This week, Carley returns, and we take questions from you! The questions range from fun to serious, and Carley and Micheline do their best to answer them. Where do they find joy in nursing? Who would be a dream guest? What mental health or self-care strategies work to help deal with the challenges of the profession? We answer all of those and more!

This week, we dive into debriefing in healthcare. Sibyl and Micheline explore its purpose, how to get nurses on board, variations across different units, the impact of high-acuity environments, and the different emotional and professional goals of debriefing. It's so important to address moral distress and create a safe space for nurses to openly communicate about mental health!Chapters00:00 Encouraging Comfort and Participation in Debriefing Sessions26:17 Lack of Access to Mental Health Care36:37 Proactive Debriefing and Emotional Support for Healthcare Workers

CW: SuicideThis week, Chris and Martha Thomas, co-founders of The Defensive Line, talk with us about their work to fight the stigma of speaking about suicide. We discuss the impact of asking direct questions, the importance of listening and not judging, and the role of parents in mental health conversations. Chris and Martha also address coping with grief, fostering hope, and the importance of mental health in communities of color.Chapters00:00 The Power of Storytelling07:08 Dispelling Myths About Mental Health12:52 Navigating Grief During the Holidays19:32 The Importance of Hope and Mental Health in Communities of Color29:10 The Defensive Line and Mental Health in Communities of Color34:54 The Defensive Line: Defenders of Life

This week, Micheline and Sibyl take a deep dive into nursing stereotypes, focusing primarily on "the mean girl to nurse pipeline" meme and "the mom" stereotypes. How do these stereotypes put nurses in boxes? What challenges exist for nurses to identify outside of said stereotypes? And how do these stereotypes discount the skills, labor, and intellectual aspects of nursing? We talk about all that and more!

This week on the Self Care Unit, we have such an amazing guest! Supriya Ganesh, aka Dr. Samira Mohan from The Pitt, is here! Now in its second season, The Pitt continues to be a smash hit (particularly among healthcare workers) because of its realistic portrayal of work in a hospital, its willingness to take on real issues, and its honest depiction of the emotional toll of healthcare work. So tune in as Supriya dives into all of that and more with us; it's a conversation you don't want to miss!

CW: Discussions of mental health that may be sensitive to listeners.On today's episode, we are joined by Dr. Sunita Sah to learn about her groundbreaking research on influence, authority, trust, compliance, and defiance, and discuss her bestselling book: Defy: How to Speak Up When It Matters. “Why is it so hard to speak up, even when we know something’s wrong?” For nurses and for everyone, Dr. Sah answers that question by sharing the research behind compliance vs. defiance, reframing acts of defiance, and giving strategies on how to take action. It's a fantastic conversation, and we are so thankful to Dr. Sah for sharing her expertise with us! Highly encourage listeners to read Defy, and you can also visit SunitaSah.com for more of her fascinating work.

This week, Sam Calvin stopped by to discuss decision fatigue with us. Sam gives us the basics on how decision fatigue develops, its impact on caregivers, particularly nurses, and how it can lead to burnout. We talk about how decision fatigue is a natural and expected response to sustained cognitive load, so Sam offers practical advice for mitigating its effects in a high-stress profession like nursing. Big thanks to Sam for his expertise!

CW: We discuss Alex Pretti's murder at the beginning of this episodeFor this special episode, we formally welcome Sibyl as our new cohost! Our beloved Carley has a bit too much on her plate with her job and wedding to be a full cohost, but don't worry, she will pop in still. Thankfully, Sibyl is here to step in. She is an incredible nurse and an awesome person, so we are so excited to have her join the team. We chat with her about goals as a podcast host, her own self-care practices, and whether it even matters if you're a good dancer.

This week, we are joined by Dr. Cambria Nwosu! Dr. Nwosu is a Legal Nurse Consultant with over 15 years of experience across clinical practice, healthcare administration, and medical-legal analysis. For those interested in a similar journey from bedside nursing to legal nursing, Dr. Nwosu explains the role of legal nurse consultants in the legal process and discusses the importance of patient advocacy, understanding healthcare policies, and the challenges faced by nurses in documentation and informed consent.For more of her content and expertise, check out @cjnlegalnurse on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube!

Happy New Year! On today's episode of The Self Care Unit, we discuss New Year's resolutions, exploring the real psychological impact they can have, whether it is worth it for nurses to use them as a method to care for themselves, and the mechanisms behind the "fresh start" effect. We also talk about realistic goals, approach vs. avoidance, and why we should try our best not to compare ourselves to others!The BBC Article referenced in the episode is Linked Here!