Episode Overview

Title: She Thought She Knew About Trauma and Stress
Podcast: Law Enforcement Talk: True Crime and Trauma Stories
Host: John "Jay" Wiley
Guest: Laura Bulblitz (Retired Registered Nurse, Jail Nurse, Life Coach)
Date: February 18, 2026

In this episode, host John "Jay" Wiley speaks with Laura Bulblitz, a retired registered nurse with 28 years of experience working in jail facilities in Colorado. Now a life coach specializing in helping law enforcement and corrections professionals, Laura shares her journey through trauma, stress, and burnout, and reflects on the unique challenges encountered in correctional nursing. Together, they delve into how these traumatic experiences shaped her personally and professionally, the hidden struggles faced by staff in corrections, and how she now helps others facing similar challenges.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Laura’s Path from Nursing Homes to Jail Nursing

[03:40 - 05:45]

• Laura began as an LPN working in nursing homes before moving into jail nursing at the suggestion of her mother, who also worked at the county jail. She emphasizes the career move was mainly for the benefits, crucial at the time due to her husband’s health and raising two small children.
• She quickly discovered a passion for advocating for her incarcerated patients, especially through programs focused on discharge planning to reduce adverse outcomes:

  "One patient actually died before even got to the bus stop." – Laura [04:28]

Realities and Trauma of Jail Nursing

[06:02 - 09:20]

• Laura describes the good and bad effects of working with both inmates and colleagues, highlighting the lack of confidential outlets for officers and nurses to process issues. She focuses on the role of active listening as a key component of her life coaching:

  "The amazing piece is it’s listening. I found that the listening piece is the biggest part… when someone is actually focused on you listening to what you’re saying, it’s just another experience that some people have never had." – Laura [06:38]

• Wiley affirms the power of listening and treating guests’ stories as valuable regardless of how “ordinary” they may seem.

Navigating the Jail Environment

[11:51 - 13:52]

• Laura recounts shifting from a highly controlled environment to one more chaotic, describing her discomfort at facilities where inmates roamed freely and the dangers she faced:

  "I even had to walk tears to pass medications... that became very scary, especially when one actually put his arm out and grabbed me through the bars..." – Laura [12:24]

• She explains her advocacy for staff and patients, often leading to conflict with officers, due to conflicting priorities between security and medical care.
• Wiley and Laura discuss the need to pick battles wisely and ensure security protocols are respected.

Learning Through Experience and Mentorship

[15:19 - 16:58]

• Laura admits starting out with zero trauma or emergency training, grateful for good mentors who helped her learn leadership and emergency skills "on the job."
• She describes her role as the "problem child in booking," medically refusing dangerous bookings to protect both inmates and staff:

  "I'm not taking jail at a point four. So one of the counties... would just call booking and find out if I was on duty or not." – Laura [16:14]

The Unpredictability and Psychological Toll

[21:05 - 26:07]

• Both host and guest discuss the need for predictability and control in a chaotic environment, and how exposure to sudden tragedies took an emotional toll. Laura shares a personal story of devastating inmate suicide that occurred after her advice to check on the inmate was ignored:

  "I get down to medical and on my radio he’s like, Laura, I need you back in the pod. I’m like, for what? He’s like, you know what? I’m like, oh my God. And sure enough, he had hung himself..." – Laura [22:53]

• Laura expresses the unique powerlessness staff feel: unable to control others’ decisions or prevent all tragedies, officers and nurses often struggle with guilt.

Trauma’s Lasting Impact and Burnout

[27:08 - 28:37]

• Laura admits she has become much more assertive over time, learning to advocate for both herself and her patients, and building strong working relationships with officers for better outcomes.
• She acknowledges significant burnout, not just from the role itself but compounded by unsupportive administration, family loss, and accumulated trauma:

  "I just can’t do this anymore. I don’t have the energy, I don’t have the desire or the passion to take care of people like I used to." – Laura [35:57]

Shifts in Correctional Culture

[30:46 - 33:34]

• Laura contrasts different jail cultures, from those focused on confrontation to those where officers employ respect and communication to defuse situations.
• She underscores the difficulty staff face in discussing their problems with peers due to fears about confidentiality and job security.

Transition to Life Coaching

[36:16 - 39:45]

• Laura explains her approach: rather than giving advice, she helps clients explore the roots of their distress and find healthier coping strategies.
• Target clientele: correctional and law enforcement staff, as well as medical professionals in similar environments.
• She offers resources for stress management on her website and clarifies the misconception around "nurse coaching."
• Wiley praises Laura for her experience and style:

  "I’m not big on life coaches. However, I think if I was going to hire one, I would hire you." – Wiley [37:09]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Salty and Seasoned:

  "Pretty much, yes." (On being 'salty' like the host) – Laura [02:28]
  "I don’t have a whole lot of patience… that is part of what drove me to doing what I’m currently trying to do." – Laura [02:48]

• On Burnout:

  "I just can’t do this anymore. I don’t have the energy, I don’t have the desire or the passion to take care of people like I used to." – Laura [35:57]

• On Communication and Teamwork:

  "If they don’t feel comfortable reporting things to me that they’re concerned about... we’re done." – Laura [28:58]

• On Listening:

  "The listening piece is the biggest part of it because nobody listens to anybody anymore." – Laura [06:38]

• On Powerlessness:

  "There’s so much you can’t do, you’re ultimately powerless over a lot of these things. And that can be a real struggle in [and] of itself." – Wiley [24:01]
  "I was very frustrated with that officer... but I have no authority over officers." – Laura [24:19]

• On Coaching Approach:

  "I’m not here to give you a goal, make you have a goal. I’m here to try and help you work through whatever you need to work through." – Laura [37:18]

• Host’s Endorsement:

  "If I was going to hire [a life coach], I would hire you." – Wiley [37:09]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction and Background: [00:00 – 03:40]
• Laura’s Path to Jail Nursing: [03:40 – 05:45]
• Impact and Dual Nature of Corrections Trauma: [06:02 – 09:20]
• Adjusting to Jail Noise and Dynamics: [11:51 – 13:52]
• Learning and Role Clashes: [13:53 – 16:58]
• Powerlessness & Coping with Tragedy: [21:05 – 26:07]
• Changing through Trauma & Burnout: [27:08 – 28:37]
• Differences in Jail Culture: [30:46 – 33:34]
• Transition to Coaching & Resources: [36:16 – 39:45]

Conclusion

Laura Bulblitz’s journey from a “salty” nurse navigating the hazards and heartbreaks of jail nursing to a compassionate life coach underscores the immense stresses faced by corrections staff. Her insights about workplace trauma, the importance of active listening, and the lack of safe, confidential spaces for staff to process pain and burnout, highlight systemic gaps in support for those behind the badge—or the medical cart. Her story is both a sobering look at the reality behind jailhouse walls and a hopeful roadmap for others seeking resilience and recovery.

For resources, stress management tips, or to contact Laura, visit 3rstrategiccoaching.com.