this is such a complex issue, what is just culture and shared accountability and how a facility and providers can approach mistakes. We share our own mistakes from our careers and we discuss why shame is so wrapped up in these events. She also talks about what is "speaking up" and how to think about it in regards to keeping your patients safe. Medical errors and mistakes in healthcare is extremely important issue. We are moving away from a "blaming" culture and more to a systems approach like the "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_cheese_model (Swiss Cheese Model)." Often there are many contributing factors to why an error occurred. Check out this https://www.thinkreliability.com/case_studies/the-sinking-of-the-titanic-cause-map/ (link) to the causal map of the Titanic sinking. Hint: There wasn't just one reason the titanic sank. Check out this video on how we beat ourselves when we make a mistake: https://dontforgetthebubbles.com/fixing-what-once-was-broken-ross-fisher-at-dftb18/ Thank you so much for listening to this show! Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

Today I talk with Brian Cyr, a seasoned fire fighter and paramedic with over 25 years of experience from Sonoma, California. We talk about his career, what he loves about it and what has been challenging. Brian shares what working through "fire season" really means and how that work has changed over the years. I can't even begin to imagine how challenging that work is. Brian discusses how the the landscape has changed a lot from the days of being encouraged to push everything down emotionally. Paramedics and fire fighters are often first on scene for horrifying calls. Now, Brian is involved in resiliency work where the focus is to try be proactive in your self care so you can stick around to do the job you love. This was a riveting and entertaining episode. Brian, thank you so much for being on the show and showing us nurses some love. Nicole

Today I chat with ICU travel nurse, Shannon Miller all about her life as a nurse, becoming an ICU nurse and then a travel ICU nurse. She shares a lot about what she loves about travel nursing and what is hard and what working through this pandemic has been like. Staying connected to other travel nurses is essential to travel nurse survival and one way she does that is through @travelnursetakeover on Instagram. Shannon is about to take a much needed break. Congratulations and you deserve it! Thank you so much for being on the show, Shannon! Nicole

Today I interview Dr. Wallace aka https://www.epidemiologistkat.com/ (Epidemiologist Kat) about where we are in the Covid-19 pandemic on a national and global scale, how we are doing with vaccinations in the US and what it would take to get to herd immunity. She also chats about her work on social media on platforms like TikTok and Instragram dispelling mistruths about the vaccines and cov-19. Dr. Wallace holds a Ph.D. in Epidemiology and has 15+ years of professional research experience in epidemiology, research design, pharmacoepidemiology, health economics, outcomes research, and biostatistics. She is currently working as an epidemiologist and adjunct assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Public Health. ​You will not want to miss this episode. It is phenomenally informative. Thank you, Kat for being such a delight and a champion for science and public health. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

Today I revisit one of my favorite episodes with Susan Collins, MN, RN, CCRN a former Fire Fighter and seasoned Trauma ICU nurse. Susan is currently a Magnet Program Coordinator at a level one trauma center. She shares the top activities to avoid in the summer if you want to stay out of the Trauma ICU as well as some stories that have stayed with her. Thank you, Susan for being so fun to talk to! You're the best. Nicole

Today I interview Lisa Soltis, MN, RN, CCRN-CSC-CMC, CHFN, PCCN Senior ECMO Specialist about Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) and Covid-19. Lisa has over 26 years working in Critical Care, is an experienced Clinical Nurse Specialist and ECMO Specialist and has contributed greatly to the nursing community. She also was indoctrinated as a Fellow! That is a rare title for a nurse to hold and only 90 other nurses have this distinction! Lisa discusses what is ECMO, who the intended recipients are, the indications for its use in COVID-19 patients and the outcomes when using this therapy. This is a really educational episode filled with heart, too. Lisa shares how she went back to the bedside during the beginning of the pandemic and had an experience that will forever stay with her. Thank you, Lisa for being on the show! I appreciate your wisdom and expertise. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

Today I interview https://www.nikhagen.com/ (Nik Hagen) an actor, performer and creator about his role as a contact tracer in a global pandemic. Like many people, he had to pivot towards something else and for Nik personally, he had step away from a year of solid theater work in 2020. We discuss what has been surprising and interesting about contact tracing in a global pandemic, the ins and outs of the work itself and any lessons learned. Nik also has a huge following on Tiktok @nikhagen where he infuses humor, love and kindness in his videos. I highly suggest you check him out! Thank you for being a light! Thank you, Nik for being on the show and sharing your experience with us all. In gratitude, Nicole

The Ethical Considerations of ECMO Today I have Lisa Pylat Soltis, MN, RN, CCRN-CMC-CSC, CHFN, PCCN Senior ECMO Clinical Specialist back on the show to talk about the ethical considerations of using Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO). This episode is an emotionally heavy one, although important. We discuss who ECMO is best for, what is destination therapy and the definition of a bridge to no where. Lisa shares stories from her own experience at the bedside as well as discusses some clinical cases. She also brings up moral distress and how it relates to ECMO. This is a very heartfelt episode. Bring a tissue. Thank you, Lisa for being back on the show and for educating all of us. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

On today's episode I discuss "Death and Dying in the ICU" with Des Wood, Critical Care Nurse Practitioner, DNP, ARNP, AGPCNP-BC, CCRN. Des is a Nurse Practitioner working in the ICU with over 13 years of experience in Critical Care. She also is a yoga instructor and owns her own business called https://myseattlebeauty.com/ (https://myseattlebeauty.com/) where she provides a holistic approach to the traditional medical spa.   Today we talk about the prevalence of dying patients in the ICU, the experience of being a nurse and provider and helping someone cross to the other side. We pull back the veil and share some of the most vulnerable feelings that come along with this work. Warning - This is a pretty raw episode.   Thank you for always being willing to have these conversations, Des. Stay Safe and Stay Sane,  Nicole

Hey there, After a year of putting this weekly podcast out there, I'm taking a break for the month. Thank you for supporting this one woman operation. I truly appreciate it. If you have ideas for guests or for topics, please email me at founddownpodcast@gmail.com and I'll check it out. Until then - I'll see you on July 5th! Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

Today I interview ICU nurse, social media influencer, dad, student and now travel nurse Christiaan Letsinger, RN aka Red Beard RN. We get into how his vision for raising his baby Juniper changed overnight with the stay at home order last March 2020. He also opens up about what getting Covid-19 was like, especially someone who is a diabetic and how terrifying that experience was, especially being a new dad. Plus, he shares how he got seriously burnt out from trying to be this "super nurse", how he remedied that and how he is trying to help others from having that same experience. This was a fascinating interview. I hope you enjoy it! Thank you so much for being on the show! I can't wait to have you back on the show to talk diabetes education! Please go follow him on his Instagram https://www.instagram.com/redbeardrn/ (@redbeardrn) for great nursing content. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

Today I interview the very talented Diana Page, ACNP - BC about burnout in nursing. She is an outpatient nurse practitioner, the founder of https://selfcarecatalyst.com/ (Catalyst For Selfcare) as well as a mom and spouse. She also is a self proclaimed "burnout survivor." Diana is a burnout coach who coaches nurses on how to battle burnout and recognize it within themselves. She has a mentorship program as well as tons of resources available to help nurses take care of themselves such as pre-shift and post shift check ins and remembering who they are beyond a nurse. Diana helps nurses stay in the field they love and thrive, rather than just survive. Diana shares what burnout is, how to stay engaged, how to listen to yourself and when you know it is time to move on among many other things. Thank you so much for being on the show. It was a joy and a privilege to have this conversation. Please follow Diana on her Instagram https://www.instagram.com/catalystforselfcare/ (@catalystforselfcare). Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

On today's show, I interview Eileen Thompson, a retired nurse with 43 years of experience! We discuss her incredible nursing career with candor and humor. She was a STAT nurse for last part of her nursing career, where she was regularly responding to in-house emergencies, helping nurses and physicians deliver the safest care possible and advocating for patients. She shares what she loved and what was hard about the role. It was a real treat to catch up with Eileen as we worked side by side for many years. Thank you so much for being on the show. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole Support this podcast

Today I sit down with the co-founders of the https://thelastpizzapartymovement.org/ (Last Pizza Party Movement), Nurse Erica and Nurse Nander. This nurse advocacy movement and non profit was born out of the Covid-19 pandemic. "The Last Pizza Party is dedicated to ensuring safer workplaces for healthcare providers, safer care for patients through legislation, and educating providers on current regulations and protective strategies." In this episode, we discuss the impact of unsafe staffing on patients and nurses, the power of unionizing and what is really going on with the "nursing shortage." The vision of the Last Pizza Party Movement is big, but not unachievable. But it starts with all four million nurses taking the time to care about what is happening to nurses collectively across the USA. Nurses deserve safe staffing for patient safety and our patients deserve it, too. Be prepared to get riled up. There are three pieces of legislation that need your attention! The Safe Staffing Act that would mandate nurse to patient ratios nation wide - https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1567/text?r=2&s=1 The Pro Act - Protecting the right to Unionize - https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/842 The Workplace Violence Prevention Act for Healthcare Workers https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1309/text If you want to get involved, please go the Last Pizza Party Movement website https://thelastpizzapartymovement.org/ (here.) Follow them on instagram https://www.instagram.com/thelastpizzaparty/?hl=en (@thelastpizzapartymovement) or on tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@thelastpizzaparty?lang=en (@thelastpizzapartymovement). You can join their FB group, as well. You can follow https://www.tiktok.com/@the.nurse.erica?lang=en (Nurse Erica) and https://www.tiktok.com/@nursenander?lang=en (Nurse Nander) on Tiktok to stay in the know. Thank you so much for being on the show! It was a good one! Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole Support this podcast

Today I sit back down with Aries Gum, Flight Nurse and Assistant Nurse Manager at Airlift NW. We catch up on his last year and any lessons learned along the way. Of course, Covid-19 has impacted his area of the medical field, as he is often transporting positive patients to a higher level of care. He describes what that is like including dealing with their acuity in flight. Aries shares a few stories and if you listened to his first episode, you won't want to miss this episode. Aries gives out a few pieces of important life advice from his unique point of view - "Wear a seatbelt, don't text and drive and get vaccinated!" I'll be complying. Thanks, Aries for being on the show! Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

Today I interview network engineer and father of three, Neal Browning about his experience being the second human ever to get the Moderna vaccine. Neal enrolled in the phase one clinical trial back in February of 2020 and received his first Moderna vaccine dose on March 16th, 2020. He describes his decision making to get enrolled in a vaccine trial for Covid-19. Neal also talks with us about how the clinical trial operates under the circumstances of a pandemic and the safety and effectiveness of the this mRNA vaccine technology. If you are vaccine hesitant at all, you should listen to this episode. Neal has been featured in many news sources including https://www.cnn.com/videos/health/2020/04/03/entire-april-2-coronavirus-town-hall-part-3-sot-vpx.cnn (here) with Sanjay Gupta, MD and Anderson Cooper. Thank you, Neal for your bravery and courage. We so appreciate what you have done for modern medicine and humanity. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

On this episode, I interview the very esteemed epidemiologist Katrine Wallace, PhD aka Epidemiologist Kat. She brings us up to speed on the Covid-19 pandemic, the Delta variant and the surge we are currently experiencing in the states. She also discusses the vaccines and break through infection and how we should look at data we have. This is a very informative episode. Thank you so much for being on the show, Dr. Kat! Go follow Dr. Kat on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/epidemiologistkat/?hl=en (@epidemiologistkat) or on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@epidemiologistkat?lang=en (@epidemiologistkat ) OR go to her website for great resources https://www.epidemiologistkat.com/ (www.epidemiologistkat.com). Hope you enjoyed this one! Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole Support this podcast

Today I interview Shannon Miller, ICU nurse, travel nurse and CAMP Nurse all about her time being a nurse at summer camp this summer. If you have ever wanted to do this, check out this episode! It is a very behind the scenes look at what it takes to be a nurse at summer camp, especially during a pandemic! We talk med passes, home sickness, Covid precautions, scraped knees, lodging situations and the importance of getting alone time. Shannon also shares how she carved out a four month break between her last travel assignment working as an ICU travel nurse and taking a job as a camp nurse. "Rest is a radical act!" I agree, Shannon. Thank you so much for being on the show! Please go follow Shannon Miller on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/headstandsonholiday/?hl=en (@headstandsonholiday) to see what cool stuff she has going on! Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

Today I had the awesome opportunity to talk with https://www.instagram.com/everevolvingem/ (Emily Cheng, BSN, RN, CCRN-CSC) ICU travel nurse turned entrepreneur. Emily is the CEO and Co-founder of the https://www.medventurefortravelers.com/ (MedVenture App), an app to unite traveling healthcare professionals through community, resources and tools. Emily shares her nursing trajectory, what led her to travel nursing and her burnout story. It is clear in talking with Emily that she is passionate about travel nursing and the need for a better community. Travel nurses often arrive on site, not knowing anyone, thus it can be an isolating experience. So, she decided to create a better space for travel nurses to come together online and in person through the https://www.instagram.com/medventureapp/ (MedVenture App), which officially launched this January 2021. Emily speaks about her nursing entrepreneurship journey, what it means to fail fast and the need to get over perfection. As far as trying travel nursing or entrepreneurship, Emily says just do it! Whatever is sitting on your heart, you should just do it. This was a very inspiring interview. Thank you so much for being on the show. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole Support this podcast

Today I interview Bryan Hill, ICU Nurse, STAT nurse and ECMO nurse about his journey getting a Parkinson's Disease diagnosis. He is also a new father, a husband and an incredible clinician. Bryan came on the show to talk publicly about his recent diagnosis, what living with a chronic illness is like and what it has been like carrying this so close to his chest for the last four years. Bryan shares how he came to want to talk openly about this and his hopes to make it better for others out there living with a chronic illness. He gets very vulnerable on this episode of Found Down and about his choice to speak out. He is up to some really cool things and hopes to change the landscape for young people dealing with PD. You can follow him here https://www.instagram.com/balddad206/ (@balddad206) on Instagram. He is clearly thriving and such an inspiration to us all. If you want to donate to the Michael J. Fox Foundation you can do so https://www.michaeljfox.org/donate (here). Thanks for being such an awesome human and nurse. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

Today I interview Emily Scott, labor and delivery nurse, entrepreneur and science communicator. Emily has been in L&D for over a decade and she still gets misty at deliveries. She discusses the highs and the lows. She touches on how special those bonds are that she develops with the laboring women, as she is often with them for 12 hours at a time. Emily is definitely an interesting and talented woman. We touch on her work as a disaster response nurse during the Ebola outbreak. I promise to bring her back to talk solely about it in a special dedicated episode. And, this amazing human also spends hours of her own free time combating Covid misinformation on social media on her Instagram https://www.instagram.com/twodustytravelers/ (@twodustytravelers). Thank you on behalf of all of us. Emily is also a travel blogger and travel entrepreneur. She is one half of www.twodustytravelers.com where she and her husband promote ethical travel and put on overland jeep tours. Go check it out! Thank you so much for coming on the show! You are an inspiration to so many of us. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

On today's episode, I interview Emily Topalanchik, a nursing supervisor at a local Covid-19 quarantine facility in Seattle, WA.  Emily has previous experience as an acute care nurse, but when the pandemic hit, she started working in the quarantine facilities (in addition to her full-time job) and has a very behind the scenes look at this side to infection control and prevention of community spread.   Emily shares with us the day to day of the operations at this facility and how they keep their quarantined individuals safe and cared for. She has learned a lot about her practice as a nurse from this experience and has learned to check her biases and use harm reduction strategies in caring for guests. Emily also discusses the results of a UW Impact study that shows the REAL benefit to the community, where they predicted that the facilities saved at least 5,000 - 20,000 people from being infected with Covid-19! If you want to get involved in the community, check out the medical reserve corp. https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/emergency-preparedness/reserve-corps/join.aspx (https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/emergency-preparedness/reserve-corps/join.aspx) https://kingcounty.gov/depts/community-human-services/COVID/shelter-response.aspx (https://kingcounty.gov/depts/community-human-services/COVID/shelter-response.aspx) Thank you so much for being on the show! Go follow Emily https://www.instagram.com/yawar.misky/ (@yawar.misky) on Instagram. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole Support this podcast

Today I interview Emily Scott, labor and delivery nurse and one half of the Two Dusty Travelers about her time working with ebola patients in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Emily describes how she decided to heed the call to work up close and personal with such a deadly disease and what she experienced when she got there. Emily is an adventurous and brave individual who shares this inspiring tale. Not everything went as expected - as often in this case, so you will definitely want to tune in to this episode! Thank you again for being on the show! Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole Support this podcast

On today's episode, I catch up with my friend and nursing school classmate, Tim Tattu. Tim is a beautiful human who shares his journey into hospice nursing. His story is unique and inspiring. He started out as an artist in LA and found his way to a monestary in Japan, where he stayed and practiced meditation for a year. It wasn't until his teacher asked him to help open a home for the dying that he found himself in the realm of where people cross over. I promise you, you do not want to miss out on this honest and raw conversation. Tim has a unique perspective on dying and the dying process. "It is not medical" he says. What a breath of fresh air! Come listen along to Tim wax poetic about death, something that is so universal to us all. Thank you so much for all you do, Tim. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole Support this podcast

Today I sit back down with Sam Doyle, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner to talk about how change can be a good thing. She recently left her role in the ICU to go back to the outpatient setting, to work at an Acute Clinical Evaluation Clinic. As it turns out, the stress of the pandemic and having her kids at home while working in the ICU was too much. She realized she needed to change things up in order to have a better balance. What we talk about is interesting, this notion of needing to detangle how we often over identify with our roles as clinicians in certain settings, (ie ICU or ER) but at the end of the day, as Sam says, we have chosen careers in the service of others, so we are equally valuable in whatever role. "Spend your cortisol wisely," Sam says in her meme-able quote. It's ok to leave and do something less stressful. And at the end of the day, it is just a job. Thank you for coming back on the show, Sam for this fun episode! Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole Support this podcast

On today's episode I chat with https://pulmccsm.uw.edu/faculty/mark-r-tonelli-md-ma (Dr. Mark Tonelli, MD, MA )an Intensivist and Pulmonologist at the University of Washington Medical Center. He also is a member of their Ethics Consultation Service. I brought him on the show to discuss how he approaches ethical dilemmas in critical care medicine. The one thing that acts as a guiding light to the consultations is this desire to always want to do the right thing for the patient. This episode is super enlightening as well as very needed. Dr. Tonelli dives into this notion of just because we can do something as medical providers, doesn't mean we should. It gets really juicy, so please tune in! Thank you so much for being on the show, Mark. I am so appreciative and I know our listeners will be, too. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole  Support this podcast

Today I interview Christopher Pfingsten, a flight paramedic who has 15 years of experience in EMS. He shares what his role is like, the scope of his practice and the differences between being a flight paramedic and ground paramedic. He opens up about a very tough call that has stayed with him and how he metabolized that experience. Chris is also the co-host of the amazing https://ems-20-20.simplecast.com/ (EMS 20/20 podcast) where he and his co-host Spencer Oliver review calls that were submitted by their colleagues to offer insight into what went well, what could have gone better all in the name of providing invaluable education. Go LISTEN! It is fabulous! This is a funny and heartfelt episode. Thank you so much for being on the show, Chris! You are always welcome to come back! Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole Support this podcast

Today I sit down with Joanie Guy RN,MSN,JD to chat about her 30 year nursing career and her business https://www.oneworldnursingsolutionstravel.com/ (One World Nursin)g where she takes nurses on fabulous international trips to have fun and earn CEUs.  Joanie is also a big nursing advocate. She has spent the last 10 years in nursing leadership roles like manager, director and interim Chief Nursing Officer positions.  And with that specialized point of view, she can see easily what isn't working within our hospital systems.   And with that leadership experience, Joanie offers real insight into this nursing exodus and what needs to be done.  A large part of the problem is lack of leadership from nursing leaders and hospital administration. She also posits that at this juncture the nursing collective needs to come together to make the change we want. "Nurses own the workforce, but we just don't know it yet." We have so much power right now, we just haven't figured that out. Come listen to an inspiring and motivating interview with Joanie Guy. And maybe, you'll want to go on one of her trips to the https://www.oneworldnursingsolutionstravel.com/ (south of France!) Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole Support this podcast

Today I interview respiratory therapist Grace Poole about her role as an RT, how she got into it and her day to day. She gets into her amazing scope of practice and what she loves about the job. However, she does go into how the Covid-19 has changed her and the way she views her profession. Spoiler alert - it's been rough. Although, she still loves the field. Grace uses her dark humor and insight on Tiktok and has blown up on that platform. She is very funny and candid. You should definitely follow her there https://www.tiktok.com/@_shesaidwhat_ (@_shesaidwhat_) and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gracesaidwhatz/ (@gracesaidwhatz). This is a pretty raw episode. Come check it out! Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole Support this podcast

This episode was recorded 12/10/21. Today I sit back down virtually with two of my favorite women - Dr. Katrine Wallace and Christina Kim, NP. https://www.tiktok.com/@epidemiologistkat?lang=en (Epidemiologist Kat) has a Ph.D. in epidemiology, has over 15 years of professional research and she currently is a professor at University of Illinois at Chicago. https://www.tiktok.com/@christinaaaaaaanp?lang=en (Christinaaaaaaanp) is a Nurse Practitioner in outpatient oncology, with a BS in biochemistry. Both women are super active on social media promoting the truth about the Covid-19 pandemic, vaccines, their efficacy and fighting incessant misinformation. I check in with these women to catch up, talk about how things have been and find out what we know about Omicron. The key take aways are - mitigation measures work, vaccines show effectiveness against this omicron variant, particularly if boosted. SO, DON'T PANIC AND GET YOUR BOOSTER! Kat & Christina - Thank you for doing your good work fighting misinformation and spreading truth all in the name of public health and humanity. Love you ladies!! XOXOXO Nicole Support this podcast

Wishing you a heartfelt thank you and Happy Holidays from Found Down! XOXOXO Nic Support this podcast

Today, I sit down with https://www.instagram.com/thecaffeinated.nurse/ (Amy Hamsher MSN RN CCRN CNOR(E)) to talk precepting new nurses. She has been a nurse for 13 years and has experience in cardiac telemetry, the operating room, and the critical care unit. She has also worked as a nurse professional development specialist for a critical care unit and in the professional development department. Amy is currently a nursing faculty at a local college. First of all - We both want to say a BIG thank you to all of the nurses out there that are in nursing school! We need you. Second of all, thank you to all of the preceptors out there. You know you have been precepting like crazy. So, thank you! Amy delves into tips for preceptors when teaching new nurses such as how to find out their orientees learning styles, how to set them up for success, when to ask for help and how to know when to take a break. We also discuss advice for new nurses! We know it is so tough right now. When you are struggling, reach out and ask for help. We want to support you. Here are a few resources Amy recommends if you need encouragement: https://www.instagram.com/laceymagen/ (Lacey Magen) New Nurse Mentor https://www.instagram.com/the.burnoutbook/ (Anna Rodriguez )-The Burnout Book https://my.captivate.fm/Nurses%20Inspire%20Nurses (Nurses Inspire Nurses) Preceptors - Remember the positive impact you can have on the future of nursing. Orientees - It gets better and you got this. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole Support this podcast

Today I sit down with https://catgolden.com/ (Cat Golden), the creator and force behind https://www.nursesinspirenurses.com/ (Nurses Inspire Nurses) - a company that supports nurses through community, merch and events. Get ready to be inspired! Cat speaks openly about how when she was going through a particularly challenging time she created Nurses Inspire Nurses - a concept that didn't exist before. This vision came to be when she hosted a Nurse Give Back Night and she ended up putting "Nurses Inspire Nurses" on t-shirts. The rest is history. Trust me when I say this - you are going to want to listen to this episode. Especially, if you are feeling down, hopeless and stuck! Cat gives her wisdom on how to move through discomfort and where she derives her magic. And she offers up advice to those of us who are going through hard times right now. Please check out Nurses Inspire Nurses! They have a free community for nurses and give 500 gifts a month to nurses in their 'https://www.nursesinspirenurses.com/pages/inspire-a-nurse (Inspire a Nurse)' project! Plus, they have cool merch, fun events and are giving back to the nursing community all the time! Thank YOU Cat for all that you for US! XOXOXO Nicole Support this podcast

Today I interview nurse and attorney https://iwilliamslaw.com/ ( Irnise Williams), the woman and force behind https://iwilliamslaw.com/ (Your Nurse Lawye)r. Irnise has found her niche helping nurses, advance practice providers and professionals protect themselves and grown their businesses. She also consults with hospitals and has a slew ofhttps://yournurselawyer.iwilliamslaw.com/ ( courses) you are going to want to check out! Irnise hosts https://yournurselawyer.iwilliamslaw.com/ (webinars, among other courses for nurses) on how to document to protect ourselves and how to mitigate malpractice. So, I brought her on to give her advice on how we should approach documentation, whether or not we should hold liability insurance and what should we do if we are called to testify in a trial. You are most certainly going to want to listen to this episode! Irnise is full of practical insights and advice. Please go follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yournurselawyer/ (@yournurselawyer) and sign up for one of her https://yournurselawyer.iwilliamslaw.com/ (courses)! Irnise- It was such a joy and a pleasure doing this interview! Thank you! Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole Support this podcast

On today's episode, I interview Tiffany Swedeen, RN and recovery coach to talk about her experience with narcotic diversion, addiction and life in recovery. Tiffany "strives to end the stigma and shame of addiction for everyone, advocating especially for healthcare providers who struggle with substance abuse." Tiffany shares her story with diversion and what happened to her. She never imagined that this would be her, as she identified with this image of being the “perfect ICU nurse.” It wasn't until her addiction with vicodin took over, that she found herself getting caught diverting narcotics on the job. She very candidly talks about how things were handled, what happened with her nursing license and the requirements she had to do. And yes, there is life after getting help! It get better, she says! Tiffany has a wealth of resources for those in need on her site www.recoverandrise.com. Also, if you are looking for a support group, please check out https://sherecovers.org/ (She Recovers). If you are looking for help with addiction, Tiffany recommends https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline (SAMSA.) If you are a nurse and need specific resources please check out NCSBN.org. If you are struggling with addiction, please seek out help. You are not alone. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

I have re-aired this episode due to the increase nurses taking action to create a better future in nursing! These bills are still needing to be passed! Today I sit down with the co-founders of the https://thelastpizzapartymovement.org/ (Last Pizza Party Movement), Nurse Erica and Nurse Nander. This nurse advocacy movement and non profit was born out of the Covid-19 pandemic. “The Last Pizza Party is dedicated to ensuring safer workplaces for healthcare providers, safer care for patients through legislation, and educating providers on current regulations and protective strategies.” In this episode, we discuss the impact of unsafe staffing on patients and nurses, the power of unionizing and what is really going on with the “nursing shortage.” The vision of the Last Pizza Party Movement is big, but not unachievable. But it starts with all four million nurses taking the time to care about what is happening to nurses collectively across the USA. Nurses deserve safe staffing for patient safety and our patients deserve it, too. Be prepared to get riled up. There are three pieces of legislation that need your attention! The Safe Staffing Act that would mandate nurse to patient ratios nation wide – https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1567/text?r=2&s=1 The Pro Act – Protecting the right to Unionize – https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/842 The Workplace Violence Prevention Act for Healthcare Workers https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1309/text If you want to get involved, please go the Last Pizza Party Movement website https://thelastpizzapartymovement.org/ (here.) Follow them on instagram https://www.instagram.com/thelastpizzaparty/?hl=en (@thelastpizzapartymovement) or on tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@thelastpizzaparty?lang=en (@thelastpizzapartymovement). You can join their FB group, as well. You can follow https://www.tiktok.com/@the.nurse.erica?lang=en (Nurse Erica) and https://www.tiktok.com/@nursenander?lang=en (Nurse Nander) on Tiktok to stay in the know. Thank you so much for being on the show! It was a good one! Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

On today's episode, I catch up with flight and ground paramedic Spencer Oliver. He is also the amazing co-host of the incredible https://ems-20-20.simplecast.com/ (EMS 20/20 podcast) where he and his co-host, Chris Pfingsten review weekly calls sent in by their listeners. Spencer has been a a flight paramedic for six years and a paramedic for about 12 years. On this episode, we get into how Spencer is actually doing and what is coming up for him lately. . Spencer gets into his very interesting background as a kid who grew up overseas in Bangkok, Thailand and what played out after a swift and unexpected move to the states. He also shares his career trajectory and how he got into EMS. It's a super interesting story - one that involves a stint in standup. This is such a great episode. We get into some nuances of our jobs and swap a few stories. It was such an honor to have you on the show, Spencer! Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

Today I sit down with https://www.linkedin.com/in/marie-cockerham-07555899 (Marie Cockerham, MN, RN, CCRN), Support Specialist & Health Program Operations Specialist and https://constantino-shor.com/ (Cheri Constantino-Shor, MSN, RN, CMSRN,) CRNI Director of Professional Engagement and Nursing Excellence to talk about where we are with the pandemic right now as a healthcare community. Let me tell you, this was a validating and difficult conversation to have. We were *not* in a great place before the pandemic hit, so it is not surprising to learn about the toll it is taking on us. Per a study referenced in the interview, 75% - 77% of us are experiencing a clinical diagnosis of depression, anxiety, PTSD or insomnia. That is most of us! The way through is not an easy fix. It's time we are transparent about how we are doing when we consider re-building. Nursing is not the same as it was in 2019. So, we talk about what we can do as individuals and as healthcare leaders. Some of the work is personal and some of it is organizational. Both Marie and Cheri say utilizing the military's https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/type/stress_first_aid.asp (Stress First Aid Model) is helpful. Staff truly need support in this time, so peer support programs are essential, as well as having authentic leadership as highlighted in the Healthy Work Environment by AACN. The emotional well-being of healthcare providers is a national top priority. If you are struggling, please know you are not alone. Here are some resources. Please get help if you are having a tough time. https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ (Suicide Hotline) 1-800-273-8255 https://www.crisisconnections.org/24-hour-crisis-line/ (Crisis Line) https://emotionalppe.org/ (Emotional PPE) - an organization that offers free counseling to healthcare workers Use your Employee Assistance Program for counseling services https://www.betterhelp.com/helpme/?utm_source=AdWords&utm_medium=Search_PPC_c&utm_term=betterhelp_e&utm_content=133524759310&network=g&placement=&target=&matchtype=e&utm_campaign=15234220559&ad_type=text&adposition=&gclid=CjwKCAiA9tyQBhAIEiwA6tdCrEIbv09O_x1ft6WAsoMypalCHgT9UNm2TSPdgv21ZNBDTasAPByYhBoCFmYQAvD_BwE¬_found=1&gor=helpme (Better Help) Thank you! Stay Safe & Stay Sane, Nicole

Today I sit down with Paul Benz, MDiv to get his insight into his role as a Spiritual Care Provider. Paul Benz is a King County based Mental Health, Addiction, Grief and Trauma Chaplain of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). Paul is a Street Minister from https://www.seattlenightwatch.org/about-us/our-team/paul-benz-street-minister/ (Operation Nightwatch) and a Spiritual Care Provider/Chaplain for a level one trauma center in Seattle. Spiritual care providers are a crucial part of the medical team - they attend all codes, they sit with the dying, the suffering, and give patients and family members solace during really stressful times, as well provide staff support. Pastor Paul talks about his work, how he was called to it and how he metabolizes it when things are heavy. This is a very real conversation about death and how we approach death in the 21st century in Western America. And having been in this work, he has some interesting revelations. Don't die with regrets and live your life in a way that doesn't cause harm. He references this text that is very https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/23865-in-the-time-of-your-life-live-so-that-in-that ("life giving.") And he also has great insight on how to live your life - "To learn to love more truly" and "love thy neighbor" he says. We also talk about what is going on in Ukraine right now and he sings a beautiful tribute to the Ukrainians who are being persecuted right now. He chose to sing 'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_is_my_song_(1934_song) (This is my Song' ) and it comes from Finland's own experience with a Russian invasion in the 1930s. This is a very real and raw episode. Thank you, Paul for delivering this beautiful episode with me. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole P.S. GRAB YOUR KLEENEX

I had the esteemed privilege of getting interviewed by my friend and collaborator, Des Wood.  It's time I was the in the hot seat.  You'll get to learn my thoughts on life, nursing, entrepreneurship, and some of my thoughts about Found Down.   I talk about my conception of Unwound Retreats - a travel and wellness business for nurses.  We have some amazing international trips coming up in 2022 to Morocco and Mexico and oh man, you deserve to come!  Want a cultural, spiritual and education retreat? Check out Unwound Retreats and get on my email list to learn more!  Thank YOU for listening and supporting Found Down.   Do you have feedback on the show? Do you have guest ideas? Do you want merch? Drop a line and let me know! Xoxo Stay Safe & Stay Sane! Nicole

Today I interview Al Sarria, ICU nurse and the guy behind https://www.instagram.com/theicumurse/ (The ICU Murse.) We chat about his career trajectory and how he got into ICU nursing. Turns out, he finished his ICU orientation in 2019 in a CVICU only to have to switch to the COVID ICU in 2020, in Arizona no less. Talk about going from a population of everyone lives to everyone dies. And Al - I'm so sorry. No one should have to see that amount of death. So, we talk about how he is doing, his mental health (hooray for lexapro and therapy!) and his plans to become a Psychiatric Nurse practitioner. Al reveals how The ICU Murse account got started and how sharing the truth about Covid made him go https://www.instagram.com/p/CB-S9X9hMXv/ (viral). Al often speaks our truth on social media and for that, I am so grateful. He is also making talking about mental health a priority on his platform. Al and Christiian Letsinger (aka https://www.instagram.com/redbeardrn/ (Redbeard RN)) have a new podcast in the works call 'https://www.instagram.com/youcantmakethisshiftup/ (You can't make this shi(f)t up!)' It's not out yet, but sounds entertaining! Thank you so much for coming on the show and for speaking your truth. Thank you for all you do for the nursing community, Al! Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

Today I had the pleasure of chatting with Keri Nasenbeny, an Associate Chief Nursing Officer at a major academic medical center about her thoughts on this pandemic. Keri has a unique perspective having led nurses through the most challenging times in their career. She looks at where we've come and some of the significant challenges we have faced, especially with this last surge. We talk about the future and share ideas about what we need to do to fix things. It's going to be a long road to heal the healthcare world, but we can do it. Thank you so much for being on the show. And thanks for listening, Keri!!! Stay Safe & Stay Sane, Nicole

On today's episode I review the case of RaDonda Vaught with my fellow ICU nurse and friend, Laura Zaske. I wanted to really look at this case since it sets a legal precedent, but also because it felt like this error was too easy to make. We all could be RaDonda Vaught. RaDonda is the first nurse criminally charged with negligent homicide and abuse of an impaired adult. She made a fatal mistake in 2017 by accidentally giving her patient Charlene Murphey vecuronium, a paralytic. My resources for this episode are from: https://nurseerica.com/ (The Nurse Erica), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVN4ldj20tk&t=2921s (Nurse Liz,) https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/health/2020/03/03/vanderbilt-nurse-radonda-vaught-arrested-reckless-homicide-vecuronium-error/4826562002/ (The Tennessean), The CMS Report, and https://www.ismp.org/resources/paralyzed-mistakes-reassess-safety-neuromuscular-blockers-your-facility (Institute of Patient Medication Practices ) If you want to support RaDonda Vaught you can: Show up at her court date on 5/13/2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. Write a hand written letter to the Honorable Judge Jennifer L. Smith to request clemency. Please send it to RaDonda's PO Box. RaDonda Vaught PO Box 128 Bethpage, TN 37022 3.Sign this https://www.change.org/p/grant-radonda-vaught-clemency (petition) to grant RaDonda Vaught clemency. Please stay hypervigilant. If there are things in your work environment that are not safe speak up, write incident reports, and help change the system. I know are we are fearful of this legal precedent, but I urge you to help make your work environment the safest as possible. We need to continue use just culture and have an open, non-punitive avenue for reporting. We support you RaDonda! Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

Today I interview Google UX Program Manager and volunteer EMT David Gilman. He talks about how he decided to take on the volunteer EMT position, especially as a successful professional. He shares what the experience has been like, to learn a new skill and what it has been like to to learn to be useful to his community. He also delves into what has been challenging about his EMT role, especially jumping between the two worlds of life at Google where it's like "Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory" and then having to go respond to real life emergencies. David, you are an inspiration to the community. Thank you for what you do! Stay Safe & Stay Sane, Nicole

Encore - I'm re-airing this episode because it's an important conversation to be having in light of recent events. Today I am thrilled to have Patient Safety Director Krista Haugen, MSN, RN, CTFE back on the show to discuss medical errors and mistakes in healthcare. She gives her insight as to why this is such a complex issue, what is just culture and shared accountability and how a facility and providers can approach mistakes. We share our own mistakes from our careers and we discuss why shame is so wrapped up in these events. She also talks about what is “speaking up” and how to think about it in regards to keeping your patients safe. Medical errors and mistakes in healthcare are extremely important issues. We are moving away from a “blaming” culture and more to a systems approach like the “https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_cheese_model (Swiss Cheese Model).” Often there are many contributing factors to why an error occurred. Check out this https://www.thinkreliability.com/case_studies/the-sinking-of-the-titanic-cause-map/ (link) to the causal map of the Titanic sinking. Hint: There wasn't just one reason the titanic sank. Check out this video on how we beat ourselves when we make a mistake: https://dontforgetthebubbles.com/fixing-what-once-was-broken-ross-fisher-at-dftb18/ Thank you so much for listening to this show! Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

Hey, It's Nicole. Just popping on to say I'm on a break and will return in June. I'm posting a Nurses Week GIVEAWAY on my Instagram account on 5/6 so check it outhttps://www.instagram.com/founddownpodcast/ ( there!) You all are amazing. See you in June! Nicole

Hey there, Today, Des Wood and I talk about what's been going on behind the scenes with me and my thoughts on the podcast. We discuss what is going on in healthcare, our thoughts on the pandemic, and in nursing. Please help! Do you want Found Down to continue? What do YOU want from the show? It's been so fun and meaningful for me to do the show. Let me know what would like from Found Down! Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole P.S. Please check out the upcoming https://unwoundretreats.com/yoga-in-the-park (Yoga in the Park) on 8/19! All proceeds go to Hope Center Resources, a nonprofit that helps people experiencing homelessness.

I am so pleased to bring Katrine Wallace, PhD aka Epidemiologist Kat back on Found Down to discuss what in the world is going on with all the viruses out there! We talk about where we are with the Covid-19 pandemic, what is really going on with monkeypox, and also she shares what she knows about polio being detected in New York. As always this was a fun, informative interview! Please go subscribe to Kat's blog at https://www.epidemiologistkat.com/www.epidemiologistkat.com (www.epidemiologistkat.com). Stay Safe and Stay Sane! Nicole

On today's show I interview https://www.bethcavenaugh.com/ (Beth Cavenaugh), a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care nurse about her new book that she co-authored, 'https://www.amazon.com/Power-Pain-Nursing-Self-Care-Compassion-ebook/dp/B09NCFMVYZ/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=power%20and%20pain%20of%20nursing&qid=1639767288&sr=8-2 (The Pleasure and Pain of Nursing - Self-Care Practices to Protect and Replenish Compassion.') The book offers "the nurse's toolkit to stay grounded, tend to yourself with kindness, and minimize professional burnout." This is a fantastic book that should be in every nurse's break room. Beth talks about her thoughts on nursing, hospice nursing, and how the pandemic has affected our profession. Also, she gets into her nursing trajectory, and where and how she finds joy in hospice nursing. As a reiki provider, Beth shares some treasures from that very specific type of energy work. I'm excited for you to listen to this episode, feel validated, and maybe find some tools to protect your energy and your practice! Please go check out https://www.bethcavenaugh.com/ (Beth's book and subscribe to her blog)! She offers real tips and insights for nurses for the death and dying process. Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

On today's episode I interview Josie Tate, MSN, FNP-C and CEO of https://www.clincepts.com/ (Clincepts,) a company "created Clincepts to inspire my peers to thrive through the RN to NP transition and love what they do." "Josie Tate is a family nurse practitioner with a heart to see others succeed. Since starting her nursing journey with a BSN in 2006, she has enjoyed working in a variety of settings with a strong background in inpatient and outpatient cardiology services. Her most memorable times as a nurse include being a preceptor to nursing students and mentor to newly hired employees.  While she enjoys her role as an NP, she is also passionate about her life outside of practice. She is a wife to her college sweetheart and mom to three fun-filled kids.  Soon after becoming a nurse practitioner in 2019, she saw new NPs experience a disconnect between obtaining an advanced degree and embracing the title of advanced practice provider. To bridge that gap, she created Clincepts, a job search solution to help nurse practitioners get happily hired. Josie empowers nurse practitioners in 3 major aspects: passion, pay (beyond just salary), and productivity. She teaches strategies that help NPs articulate their unique professional stories by assisting with resume creation and interview preparation. With this, they can have that ideal job they are passionate about and be paid well for what they do. In addition, she shares ways to be efficient at work, so they can enjoy life outside of work." If you are transitioning from RN to advanced practice, go check out one of https://www.clincepts.com/ (Josie's courses) or sign up to her https://www.clincepts.com/blog (blog) to get helpful tips to increase your interviewing skills or buff up your resume! Thank you so much for being on the show and thank you for helping nurses thrive, Josie! It was such a pleasure! Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

Today I catch up with dad, husband, and nurse Bryan Hill about how this last year has been. Last time we talked, Bryan came on the show to share that he had been diagnosed with Parkinkson's, how that was impacting his life, and how he wanted to get out in front of this secret for his family, particularly for his young son (now 18 months old). Since we last chatted, Bryan has taken the world by storm, appearing on national television, local news, American Ninja Warrior, and appearing in the documentary by Cut called "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkxjuyAVccY (Three Dying People Talk about Death)" among other things. Bryan opens up about the day to day of his life, managing stress and how movement is his medicine. His family and his health are his number one priority. If you want to support Parkinson's research check out this link to donate to the https://fundraise.michaeljfox.org/tf-2022/movewiththehills (Michael J. Fox Foundation. ) And go follow what Bryan is up to on social media at https://www.instagram.com/fox_ninja_c/ (@fox_ninja_c). You are such an inspiration, Bryan! Stay Safe and Stay Sane, Nicole

Today I interview the amazing Andrea Dalzell, aka the Seated Nurse.Andrea Dalzell is a registered nurse, healthcare advocate, disability rights influencer, speaker and most importantly, a survivor. At the age of five, Andrea was diagnosed with transverse myelitis, an inflammation of the spinal cord that causes pain, muscle weakness and paralysis, and she was using a wheelchair full-time by twelve years old. Inspired by her experiences with nurses, she received her nursing degree from the City University of New York, College of Staten Island. Andrea became the first registered nurse in a wheelchair in the state of New York, and she devotes her career to helping others with disabilities live healthier lives whether seated or able-bodied. Andrea was crowned Ms. Wheelchair New York 2015, and utilized her title and platform: "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Access," to promote her message and belief that people with disabilities can live a fulfilling life. As an advocate and activist, she has won national recognition over the years, including being named New Mobilitiy's Person of the Year (2021) and the inaugural Craig H. Neilsen Visionary Prize Winner 2020. She has also been featured in Unite Spinal, HomeCare Magazine, Apple's iWatch campaign, Yahoo, and Forbes.On today's show we talk about Andrea's story and her nursing journey. After 1500 job applications and 75 job interviews, it took a global pandemic to get the break she needed to work bedside. What a story! You will want to tune in for this!Also, Andrea shares how hospitals and nursing programs could be doing better. Hint: We could be doing better.Want to get involved? Check out the National Organization of Nurses with Disabilities.Thanks so much for being on the show, Andrea!Stay Safe and Stay Sane,Nicole

Today I interview Tami Morgan, ARNP, FNP about prioritizing your mental health as a healthcare provider, in particular as a nurse. Tami is a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner and owner of Refresh Seattle, a mental health and wellness practice. She provides telehealth services to anyone in WA state and offers a truly holistic approach to mental wellness. She has experience in a wide range of medical specialties and we'll hear later how she incorporates that knowledge into her current practice. She graduated with her Bachelors in Nursing from Washington State University in 2005 and earned her master's in nursing from Seattle University in 2015. She is an active PNW hiker, softball player, world traveler, sports fan, and dog lover. Tune in to listen to how to make your mental health a priority, tips on how to improve it, and how to address S.A.D (Seasonal Affective Disorder) this winter. If you are interested in reaching Tami for an appointment, check out her website here!Thank you so much for being on the show!Stay safe and stay sane, Nicole

After almost a 2 year hiatus, the Found Down Podcast is back. Critical Care nurse and host, Nicole Johnson is back on the show, accompanied by Dr. Des Wood, nurse practitioner and co-owner of Seattle Beauty. Des interviews Nicole this time to find out what's been going on, revisit what the podcast is all about, and inquire about what is in store for this next season! Thank you so much for listening!