
Hosted by Beth Quaas · EN

Episode Summary:In this powerful episode of Don’t Eat Your Young, host Beth Quaas sits down with nursing leader Connie Delaney, Dean of the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, to explore transformational leadership, interprofessional collaboration, and the future of healthcare. Connie shares how her early experiences shaped her philosophy of leading with love, the impact of nursing informatics, and her unwavering support for full practice authority for nurse practitioners.Key Topics Covered:Connie’s journey into nursing and leadershipWhy honoring every voice in healthcare mattersLessons from transforming a nursing schoolHow nurses can advocate for change from withinThe future of AI in nursing and its human implicationResources & Links:Connect with Connie White Delaney on LinkedIn.Visit Connie's website.Igniting Transformational Change book.Find the School of Nursing on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.Winning the CRNA Interview: A Step-By-Step Guide to Admissions Success.Subscribe, Rate, and Review Don't Eat Your Young!Your support helps us continue bringing valuable conversations to the nursing community. If you know someone in healthcare who's making a significant impact, we want to hear about them! Whether it's a nurse, NP, CRNA, student, aide, manager, supervisor, or even a patient advocate driving positive change and inspiring others, we’d love to shine a spotlight on their work. Nominate someone today by filling out this form. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Episode Summary:In this eye-opening episode, host Beth Quaas welcomes Dr. Beth Sanford, a seasoned nurse educator and passionate advocate for vitamin D awareness, to explore the critical role vitamin D plays in physical, cognitive, and emotional health. From personal stories to evidence-based research, Dr. Sanford shares powerful insights about how vitamin D deficiency affects not just the general population but especially nurses, night shift workers, students, and healthcare professionals.You’ll learn why this “low-hanging fruit” is often overlooked in clinical care, how to assess your own risk, and what steps you can take to improve your health—and maybe even save lives.Key Topics Covered:What vitamin D does in the body (and why it’s vital for nurses!)Common causes of deficiency (including medication use and sunscreen habits)How geographic location and skin tone impact vitamin D levelsThe connection between vitamin D deficiency and mental health, pregnancy, cognitive function, and cancer riskTools and resources for both patients and cliniciansResources & Links:Connect with Dr. Beth Sanford on LinkedIn.Visit Beth's website.Dr. Beth Sanford touches on this topic in her podcast episode:Vitamin D and Immune Health (2022)Vitamin D and Gut Health (2023)Subscribe, Rate, and Review Don't Eat Your Young!Your support helps us continue bringing valuable conversations to the nursing community. If you know someone in healthcare who's making a significant impact, we want to hear about them! Whether it's a nurse, NP, CRNA, student, aide, manager, supervisor, or even a patient advocate driving positive change and inspiring others, we’d love to shine a spotlight on their work. Nominate someone today by filling out this form. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Episode Summary:In this inspiring episode of Don't Eat Your Young, host Beth Quaas sits down with author and professor Melissa Pritchard to dive deep into the life and legacy of Florence Nightingale — the true original "GOAT" (Greatest of All Time) in nursing.Melissa shares the incredible story behind her novel Flight of the Wild Swan and how a serendipitous visit to the Florence Nightingale Museum led her to chronicle Nightingale's groundbreaking impact on healthcare, nursing leadership, public health reform, and the modern role of nurses today.Learn how Florence Nightingale’s vision, statistical genius, and unwavering compassion still influence nursing practice, healthcare systems, and women's leadership more than 200 years later. If you’re a nurse, healthcare worker, history lover, or leader, this episode will leave you inspired and proud of your profession.Key Topics Covered:Melissa Pritchard’s journey to writing Flight of the Wild SwanFlorence Nightingale’s revolutionary contributions to nursing and healthcareNursing leadership lessons from Florence NightingaleHow Nightingale’s work in the Crimean War shaped modern healthcareThe power of calling, service, and compassionate leadershipResources & Links:Connect with Melissa Pritchard on Facebook and Instagram.Get your copy of Flight of the Wild Swan here.Visit Melissa's website.Subscribe, Rate, and Review Don't Eat Your Young!Your support helps us continue bringing valuable conversations to the nursing community. If you know someone in healthcare who's making a significant impact, we want to hear about them! Whether it's a nurse, NP, CRNA, student, aide, manager, supervisor, or even a patient advocate driving positive change and inspiring others, we’d love to shine a spotlight on their work. Nominate someone today by filling out this form. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Episode Summary:In this powerful episode of Don't Eat Your Young, host Beth Quaas sits down with Megan Carter—nurse leader turned consultant—to unpack the harsh realities of nurse leadership, burnout, and bullying in healthcare. Megan opens up about her own journey from bedside nurse to associate chief nursing officer, the toll it took on her well-being, and how a six-month sabbatical led to the creation of MC Healthcare Consulting.Together, they explore:Why many nurses resist leadership roles—and why we need them to reconsiderThe hidden toll of peer-to-peer bullying at the leadership levelHow Megan is helping nurse leaders reclaim time, purpose, and balanceTips to navigate toxic cultures and advocate for yourself with confidenceThe meaning behind the term “Chaos Whisperer”—and why it might be your next identityIf you're a nurse navigating your path in leadership or looking for hope in the chaos, this episode is your permission slip to thrive.Resources & Links:Connect with Megan Carter on LinkedIn.Visit Megan's website.Subscribe, Rate, and Review Don't Eat Your Young!Your support helps us continue bringing valuable conversations to the nursing community. If you know someone in healthcare who's making a significant impact, we want to hear about them! Whether it's a nurse, NP, CRNA, student, aide, manager, supervisor, or even a patient advocate driving positive change and inspiring others, we’d love to shine a spotlight on their work. Nominate someone today by filling out this form. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Episode Summary:In this episode of Don't Eat Your Young, we sit down with Maureen Metzger, a passionate advocate for nurse well-being and resilience. Maureen shares practical strategies to help nurses maintain their mental, emotional, and physical health while navigating the challenges of the profession. From self-care and mindfulness to workplace support and professional boundaries, we explore the essential ingredients for well-being in nursing. Tune in to gain insights and actionable tips to enhance your work-life balance and sustain a fulfilling career in healthcare.What You'll Learn in This Episode:- The key components of well-being for nurses- How to manage stress and avoid burnout- Practical self-care strategies for busy healthcare professionals- The role of leadership in supporting nurse wellness- Tips for setting boundaries and advocating for your needsResources & Links:Connect with Maureen Metzger on LinkedIn.Visit Maureen's website.Free video & guidebook link.Subscribe, Rate, and Review Don't Eat Your Young!Your support helps us continue bringing valuable conversations to the nursing community. If you know someone in healthcare who's making a significant impact, we want to hear about them! Whether it's a nurse, NP, CRNA, student, aide, manager, supervisor, or even a patient advocate driving positive change and inspiring others, we’d love to shine a spotlight on their work. Nominate someone today by filling out this form. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Meet SonyaI was born and raised in Walterboro, South Carolina. I was told that at the age of three, I told my family that I wanted to be a nurse. After high school, I attended college for two years at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, where I thought I wanted to major in Industrial Psychology. Somehow, nursing was not on my compass at the time and I took a different path.I left Spelman and came home to hold various jobs. I became a career administrative assistant for various industries, such as financial (working for CFO, Controller, Credit Manager) and legal (assistant for corporate bankruptcy, immigration, school education, and environmental lawyers). When presented with the opportunity to attend law school, I decided then that, although I liked what I did, it was not what I truly wanted to pursue for a career.I decided to go back to school at Trident Technical College in 2003. I finished with my ADN in 2006. I had begun as a Student Tech on 8D during my last year at Trident but I had always been interested in the OR so I decided to take a job in the Main Operating Room as a new grad. I started in 2006 and since then, I have become the Unit Magnet Champion, RNIII, Selecting Talent Peer Interviewer, member of the OR Shared Governance Council, CNOR, and Unit Certification Champion. I became a mid-shift staff nurse where I was exposed to multiple services: Urology, GYN, DaVinci, ENT/Plastics/Oral, Ortho, Neuro and Pediatrics. This gave me a wealth of knowledge and I became a resource and mentor to many. I decided to go back to school in 2014 to receive my BSN, which I received from University of Texas – Arlington in December 2016. I also received my MSN program in Nurse Education there in 2018. I am one of the Nursing Professional Development Specialists for the ORs at a large academic medical center, where I am the lead for orientation/onboarding for 50 ORs. LinksSonya on InstagramLearn more about supporting the Don’t Eat Your Young Podcast with a membership — visit Don’t Eat Your Young’s membership page! (00:00) - Welcome to Don't Eat Your Young • Sonya Spruill (34:02) - Wrapping Up ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★