Nursing Lyfe 101

What if choosing between inpatient and outpatient wasn’t about picking a side, but about designing your career and your life? We open up about the real tradeoffs nurses face: the adrenaline and growth of inpatient care versus the predictable hours and long-term wins of outpatient clinics and infusion centers. From supplies magically appearing on the floor to the careful planning needed in clinic logistics, we share how workflow, re...

Feeling torn between patient care and your own recovery? We dig into the real-world playbook for nurse PTO and RTO—what they are, how they accrue, and how to actually use them without guilt, drama, or burnout. From unit-level policies and state rules to the fine print managers forget to mention, we unpack the strategies that help you protect your time, your energy, and your sanity.

We walk through practical scheduling move...

Nursing doesn’t pause for the holidays — and neither do the emotions that come with this work.

In this special Christmas Eve episode of Nursing Lyfe 101, Christopher steps behind the mic solo for a reflective, Office Hours–style letter to listeners. This episode is for nurses who are working the holidays, nurses who are off but still carrying work home, and nurses who are trying to close out the year without losing themselves in the...

Remember walking onto the unit as a student nurse, heart racing, praying your patient wouldn’t code while you were in the room? Yeah… same.In this episode of Nursing Lyfe 101, Christopher and Colby head back to their clinical days — the rotations that built their confidence, broke their nerves, and taught them what kind of nurses they wanted to be.

We’re talking:

• Christopher’s first real code in cardiac surgery ICU (and where his...

Ever wonder what really changes when a bedside nurse becomes a manager? We pull back the curtain on a leap that wasn’t about a title or a pay bump, but about finding the right fit: outpatient leadership in cardiac rehab and the stress lab, where patient momentum meets sustainable work-life balance. You’ll hear why timing and alignment matter more than ambition, how imposter syndrome sneaks in even with a decade of experience, and w...

Long shifts, leashes, and a lot of love. We open up about what it really takes to be a nurse and a pet parent, from the 12-hour stretch to the 2 a.m. vet run, and why a wagging tail can still turn the worst shift into a decent day. This conversation gets practical—how night shift routines can help puppies settle, why “a tired dog is a well-behaved dog” actually works, and how crates, enrichment, and pet cams reduce chaos when you’r...

Welcome back to Nursing Lyfe 101 — Season 2 is officially in session! 🎉 In this hilarious and relatable premiere, Christopher and Colby dive into the weird, wild, and downright spooky world of nursing superstitions — from the infamous Q-word that jinxes your shift to the full moon frenzy every nurse swears is real.

They swap stories about sports rituals, haunted hospital halls, “black cloud” coworkers, and why you should never...

From bloopers to backfires (literally!), Christopher and Colby celebrate the conclusion of Nursing Life 101's inaugural season with a heartfelt reflection on their podcasting journey. Diving into listener favorites like "Battling Burnout: Self-Care Strategies for Nurses" and the politically charged episode on nursing with integrity, they unpack what made these conversations resonate so deeply with their audience.

Is it love… or just shared trauma and back-to-back 12s?

In this episode of Nursing Lyfe 101, Christopher and Colby dive into one of the most controversial topics in healthcare—dating your coworkers. From dating within your own unit to navigating relationships across departments, they unpack the real-life stories, workplace drama, and lessons learned from love on the floor.

💬 Should you tell your manager?

📋 What’s the risk ...

Ever wonder why nursing friendships hit different? When you've held pressure on a bleeding wound together or laughed hysterically at 3 AM after your fifth admission, something profound happens between colleagues that non-healthcare friends simply cannot understand.

Christopher and Colby dive deep into the fascinating paradox of nursing relationships – how spending 12-hour shifts together can either forge unbreakable b...

The nursing profession faces a crisis that rarely makes headlines but affects nearly every healthcare worker: burnout. With alarming numbers of nurses leaving bedside care within just five years, we tackle the critical question of sustainability in a career meant to span decades.<br><br>Stress and burnout might seem like synonyms in healthcare, but they represent different points on a dangerous continuum. We explore the...

Christopher and Colby explore the human side of podcasting by sharing their funniest outtakes, mishaps, and behind-the-scenes moments from previous recording sessions. This unique episode reveals the reality of creating content while balancing nursing careers.

• Technical difficulties including microphone issues, sound problems, and recording software glitches
• Forgotten lines, lost trains of thought, and impromptu st...

Conflict is inevitable in healthcare, but how you respond to it defines your nursing practice. In this raw conversation, Colby and Christopher tackle the challenging reality of patient aggression toward nurses – from verbal abuse and name-calling to physical threats and inappropriate touching.

Drawing from their combined experience, they share powerful stories that illuminate the daily challenges nurses face. Christopher r...

📢 Description:

In this follow-up to Episode 8, Christopher and Colby continue the conversation on what it’s really like to be a new nurse. They discuss the pressures of picking up extra shifts, why it’s essential to have a life outside of the hospital, and how to avoid early career burnout.

💡 Key Topics:

✔️ Why you should limit overtime in your first year

✔️ The importance of finding hobbies outside of work

✔️ Financial tips for ...

💡 Episode 8: “Navigating Your First Year as a Nurse: Thriving as a Clin 1”

Welcome to another episode of Nursing Lyfe 101! Today, Christopher and Colby dive into the realities of being a Clin 1, or a brand-new nurse. From managing nerves and mastering medications to handling tough shifts and advocating for yourself, we’re giving you the real talk on how to not just survive, but thrive in your first year.

🔥 What You’ll Learn in...

Discover the key to mastering respectful relationships in nursing teams and revolutionize your healthcare environment! Promise yourself a shift towards better collaboration as we explore the invaluable roles of Patient Care Technicians (PCTs), Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), and nurses. Learn how establishing rapport at the beginning of shifts and maintaining fair workloads can transform the working atmosphere into one of mutu...

What if the very institutions we trust for care and compassion could also be centers of enforcement and fear? This episode challenges you to confront the ethical dilemmas in nursing as we explore the shifting role of healthcare providers in the face of immigration enforcement. We promise an insightful look into how hospitals, once sanctuaries, are now arenas where the presence of ICE agents raises tough questions about privacy, pat...

The podcast explores the frugality within nursing practice and the dichotomy between wastefulness and cost-saving measures in healthcare. The co-hosts delve into the impact of supply changes on patient care, the implications of recent hospital practices, and the importance of meal prepping to maintain wellness in a demanding profession. 
• Discussion on waste vs. frugality in nursing 
• Impact of supply changes on patient c...

We explore effective strategies for succeeding in nursing interviews, including preparation tips, the importance of appearance, and how to present specific examples. Throughout the discussion, we encourage listeners to engage in self-reflection and preparation to ensure a successful job application experience. 
• Techniques for researching potential employers 
• The significance of specific personal examples during intervie...