In this episode, we dive into the art of giving and receiving nursing reports during your shift—especially when the pressure is on. Whether you’re dealing with nit-picky nurses, feeling intimidated by experienced colleagues, or handling less-than-friendly handoffs, this episode is for you. We’ll share realistic examples of challenging moments, offe…

Are you preparing for a nursing job interview? Before you accept that offer, make sure you’re aware of the red flags that could signal a toxic work environment, burnout, or lack of support. In this video, we’ll uncover the most important warning signs every nurse should look out for during an interview—from vague answers about staffing ratios to co…

In today’s episode, expect to learn 10 different smart questions to ask in an interview. We first will discuss questions to ask during a screening interview with a general hiring manager, and then more specific questions for an interview with a nurse manager who could potentially be your next boss! Make a great impression with these thoughtful ques…

We dig into a reader question for a newer charger nurse + some encouragement for those of you thinking of quitting. 0:14 Why I do this 1:46 My college journey and the price tag 3:44 Encouragement from Leah, RN 5:09 A helpful nursing resource 5:33 Career experience from Joy, RN 6:11 Encouragement from Jennifer, RN 6:46 Charge RN question from "Sarah…

This episode is part of a PodSwap, where we swap episodes so each of our audiences can learn from one another! We are swapping episodes with Nurse Mo, MSN RN from Straight A Nursing. She currently works in the PACU, teaches in a BSN program, and manages her educational platform for nursing students. In this episode, Nurse Mo is sharing all the reas…

We sit down with Will Kelly, MSN FNP-BC, who has experience as a telemetry nurse, ER nurse, ER nurse practitioner, and inpatient hospitalist. We discuss: Our first codes and lessons we learned Advice for students in clinical Tips for rapid response situations and calls How to be calm and collected in the face of controlled chaos For ALL of our ICU …

In this interview, Kati chats with Jeannie Cisney, MSN RN. She is a 20+ year veteran of the CVICU (cardiovascular intensive care unit). We discuss: The types of patients you’ll see in a CVICU Her favorite and least favorite types of patients A walkthrough of the patient pathway of a typical CABG patient New grad vs. experienced nurse orientation ex…

In this episode, we are re-sharing an episode where we sit down with Sean Dent, DNP ACNP APRN, a highly experienced ICU nurse practitioner. We dig deep into the types of equipment you’ll run into in the ICU. These include: Arterial lines Different options for monitoring fluid status Cooling devices CRRT Hemodialysis catheters Impellas and aortic ba…

In this episode, Kati interviews Elizabeth Fields, MSN FNP APRN, a nurse practitioner specializing in orthopedics. She sees patients in the hospital after they undergo ortho surgery, so she works closely with acute care ortho nurses! In this episode, we discuss: What new ortho nurses struggle with most Common surgeries acute care patients undergo W…

In this episode, Kati and two nursing professionals who interview new grad nurses for a well-known accredited nurse residency program walk through four common interview questions. We explore a bad and sub-par response as well as examples of dazzling responses. The questions we outline are: Tell me about a mistake you have made. What are you most ex…

Giving and receiving hand-off from an experienced nurse is pretty overwhelming to a nursing student or newly licensed nurse. In this previously released episode, Kati and Elizabeth discuss: What nursing report is for an acute care nurse Unspoken nursing report etiquette Basics of what should be communicated during a normal full hand-off report Note…

This interview comes from the archives! Kati interviewed Beth Hawks, MSN RN-BC, a highly experienced and amazing nursing professional development specialist and preceptor, on tips for new nurse preceptors. Expect to learn: How to give feedback in a constructive manner Tips for nurses going into the precepting role who are not yet confident in their…

Previously, Kati had a series of episodes on nursing communication. This mega dose combines all episodes into one for easy listening! The topics include: How to talk to your nursing colleagues, CNAs, and medical unit receptionists and deal with things like how to navigate when your urgency level changes or challenges in working together Learning wh…

In this episode, we are re-sharing our most popular neuro episodes from the archive in one massive episode. Kati Kleber, Elizabeth Mills, and Melissa Stafford (all experienced neuro ICU nurses) discuss: When to worry about your neuro patient The most common disease processes for acutely ill neuro patients Common neuro meds Frequent diagnostics How …

Almost two-thirds of nurses (62%) experience burnout in the U.S. And it’s especially common among younger nurses. In this episode, Kati interviews Dr. Kate King, an associate professor in the clinical psychology doctoral program at William James College, and they discuss: signs of burnout, and whether this is destined to happen to every nurse the i…

Maybe you've heard the term "clinical nurse specialist" or "CNS" before but are not exactly sure how that differs from a nurse practitioner or nurse educator. In this episode, Kati interviews Dr. Mitzi Saunders, PhD, APRN, ACNS-BC, the President of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists, and they discuss: The definition of a CNS and…

In today’s episode, we chat with Sheri Walsh, MSN RN, a highly experienced nurse manager of a cardiac progressive unit that has over 100 staff members. We pull back the veil between employee and manager and discuss things like: Reasonable and unreasonable things to discuss with your manager Practical tips for new nurses on giving and receiving feed…

In this episode, Brittney Wilson role plays as a new grad RN and asks me the most common questions I get via email and social media from new nurses all over the country. Get weekly tips, encouragement, stories from the bedside and more - just for nursing students and new nurses at freshrn.com We have a full library of courses to support new nurses,…

In this episode, we dig into practical tips for functioning in a high-pressure environment, like the hospital, if you already deal with anxiety. We discuss: Nervousness vs. anxiety How to lower your baseline level of anxiety Routines to outsmart your brain Responding to anxiety flares or freezes at work When to seek professional help To check out t…

In this episode of the FreshRN Podcast, Kati interviews Morgan Melancon MSN, RN, CCRN-K and Annabeth Davis, MSN, RN, NPD-BC. It's Part II of our two-part interview. Morgan is the director of Nursing Education and Professional Development at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, and Annabeth is the manager of Transition to Practice withi…

In this episode, Kati Interviews Morgan Melancon MSN, RN, CCRN-K and Annabeth Davis, MSN, RN, NPD-BC. Morgan is the director of Nursing Education and Professional Development at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, and Annabeth is the manager of Transition to Practice within the department of Nursing Education of the same organization.…

Join Brittney Wilson, BSN RN, founder of The Nerdy Nurse, as she interviews Kati about where FreshRN started, why she created it and is so passionate about helping new nurses, and where she sees the brand going over the next 10 years. Right now, all of Kati's courses and bundles are 30% off to celebrate her 10-year brand-iversary! Head to https://c…

In this episode, I interview Sarah Lorenzini from the Rapid Response RN Podcast about delirium. We discuss a powerful experience Sarah had with delirium in the ICU, common mistakes new nurses make regarding delirium, and tidbits about new nurses working with RRT nurses. This episode is part of a Nurse Podcrawl focused on the topic of delirium. Head…

If you're a nurse working in a hospital who cares for intubated and sedated patients (ICU nurses!) or on units in which your patients were intubated and sedated (med-surg RNs, I'm talking to you!) you're going to want to listen to this episode. We dig into some mind-blowing and humbling facts about delirium in the ICU, and how we might actually be …

In this mini episode, I discuss how to answer the common "what are your weaknesses?" interview question with confidence and without compromising credibility - all while coming off authentic and honest. To check out my full nurse resume and interview course, click here: https://www.freshrn.com/hired Prep for nursing job interview questions with this…

On Dec 5, 2022, two LPNs in South Carolina were arrested after dressing changes were not performed on two vulnerable adults from Sept. 9-11, 2022 resulting in worsening of their health. In this video, I SBAR the situation, why it may have led to criminal charges, and go over important considerations for nurses. Shownotes are located here: https://w…

[MINI-EPISODE] When a patient gets admitted to the hospital, we ask routine questions to assess risk for self-harm. But... what should you say when they say yes? I asked my husband (professional counselor, worked in mental health for 10+ years) for some talking points! My free ebook called 10 Mistakes Nursing Students Make (and how to avoid them): …

In this episode, Kati covers how to plan your time to successfully pass the NCLEX. She starts by outlining what to do during your last semester, laying the post-graduation groundwork, and how to practically structure your study time. This episode was sponsored by TrueLearn. Go to https://truelearn.com/nursing/ and use promo code FRESHRN for 20%. To…

Four labor and delivery nurses were recently terminated over one TikTok video. In this episode, Kati outlines what happened, the response, and her thoughts. To sign-up for the FreshRN email list, head to freshrn.com. To learn more about our non-Facebook online community for nurses, head to freshrn.com/vip. Shownotes are located here: https://www.fr…

Get ready, people! The NCLEX is being updated in 2023! In this episode, Kati outlines the specific changes to scoring and new question formats, as well as answers common questions students tend to have regarding the NCLEX in general. This episode was sponsored by TrueLearn. Head to https://truelearn.com/ and use promo code FRESHRN for 20% off. If t…

What are the major differences between the ER and the floor? In this episode, Kati covers how these two units differ in responsibilities, flow of the shift, patient population, and how to know which one would be the best fit for you. This episode is sponsored by TrueLearn. Head to https://www.trueLearn.com and use promo code FRESHRN for 20%. Showno…

Has your clinical instructor or the primary nurse of your patient in clinical been cold or even rude to you? In this episode, Kati explores a few reasons behind it plus tips on how to deal with it. This episode is sponsored by Picmonic. Head to Picmonic.com and use promo code FRESHRN for 20% off. Shownotes are located here: https://www.freshrn.com/…

In this episode, Maureen and I chat about her nursing story, and journey through nursing school. Maureen has experience in the ICU, PACU, and as a nurse educator. She is also the owner of straightanursingstudent.com. Show notes are located here: https://www.freshrn.com/maureen-osuna-interview/ Get weekly tips, encouragement, stories from the bedsid…

In this episode, Kati discusses her tips to optimize your study time specifically for nursing school courses. We cover: How to organize your study life Tips to optimize your environment How to outsmart your brain Setting your physical body up for success This episode is sponsored by TrueLearn. Head to TrueLearn.com and use promo code FRESHRN for 20…

In this episode, Kati quickly covers why frontloading quick wins into your orientation process are powerful motivators and can change the game for your development long-term. Our comprehensive course, Cardiac Confidence, is the ultimate resource to help you get quick win after quick win when working with cardiac patients. To learn more, click here:…

Another semsester is upon us! In this episode, Kati talks through 6 tips to passing nursing school exams. Show notes are located here: https://www.freshrn.com/how-to-pass-nursing-school-exams To learn more about Picmonic, visit: https://www.picmonic.com and use promo code FRESHRN for 20% off. Thank you to Picmonic for sponsoring this episode! Get w…

Kati updates listeners on the new schedule for the FreshRN Podcast for the forseeable future. To connect with Kati on YouTube, click here: https://www.youtube.com/c/katikleber Get weekly tips, encouragement, stories from the bedside and more - just for nursing students and new nurses at: https://www.freshrn.com/ Connect With Me Online! Facebook: ht…

Get ready to learn about what it’s like to be a military nurse! In this episode, Julie shares with us what it’s like to work in the military as a nurse compared to what it’s like as a civilian nurse. She shares about her deployments and the lessons she’s learned along the way. Julie is a Jonas Philanthropies Scholar and currently in a Nursing Psych…

Today, Kati interviews Tamar Rodney, an Assistant Professor at the John Hopkins School of Nursing, Psychiatric NP, researcher, and Jonas Philanthropies Scholar. Tamar shares with us her unique professional journey, the origins of her interest in mental and why she loves it so much, as well as thoughts about the future of our profession. To learn mo…

Have you ever heard of a death doula? In this episode, Kati interviews Melanie Sheckels, who supports patients as they transition at the end of their lives. We discuss what a death doula does, how to become one, and the unique struggle that nurses have in facing death both from a personal and professional perspective. To learn more about Melanie, h…

Being proactive, having situational awareness, and applying what you've learned in the past to future situations are crucial skills to develop early on as a newly licensed nurse. Together with Nurse Mo, a fellow nurse educator with a passion for new nurses, we discuss how you can really move the needle in development around these traits specificall…

‘Fake it til you make it’ is a common term we use to encourage people who are learning in a really intimidating and challenging environment. In this episode, Kati discusses why she’s not a fan of that saying and other ways we can consciously lean into being a beginner. To learn more about becoming a FreshRN VIP, head to FreshRN.com/VIP. To view the…

RaDonda Vaught was recently sentenced in a court of law, and in this episode Kati dives into all that happened on that day, as well as details about her sentence. To learn more about becoming a FreshRN VIP, head to FreshRN.com/VIP. Get weekly tips, encouragement, stories from the bedside and more - just for nursing students and new nurses at: https…

Today, I'm joined by Irnise Williams who is both a nurse and attorney. We discuss legal considerations for nurses, realistic likelihoods of malpractice situations, and how we can take charge of our day-to-day lives at the bedside. To learn more about Irnise, click here: irnisewilliams.com/. Show notes are located here: https://www.freshrn.com/how-t…

I have spent time researching and trying out digital stethoscopes, and in this episode will share with you if I think they're worth the price tag, who is best suited for one, and compare the top 3 digital scopes on the market today. Thanks to Eko Health for sponsoring this episode. To learn more about the 3M™ Littmann® CORE Digital Stethoscope, vis…

A FreshRN VIP asked a question Kati wanted to share with podcast listeners. The VIP currently works in an ICU as a CNA and is curious if it would be wise to work there as a new grad. Listen for Kati's perspective and some Q&A from her Instagram followers. To check out my full nurse resume and interview course, click here: https://www.freshrn.com/hi…

Nurses Week 2022 has officially begun, and Kati shares her genuine thoughts on this annual week of "appreciation". Also, this past week the private nurse who worked with Amber Heard and Johnny Depp testified in the defamation case. Kati shares her thoughts on her testimony. To sign up as a FreshRN VIP, head over here: https://freshrn.com/vip Get we…

Kati interviews a critical care nurse practitioner who helps transform traditional ICUs into "Awake and Walking ICUs". Kali Dayton defines what one is, the harms of deep sedation, benefits of increased mobility, and how deep sedation negatively impacts patients long after discharge with stories from survivors. You can find Kali's website at daytoni…

In this episode, Kati answers the following questions about malpractice insurance: Does it make me a target for a lawsuit? Won't my hospital's insurance cover me? Does it cover criminal charges? What's the difference between a claims-based policy vs. an occurrence-based policy? What do policies typically cover? Show notes are located here: https://…

This week, Kati interviews Lorie Brown, who is both a nurse and lawyer. She works to help nurses protect their licenses, and offers her legal perspective on this case. Show notes are located here: https://www.freshrn.com/professional-liability-insurance-radonda-vaught-trial-part-2/ Get weekly tips, encouragement, stories from the bedside and more -…