
On episode 532 of The Nurse Keith Show nursing and healthcare career
podcast, Keith welcomes back Dr. Renee Thompson, the CEO and Founder of The Healthy Workforce Institute.
In the course of this wide-ranging conversation, Keith and Renee reminisce about the very early days of nurses hanging out on Twitter, dabbling in podcasts, and finding one another in the wider nursing universe. Keith and Renee also chat about nurse bullying and incivility, where we find the profession at this time in history, where we might be headed, and what might make things better.
Importantly, Keith also reflects on his podcasting journey, and the fact that this will be the last interview recorded for The Nurse Keith Show for the foreseeable future.
Keith also reflects on his podcasting journey, and the fact that this will be the last interview recorded for The Nurse Keith Show for the foreseeable future. Keith needs a good long break, and if he's so moved, the podcast may reemerge from time to time, perhaps for limited series focused on specific topics of interest to nurses and other healthcare professionals.
Whether you're a long-time listener or you've just discovered the show, the episode archive will remain available wherever you find podcasts, and please know that you, the listener, are greatly appreciated.
Dr. Renee Thompson is the CEO & Founder of the Healthy Workforce Institute, working with healthcare leaders to cultivate a professional workforce by addressing bullying and incivility. Renee is a bestselling author, hosts a popular podcast, and is one of only 30 nurses
worldwide to hold the prestigious Certified Speaking Professional designation.
In 2018, she was recognized as one of LinkedIn’s Top 10 Voices in Healthcare
for her contributions to the global online healthcare community. In 2022 and
2023, she was identified as one of LinkedIn's top 5 Nurse Influencers.
In 2022, Renee was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of
Nursing for her work to eradicate disruptive behaviors in healthcare, and in
March 2026, Renee will be inducted as a Fellow of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership for her sustained contributions to the specialty of nursing leadership, commitment to service, and influence in shaping healthcare by addressing disruptive behaviors.
Renee and her team are on a mission to create a world where bullying and incivility are immediately rejected, and kindness, respect, and professionalism become the new norm.
Connect with Dr. Renee Thompson and the Healthy Workforce Institute:
Healthy Workforce Institute (HWI)
HWI on Facebook
HWI on Instagram
Dr. Renee Thompson on LinkedIn
YouTube
Dr. Thompson's Coffee Break Podcast
Contact Nurse Keith about holistic career coaching to elevate your nursing and healthcare career at NurseKeith.com. Keith also offers services as a motivational and keynote speaker and freelance nurse writer. You can always find Keith on LinkedIn.
Are you looking for a novel way to empower your career and move forward in life? Keith's wife, Shada McKenzie, is a gifted astrologer and reader of the tarot who combines ancient and modern techniques to provide valuable insights into your motivations, aspirations, and life trajectory, and she offers listeners of The Nurse Keith Show a 10% discount on their first consultation. Contact Shada at TheCircelandtheDot.com or [email protected].
Dec 21, 2025
45 min

On episode 531 of The Nurse Keith Show nursing and healthcare career
podcast, Keith interviews Danine Bitting, RN, RAC-CT, a Clinical Compliance Specialist with Friends Services Alliance Compliance Collaborative, and Maria Kiwagama, MSN/MHA, CDP, CNDLTC, the Director of Nursing of Barclay Friends’ Continuing Care Retirement Community in West Chester, PA.
In the course of their conversation, Keith and his guests discuss the Friends Services Alliance Compliance Collaborative's program that supports and mentors Directors of Nursing of skilled nursing and long-term care facilities in order to assure their success as leaders, not to mention the ultimate success of the facilities which they helm.
Danine Bitting is a Clinical Compliance Specialist with Friends Services Alliance Compliance Collaborative (FSA), in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. FSA provides a spectrum of services for the nonprofit senior living industry.
Danine has over 25 years of experience in long-term care, with a strong focus on enhancing the quality of life for residents and driving meaningful change in clinical systems.
As a former Director of Nursing, Danine led two 5-STAR, non-profit facilities with goals to improve resident life and care via Person Centered Care and developing realistic systems. Danine has worked closely with two hospital networks in the Preferred Provider Network (PPN) to improve resident care following hospitalization and reduce re-hospitalizations.
Maria Kiwagama is a seasoned nursing professional with over a decade of experience in clinical management, quality improvement, and nursing education. She currently serves as the Director of Nursing at Barclay Friends, a not-for-profit Kendal Affiliate that provides compassionate, home-like care for older adults.
In her role, Maria oversees nursing operations across Barclay Friends’ Continuing Care Retirement Community, which includes two long-term care units, two memory care units, and a Personal Care unit. She is responsible for ensuring high-quality resident care, regulatory compliance, and effective coordination of the nursing staff within the skilled nursing department.
Before joining Barclay Friends, Maria spent six years at Waverly Heights, a Life Plan Community in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, where she held roles as Nurse Manager and RN-Assessment Coordinator.
She is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and holds additional certifications in Wound Care and Infection Control and Prevention. Maria recently earned a dual master’s degree in Nursing Leadership and Healthcare Administration and is currently completing an Administrator in Training (AIT) program, further strengthening her leadership in long-term care.
Connect with Friends Services Alliance and Barclay Friends:
Friends Services Alliance
FSA on LinkedIn
Barclay Friends Continuing Care
Barclay Friends on Facebook
Barclay Friends on LinkedIn
Barclay Friends on Instagram
Contact Nurse Keith about holistic career coaching to elevate your nursing and healthcare career at NurseKeith.com. Keith also offers services as a motivational and keynote speaker and freelance nurse writer. You can always find Keith on LinkedIn.
Are you looking for a novel way to empower your career and move forward in life? Keith's wife, Shada McKenzie, is a gifted astrologer and reader of the tarot who combines ancient and modern techniques to provide valuable insights into your motivations, aspirations, and life trajectory, and she offers listeners of The Nurse Keith Show a 10% discount on their first consultation. Contact Shada at TheCircelandtheDot.com or [email protected].
Nov 25, 2025
50 min

On episode 530 of The Nurse Keith Show nursing and healthcare career
podcast, Keith welcomes back Dr. Lorre Laws, PhD, RN, NC for a continuation of their previous conversation on episode 515 regarding her significant work related to the concept of nurse-specific traumatization.
In the course of this dynamic conversation, Keith and Lorre dive deeper into the details of her work, including the physiology of the trauma response, how the concept of trauma-informed care is never extended to nurses' well-being, how nurses can reclaim their agency and put themselves back in the driver's seat of their lives and careers, and much more.
Dr. Lorre Laws, affectionately known as "Dr. Lorre," is a gifted healer, author, nurse scientist, and integrative nursing professor who masterfully blends scientific expertise with intuitive wisdom in her transformative work. Her bestselling book, "Nursing Our Healer's Heart," presents groundbreaking research on trauma and burnout through the lens of spiritual awakening and heart-centered healing, offering a holistic path to recovery that nurtures the soul.
As a neurospirituality expert with over 35 years of experience in healing arts, Dr. Lorre's integrative approach recognizes the interconnectedness of mind, body, spirit, and ancestral essence. She guides individuals on profound healing journeys, helping them reconnect with their inner light and higher purpose. Her work is further enriched by her ability to access multiple ways of knowing and being in the spiritual realm, allowing her to alchemize science and spiritual healing for whole-person transformation.
As the founder of The Haelan Academy, Dr. Lorre has created a sacred space for individuals to embark on transformative healing journeys. Her 12-week Healer’s Heart Academy is a testament to her innovative approach, combining cutting-edge neuroscience and trauma healing with ancient spiritual wisdom to facilitate profound personal growth and healing.
Dr. Lorre's heart-centered, integrative approaches to healing have helped thousands of people in their recovery journeys, addressing all aspects of their personhood. Her work continues to bridge the gap between traditional healthcare and spiritual wellness, offering a unique and powerful perspective on healing and personal transformation.
Connect with Dr. Lorre Laws:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
TikTok
The Healer's Journey Podcast
Contact Nurse Keith about holistic career coaching to elevate your nursing and healthcare career at NurseKeith.com. Keith also offers services as a motivational and keynote speaker and freelance nurse writer. You can always find Keith on LinkedIn.
Are you looking for a novel way to empower your career and move forward in life? Keith's wife, Shada McKenzie, is a gifted astrologer and reader of the tarot who combines ancient and modern techniques to provide valuable insights into your motivations, aspirations, and life trajectory, and she offers listeners of The Nurse Keith Show a 10% discount on their first consultation. Contact Shada at TheCircelandtheDot.com or [email protected].
Oct 21, 2025
1 hr 6 min

On episode 528 of The Nurse Keith Show nursing and healthcare career
podcast, in recognition of World Mental Health Day, Keith interviews Kristen Gilmore, the Program Manager for Nurse Well-Being at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.
In the course of their conversation, Keith discusses with Kristen her experience as a leader whose sole responsibility is to foster an environment and culture where the mental health of nurses is truly a top priority.
The program that Kristen oversees is funded by a generous endowment supported by a $7 million grant made possible through the stewardship of Jefferson's Board of Trustees. This program could serve as a blueprint for healthcare institutions looking for an example of how to move beyond platitudes and lip service towards meaningful interventions with nurses' best interests in mind.
Kristen is a registered nurse at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and serves as the inaugural Program Manager for Nurse Well-Being, supporting the Jefferson Bucks, Frankford, Einstein Montgomery, and Torresdale campuses. Prior to this role, she held multiple nursing leadership positions and provided direct care in emergency medicine, where she developed a deep commitment to clinician well-being.
A graduate of Holy Family University and Walden University, Kristen has consistently championed the well-being of both her colleagues and the
nursing profession as a whole. She currently serves as President of the
Philadelphia Chapter of the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) and chairs the ENA’s National Wellness Committee.
A Certified SMART (Stress Management and Resiliency Training) Practitioner, Kristen delivers evidence-based well-being education across the Jefferson Health System. Her speaking engagements include presentations for the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing, the Emergency Nurses Association, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of AACN, the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
Kristen also co-authored a recent article in the Journal of Emergency Nursing examining the impact of gratitude in the workplace. Kristen has also featured her well-being work in healthcare on multiple podcasts.
Connect with Kristen Gilmore and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital:
[email protected]
LinkedIn
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Contact Nurse Keith about holistic career coaching to elevate your nursing and healthcare career at NurseKeith.com. Keith also offers services as a motivational and keynote speaker and freelance nurse writer. You can always find Keith on LinkedIn.
Are you looking for a novel way to empower your career and move forward in life? Keith's wife, Shada McKenzie, is a gifted astrologer, reader of the tarot, and teacher and mentor who combines ancient and modern techniques to provide valuable insights into your motivations, aspirations, and life trajectory, and she offers listeners of The Nurse Keith Show a 10% discount on their first consultation. Contact Shada at TheCircelandtheDot.com or [email protected].
Oct 7, 2025
47 min

On this encore of episode 454 of The Nurse Keith Show nursing and healthcare career podcast, Keith interviews Maria Smilios, the author of The Black Angels: The Untold Story of the Nurses Who Helped Cure Tuberculosis. In the course of their conversation, Keith and Ms Smilios discuss how numerous Black nurses fled the Jim Crow south in search of opportunity in the non-segregated north, and how many ended up working at Sea View Hospital on Staten Island, a facility focused on the treatment — and to a large extent the warehousing — of thousands of TB patients.
Listeners may be shocked to learn that the American Nurses Association barred Black nurses from being members until they gave in to pressure in 1949, despite Black nurses' impressive contributions to the development of the profession.
A native of New York City, Ms. Smilios holds a Masters of Arts from Boston University in Religion & Literature where she was a Henry Luce Scholar and a Presidential Scholar. She also taught Essay and Research writing in the university’s writing program.
In 2007, she left Boston and moved back to New York City to teach at an all-girls high school. There she created and ran an intensive summer writing program for teens.
Maria formerly worked as a development editor in the Biomedical Sciences editing books in lung diseases, pediatric and breast cancer, neurology, and ocular diseases. It was during this time when she read a line in a book that led her to discover the story of the Black Angels.
Through writing the book, she has become in involved in advocating for affordable and accessible TB drugs in TB-heavy countries, working with and supporting organizations such as EndTB and Partners in Health.
In the past, Ms. Smilios has written for The Guardian, American Nurse, Narratively, The Rumpus, Dame Magazine, and The Forward among others.
The Black Angels is her first book.
Connect with Maria Smilios and The Black Angels:
MariaSmilios.com
Maria on LinkedIn
The Black Angels on LinkedIn
Instagram
X
The Black Angels on Amazon
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Nurse Keith is a holistic career coach for nurses, professional podcaster, published author, award-winning blogger, inspiring keynote speaker, and successful nurse entrepreneur. Connect with Nurse Keith at NurseKeith.com, and on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Nurse Keith lives in beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico with his lovely fiancée, Shada McKenzie, a highly gifted traditional astrologer and reader of the tarot. You can find Shada at The Circle and the Dot.
The Nurse Keith Show is a proud member of The Health Podcast Network, one of the largest and fastest-growing collections of authoritative, high-quality podcasts taking on the tough topics in health and care with empathy, expertise, and a commitment to excellence. The podcast is adroitly produced by Rob Johnston of 520R Podcasting.
Oct 1, 2025
49 min

On this encore of episode 499 of The Nurse Keith Show nursing and healthcare career podcast, Keith interviews Karen Steinbock, MBA, BSN, RN, ACC, a nurse who is also a leadership, career, and professional development coach. In the course of their conversation, Keith and Karen discuss many aspects of career development, including making the choice to step into leadership, creating a career that's aligned with your personal values, and having overall more peace and less angst when it comes to your professional journey.
In her 20+ year career, Karen has pursued diverse roles in clinical care, military healthcare, quality improvement, leadership, talent development, education, and innovation.
She is convinced that finding meaning and fulfillment in work is less about specific skill alignment and more about exploring and recognizing who we are (and want to be) and then seeking and creating work that aligns with our values, strengths, priorities, and interests.
Karen earned an MBA from Colorado State University, a BSN from The University of Texas at Austin, and a Graduate Certificate in Executive and Professional Coaching from the University of Texas at Dallas. She is credentialed as an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) through the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
Connect with Karen Steinbock:
KarenSteinbock.com
Instagram
LinkedIn
Download Karen's free Career Transitions Support Tool
Contact Nurse Keith about holistic career coaching to elevate your nursing and healthcare career at NurseKeith.com. Keith also offers services as a motivational and keynote speaker and freelance nurse writer. You can always find Keith on LinkedIn.
Are you looking for a novel way to empower your career and move forward in life? Keith's wife, Shada McKenzie, is a gifted astrologer and reader of the tarot who combines ancient and modern techniques to provide valuable insights into your motivations, aspirations, and life trajectory, and she offers listeners of The Nurse Keith Show a 10% discount on their first consultation. Contact Shada at TheCircelandtheDot.com or [email protected].
Sep 25, 2025
1 hr 2 min

On episode 526 of The Nurse Keith Show nursing and healthcare career
podcast, Keith interviews Brian LeCount and Earl Dalton of Health Carousel, the organization behind Nursing Careers Week, an inspiring annual virtual event for nurses which will be held for the second time during the week of November 10th, 2025.
In the course of their conversation, Keith and his guests discuss the challenges facing 21st-century nurses, the current state of the profession, the continuing evolution of healthcare technology, and how nurses can be supported in creating flexible, fulfilling, and future-ready careers.
Brian LeCount is the Chief Marketing Officer at Health Carousel, where he leads multi-brand marketing efforts, digital strategy and corporate strategic planning initiatives. Brian has delivered executive-level strategic counsel, digital thinking, customer journey expertise, and activation guidance for many multi-billion dollar global brands. He has led benchmark-beating initiatives across nearly every digital channel: content, media, web, mobile, social media, experiential, eCommerce, and shopper marketing.
Earl Dalton, MHA, MSL, BSN, NEA-BC, is the Chief Nursing Officer at Health Carousel and has over 30 years of acute hospital experience in various leadership roles from Adult Health to Emergency and Critical care. In addition, Dalton is an accomplished speaker, author, and innovator in the healthcare industry. Dalton has worked for several hospital systems, most notably, the Duke University Health System, consistently in the top ten for healthcare delivery in the United States and globally. Dalton is an industry thought leader and has made exceptional contributions in work culture, quality improvement, and customer experience.
Connect with Earl Dalton, Brian LeCount, Health Carousel, and Nursing Careers Week:
Nursing Careers Week
Health Carousel
Facebook (Nursing Careers Week)
Instagram (Nursing Careers Week)
LinkedIn (Nursing Careers Week)
LinkedIn (Earl Dalton)
LinkedIn (Brian LeCount)
Contact Nurse Keith about holistic career coaching to elevate your nursing and healthcare career at NurseKeith.com. Keith also offers services as a motivational and keynote speaker and freelance nurse writer. You can always find Keith on LinkedIn.
Are you looking for a novel way to empower your career and move forward in life? Keith's wife, Shada McKenzie, is a gifted astrologer, reader of the tarot, and teacher and mentor who combines ancient and modern techniques to provide valuable insights into your motivations, aspirations, and life trajectory, and she offers listeners of The Nurse Keith Show a 10% discount on their first consultation. Contact Shada at TheCircelandtheDot.com or [email protected].
Sep 10, 2025
54 min

On episode 525 of The Nurse Keith Show nursing and healthcare career
podcast, Keith interviews author and lactation pharmacologist Dr. Kaytlin Krutsch, PhD, PharmD, MBA, BCPS.
In the course of their conversation, Keith and Dr. Krutsch discuss the history and science behind the very specialized topic of lactation pharmacology, and why it should be of great importance to all healthcare professionals.
Kaytlin Krutsch, PhD, PharmD, MBA, BCPS is a lactation pharmacologist who literally wrote the book on medications in human milk with Dr. Thomas Hale, Hale’s Medications and Mothers’ Milk.
Dr. Krutsch is both Director of the Infant Risk Center and Associate Professor at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and advises the Food and Drug Administration, the Human Milk Banking Association of Northern America, and the pharmaceutical industry on lactation pharmacology and lactation research.
Dr. Krutsch believes families deserve better answers to questions about breastfeeding and medications, and designs research that addresses their questions while creating a comprehensive information cycle that empowers families.
This episode of the Nurse Keith Show is brought to you in collaboration with Springer Publishing, who have been delivering award-winning healthcare education and exam prep materials focused on nursing, behavioral health, and the health sciences for more than 70 years. We thank Springer Publishing for their support.
Connect with Dr. Kaytlin Krutsch and The Infant Risk Center
LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook
Infant Risk Center website
Hale's Medications and Mother's Milk
Contact Nurse Keith about holistic career coaching to elevate your nursing and healthcare career at NurseKeith.com. Keith also offers services as a motivational and keynote speaker and freelance nurse writer. You can always find Keith on LinkedIn.
Are you looking for a novel way to empower your career and move forward in life? Keith's wife, Shada McKenzie, is a gifted astrologer and reader of the tarot who combines ancient and modern techniques to provide valuable insights into your motivations, aspirations, and life trajectory, and she offers listeners of The Nurse Keith Show a 10% discount on their first consultation. Contact Shada at TheCircelandtheDot.com or [email protected].
Aug 27, 2025
58 min

On episode 524 of The Nurse Keith Show nursing and healthcare career
podcast, Keith welcomes back Anastasia Prech, BSN, RN, NC-BC for an in-depth, free-wheeling, and inspiring conversation about how we can consider approaching our lives and careers when our priorities shift, we're longing for reinvention, and it's time to tell a new story about who we are and what our lives are all about.
Anastasia Prech is a nurse, board-certified nurse coach, writer, storyteller, and travel lover who is currently navigating personal reinvention and life beyond the bedside while living in Paris, France.
You can catch Keith's previous interview with Anastasia and her twin sister and fellow nurse coach Sarah Prech on episode 433 of The Nurse Keith Show.
Connect with Anastasia Prech:
Live Well & Whole website
Instagram
LinkedIn
Contact Nurse Keith about holistic career coaching to elevate your nursing and healthcare career at NurseKeith.com. Keith also offers services as a motivational and keynote speaker and freelance nurse writer. You can always find Keith on LinkedIn.
Are you looking for a novel way to empower your career and move forward in life? Keith's wife, Shada McKenzie, is a gifted astrologer and reader of the tarot who combines ancient and modern techniques to provide valuable insights into your motivations, aspirations, and life trajectory, and she offers listeners of The Nurse Keith Show a 10% discount on their first consultation. Contact Shada at TheCircelandtheDot.com or [email protected].
Aug 13, 2025
1 hr

On episode 523 of The Nurse Keith Show nursing and healthcare career
podcast, Keith interviews author, nursing educator, and researcher Dr. Ruth Wittmann-Price, PhD, RN, CNS, CNE, CNEcl, CHSE, ANEF, FAAN.
In the course of their conversation, Keith and Dr. Wittmann-Price discuss the importance and impact of competency-based education in nursing. Dr. Wittmann-Price also reflects on her storied career, and her perceptions and experiences as a highly accomplished nurse academician and writer.
Ruth A. Wittmann-Price, PhD, RN, CNS, CNE, CNEcl, CHSE, ANEF, FAAN, is Dean of the W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing and Health Professionals at Thomas Edison State University in Trenton, NJ. Ruth has been an obstetrical/women’s health nurse for 47 years.
Dr. Wittmann-Price received her AAS and BSN degrees from Felician College, Lodi, New Jersey, and her MS as a perinatal clinical nurse
specialist (CNS) from Columbia University, New York, New York. She completed her PhD in nursing at Widener University, Chester, Pennsylvania, and received the Dean’s Award for Excellence.
Ruth developed a mid-range nursing theory, “Emancipated Decision-Making in Women’s Health Care,” and has tested her theory in four research studies. International researchers are currently using her theory as the foundation for their studies. Her theory is being used by researchers at the University of Limpopo, South Africa, in their campaign, “Finding Solutions for Africa,” which helps women and children.
Dr. Wittmann-Price has taught all levels of nursing students over
the past 30 years and has completed international service-learning trips. She has coedited or authored 16 books, contributed many chapters, and
written numerous articles. She has presented her research regionally,
nationally, and internationally. Dr. Wittmann-Price was inducted into the
National League for Nursing Academy of Nurse Educator Fellows in 2013 and
became a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing in October 2015.
This episode of the Nurse Keith Show is brought to you in collaboration with Springer Publishing, who have been delivering award-winning healthcare education and exam prep materials focused on nursing, behavioral health, and the health sciences for more than 70 years. We thank Springer Publishing for their support.
Links:
Fast Facts About Competency-Based Education in Nursing: How to Teach Competency Mastery
Certified Nurse Educator Review, 4th Edition
Springer Publishing
Contact Nurse Keith about holistic career coaching to elevate your nursing and healthcare career at NurseKeith.com. Keith also offers services as a motivational and keynote speaker and freelance nurse writer. You can always find Keith on LinkedIn.
Are you looking for a novel way to empower your career and move forward in life? Keith's wife, Shada McKenzie, is a gifted astrologer and reader of the tarot who combines ancient and modern techniques to provide valuable insights into your motivations, aspirations, and life trajectory, and she offers listeners of The Nurse Keith Show a 10% discount on their first consultation. Contact Shada at TheCircelandtheDot.com or [email protected].
Jul 30, 2025
41 min
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