RNegade

OVERVIEW/COURSE DESCRIPTION

This podcast course introduces listeners to Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) for the treatment of an extensive and diverse number of acute and chronic conditions. Our instructor left us with the sentiment that we so often experience: “WHY DOESN’T EVERYBODY KNOW ABOUT THIS??”

In 1996 Dr. Carol McMakin began treating individuals with fibromyalgia, myofacial, and other complex pain issues with frequencies resurrected from a list created in the 1920s. Her first published paper in 1998 was a case report of 150 patients with myofacial trigger points, a condition once thought “incurable,’ that achieved 100% relief with FSM treatment. She has since published numerous papers on FSM treatment for various pain and inflammatory conditions, which are also discussed in this podcast course.

McMakin reviews the basic principles of the scientific method and evidenced-based research, the discoveries made possible due to her simultaneous work as a clinician and research professional, and how ‘leading with curiosity’ led to the discoveries and advancements that she made in patient treatment.

COURSE OUTLINE

I. Introductions/Get to know Dr. Carol McMakin

II. The biochemical way - drugs and receptors

III. The machine and the frequency ‘treasure map.’

IV. Introduction to treating pain with frequency

V. Review of the scientific method & evidence-based research

VI. Curiosity, connections, and curing the “incurable”

1. Case studies
   1. Pain
   2. Inflammation (cytokines)

VII. How FSM works - stimulating cell receptors

VIII. More illustration through case studies

IX. Vagus nerve

1. applications for the immune system
2. Limbic system & psych applications

X. Other “happy accidents”

1. Asthma
2. Brain injury

XI.  Other treatments that utilize frequency

1. PMF
2. Rife

XII. FSM is teachable and reproducable

XIII. How to work with Dr. McMakin & Contact

Objectives:

1. Learn the scientific principles of evidence-based research.
2. Learn how to be both clinical and research professionals
3. Learn how the power of curiosity allows for new approaches and understanding to treating patients

About the Instructor:

Carolyn McMakin, MA, DC is the clinical director of the Fibromyalgia and Myofascial  Pain Clinic of Portland, Oregon. She developed Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM)  in 1995 and began teaching FSM courses in 1997. In addition to maintaining a part time clinical practice, she teaches seminars on the use of FSM in the United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, the UK, Europe, Taiwan and the Middle East. She has lectured at the National Institutes of Health and at international medical conferences on the subjects of fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome, fibromyalgia-associated with cervical spine trauma and on differential diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain, pain syndromes and sports injuries.

Her peer-reviewed publications include the FSM induced changes in inflammatory cytokines and substance P seen with FSM treatment of fibromyalgia associated with spine trauma, treatment of pain in the head, neck and face, and low back caused by myofascial trigger points, delayed onset muscle soreness, shingles and neuropathic pain. She consults with various NFL and MLB teams on the use of Frequency Specific Microcurrent in the treatment of sports injuries. She published her textbook Frequency Specific Microcurrent in Pain Management in 2010, and “The Resonance Effect” in 2017 which describes how FSM was developed and provides case reports and frequency protocols for the visceral uses of FSM.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Join RNegade podcasters as they explore the wonders of science and laboratory work with Professor Dr. Varani. This course will focus on distinguishing science from technology, the transformation over the past 50 years on how science is understood and misunderstood. In addition, Dr. Varani will share his research that currently works on at the University of Michigan and how his findings will help healthcare professionals care for their patients when it comes to gut and overall health.

OUTCOMES

1. Understand the current state of science research from the corporate, government, and citizen lenses
2. Distinguish between science and technology and the importance of distinguishing
3. Explore the tissues of the colon and relationship between chronic inflammation and overall health of the other organ systems
4. Understand how Dr. Varani’s current research reveals new information about health, nutrition, and making healthy choices

OUTLINE

I.   Introduction/About “Uncle Jimmy”

     A. From Med School to Pharma to getting rats ‘high’

     B. The Golden Age of Science

     C. 50 years later, professor Emeritus, and still in love with the job

II.  The current state of “science”

     A. Decoupling of science and technology

     B. The influence of politics

     C. The dictates of grant money

III. Dr. Varani’s current research on the gut, supplements, and inflammation

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Dr. Varani is an internationally recognized expert in human cell and organ culture, particularly models of skin. He has worked with a variety of biotechnology and large pharmaceutical companies, including Johnson and Johnson, Genentech, and Amgen. Utilizing in vitro and in vivo models he has supported retinoid, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anti-cancer drug research.

Dr. Varani’s research focuses on the processes of skin homeostasis, aging, atrophy, and fibrotic skin disease. His studies examine regulation of fibroblast proliferation, signaling pathways controlling growth, extracellular matrix production, elaboration of matrix metalloproteinases, and their inhibitors. His group utilizes chemically-induced skin irritation to understand mechanisms of inflammatory skin disease such as psoriasis, drug-induced injury, and Rosacea.

Dr. Varani has developed human colon organ models to understand the process of growth and differentiation in this tissue. These studies have implications for colon cancer and inflammatory bowel disease.

Dr. Varani received his undergraduate degree from St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota and his Ph.D. at the University of North Dakota in 1974. After Post-Doctoral work at the University of Connecticut, he came to the University of Michigan as an Assistant Professor in 1980. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1985 and became a Full Professor in 1991. Currently, Dr. Varani serves as professor emeritus at The University of Michigan.

COURSE OVERVIEW

To introduce Nancy Ruffner as a “social worker” is akin to introduce Wolfgang Puck as a “chef.” Never accepting the limitations of the situation or system that was in to deliver the quality of care that she was capable of providing her patients or clients, she became adept at following the breadcrumbs of her common-sense to become the solution. This course will remind the learner of: their own essential common-sense, and how to listen to it; the importance of using your voice, and the nuance of knowing when it’s ok to save it for the right time; and how to critically-think about, and follow, the breadcrumbs of “begets” (i.e. an elderly patient develops a neurological problem, and that ‘begets’ another service, and a power-of-attorney, and that ‘begets’...)

OBJECTIVES

1. Learn how to effect change in your own work environment
2. Learn how advocacy can come in different forms (e.g., speaking, coaching, educating)
3. Learn how to coach effectively through relying on your past experiences to prevent the squelching of one’s voice. “I needed a me, so I became one.”

OUTLINE

I. Introductions/Get to know Nancy

II. Professional Background

1. Social Work
2. Working with Corporate & Private EAPs
3. Personal Experience advocating for aging parents

III. Burning-out: the cognitive dissonance of being beholden to a system moving too slow

IV. Starting a business: becoming the solution for yourself and how you want to serve

V. Know when to hold ‘em: wheels need cogs too, it’s ok to be a cog

VI. Business evolution

1. Patient Advocacy
2. Patient Advocate coach and incubator

VII. Learning skills on-the-job

1. Technical
2. Speaking
3. “Begets”

VIII. Stories

1. “Begets”
2. Teaching families to advocate for themselves
3. ‘Kitchen Table’ Advocacy

IX. Importance of Assembling a Team

X.  Contact

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Nancy Ruffner is a Board Certified Patient Advocate and owner of NAVIGATE NC.

Nancy earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (BSW) from Western Carolina University and a Graduate Certificate in Counselor Education (GCCE) from NC State University. The growing field of Professional Patient Advocacy is young, and Nancy was among the first in the nation to earn the BCPA (Board Certified Patient Advocate) credential.

Nancy founded NAVIGATE NC, an advocacy company whose services help families to meet the challenges that normally come with aging or with chronic conditions. Since 2013 the company has emerged as a fast-growing agency with a goal of becoming a market leader for patient advocacy services in the Southeast.

Nancy Ruffner speaks regionally to groups on topics involving aging, living with chronic conditions, planning, and navigating within a complex healthcare system. She has designed and taught gerontology coursework at the community college level that served to usher talented people into the senior care industry. She is currently an Adjunct Instructor at both Duke and NC State University's OLLI programs (Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes), teaching a course that she designed called “A Consumer’s Guide To Healthcare Advocacy”. Nancy enjoys provoking thought and helping folks to create and implement a plan. Her antennae are always up with respect to advocacy for clients, ways to educate and create awareness, and the chance to provide real solutions.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This podcast course is a humbling, horrifying, enlightening, and inspiring experience, as you’re invited to see the world through the eyes of Ryann Mason, A.K.A. “Chronically_Ry,” of Instagram fame.

Humbling - when we learned that our assumption that as healthcare professionals we ‘had a clue’ about the experience of persons with disabilities was not only lacking, but totally ignorant and ableist.

Awakening - of how the ignorance of society, and medical professionals specifically, has contributed to the challenges that people with disabilities face.

Enlightening - as our instructor gently and comprehensively remedies our ignorance with stories & metaphors from her own experience. Ryan’s simple guidance informs understanding and empathy to shift participants’ thinking and behavior toward individuals with disabilities to effect big change.

Inspiring - Ryan Kress’s story is universally inspiring - one human who used adversity as compost to germinate purpose, service, and a life well-lived.

OBJECTIVES

1. Learn how disabilities do not prevent achieving one’s goal and how to advocate for oneself
2. Learn more about abelism in both the general and healthcare community
3. Learn how to identify disabled individuals

OUTLINE

I. Introductions/Get to know Ryan

II. Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

1. About EDS
2. Personal Timeline

III. The Reckoning (Title, not verb)

IV. Conquering Hills: literal and metaphorical

V. The Ableism of Ignorance

1. The general public - The sh@t people say when I’m buying tomatoes.
2. Healthcare providers - “Yes, I can stand. No, I’m not faking.”
3. Patients - “Thank you for your concern. Hold still while I wipe your butt.”

VI. First Person Language

VII. Mobility Aids - (Can’t believe I have to say this but…) things that help people move,

and prevent them from falling-down, improve their quality-of-life.

VIII. Stories: The world-altering implications of an RN who goes places with wheels

1. ER Story - man with sepsis
2. Instagram Overload
3. Educating-out ableism in healthcare

IX. Contact

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Ryann Mason is a 29 year old disability advocate, registered nurse, proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, adaptive athlete, public speaker, sexuality educator, and self-proclaimed loudmouth southern belle. Ryann was born with a rare genetic collagen disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS).

Ryann created an Instagram account, “Chronically Ry,” to share her experience with EDS, and it exploded overnight. She continues to leverage this and other social media platforms to educate and inspire younger EDS patients and others with disabilities by sharing her story as a woman with a physically disability working as a nurse in healthcare.

In addition to social media platforms, Ryann’s voice of advocacy for disability has been featured in Forbes magazine (twice,) multiple news stations, papers, and magazines. Ryann is a published model, adaptive athlete in wheelchair basketball, OCR, weightlifting, and an avid karaoke performer when the mood strikes. When she isn’t working the nightshift on the postpartum unit at her local level one trauma center, or running Chronically Ry, Ryann can be found at home with her girlfriend, para athlete Ryen Reed, and their 10 year old chihuahua, Oliver. Ryann could have let everything she’s been through bring her life to a screeching halt, but instead she continues to share her story to encourage and inform others about the needs and experiences of so many disabled humans all over the world.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Any nurse who works in an arena where the words: “CODE BLUE, ROOM BLAH… CODE BLUE, ROOM BLAH,” are as common as a missed lunch-break, will tell you that going back to the “A-B-Cs”: A - Airway, B - Breathing, C - Circulation, is an antidote to doubt and indecision. Amber Moore brings the same kind of simplicity and clarity to her ‘modus operandi’ as a clinical nurse, nurse manager and educator, by illustrating how to lead with a MORAL COMPASS. She shares how her own moral compass was refined by the wisdom and resilience gained from her life and career experiences.

OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course participants will be able to:

1. Understand how to identify the specific area of nursing or healthcare you wish to pursue.
2. Identify the challenges of being an OR Nurse
3. Explain how to effect cultural change at your place of employment
4. Understand how to utilize the experience gained in a nursing specialty to create a side-gig (ex: medical expert witness)

OUTLINE

I.   Introductions/Get to know Amber

     A. Always an advocate

     B. Personal background roots

     C. Professional background

     D. How personal & professional challenges became compost for the ‘formidable’ to grow

II.   The car accident that created a nurse

     A. Trauma

     B. OR

III.   Nurses’ challenge of getting your foot in the door they want

IV.   Patient challenges of vetting the right surgeon

V.    Things are getting better

VI.   Nurses’ “implicit oath” of sworn protection of the patient, not the hierarchy

V.    Practical advice to prevent the same mistake twice

VII.  Creating a culture of reporting for improvement

VIII.  Lessons as a medical expert witness

IX.   How nurses are most vulnerable to blame

     A. No secrets in Epic

     B. Anecdotes of managing an OR moral compass

X.    Contact

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR 

Amber Moore, BSN, RN, CNOR has a meaty nursing resume. She’s a Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR,) and 20+ year veteran of all-things O.R: OR nurse, OR manager, and OR educator.

In addition to her diverse roles in the OR specialty - and her other part-time, 168-hour/week job as a wife and mother - Amber is also a certified EPIC Trainer (noun and adjective forms of the word “EPIC” equally apply,) and Expert Witness.

The consistency and progression of her experience in a singular nursing specialty for 2 decades is certainly impressive, but what makes Amber Moore exceptional – as a nurse, and a human – isn’t itemized on her resume, but it should be the subtitle to her name:

“Lives and Works Through A Moral Compass.”

Amber Moore’s superpower is discernment. She leads and teaches with a foundation of common sense, and embodies a clean-and-clear expression of truth in her professional and personal life.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Occupational Therapy is such an enigma that it is woefully underutilized, or engaged as an postscript to discharge rather than a necessary component of inpatient treatment. This podcast course serves to turn the enigma of the OT role into an essential solution for nurses to engage in the patient’s team, early-on, to prevent intercept debilitation secondary to hospital stays, and to enhance and accelerate rehabilitation post discharge.

An inspiring complement to the education provided about the OT role is the instructor’s story of how she made a business and career from her unique solutions to the challenges of integrating Occupational Therapy within the current healthcare system.

OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course participants will be able to:

1. Recognize 'the gap' in the healthcare communication system
2. Explain how understanding and proactively utilizing all role's in the patient's team (aka team building/leading) can prevent further debilitation to the patient
3. List the steps to become a healthcare entrepreneur
4. Discuss the concept and process of motivational interviewing

OUTLINE

I.   Introductions/Get to know Nicole Nohner

     A. Expertise, experience

     B. Seeing a problem, becoming a solution

II.   “The Gap” in the patient healthcare continuum

     A. Addressing risk of debilitation early to prevent poor outcomes/readmission

     B. Opportunities for evaluation: admission, in-patient, discharge, follow-up

III.   Cutting her teeth Where Nicole learned to love OT, and developed her unique perspective

     A. Forensics, Psych, Home Health and Skilled Nursing facilities

     B. Exercise as medicine

IV.   Preventing debilitation from admission through post-discharge

     A. Taking an individualized approach to planning treatment

     B. Anticipating challenges

V.   How nurses can proactively utilize the OT role to improve patient outcomes & prevent readmission

VI.  Bridging “The Gap:” Starting a business to become the solution

     A. Establishing a mobile outpatient OT practice

     B. Learning curves: social media marketing, insurance

     C. Recognizing opportunities for growth

VII.   Wins: examples of patients who didn’t fall through ‘The Gap’ because Nicole was there

VIII.  Using an individualized approach

     A. Proactive observation of the life and environment

     B. Motivational Interviewing

     C. Understanding and honoring a patient’s personal definition of success

IX.   Finding your ‘Niche’ as an entreprenure

X.   Contact Nicole Nohner

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:

Nicole Nohner is an Occupational Therapist, Certified Lymphedema Therapist, Certified Fall Prevention Specialist and Entrepreneur. She earned a BS in Exercise Science from Gonzaga University and a Masters in Occupational Therapy from Eastern Washington University. As a student she traveled with athletes on the Junior Paralympics Team and lead a weekly recreational group for adults with developmental disabilities. Hand N Hand Home Rehab, her mobile Occupational Therapy Practice, is where her passion for communication, teamwork, functional exercise & meaningful activities results in her patients' ability to improve their lives and achieve their goals.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The experience and education that can be provided by the patient population is an unhailed source of invaluable education for continuing professional development - not only for nurses, but for all healthcare professionals. Lianne Saffer’s story illustrates that precisely, and presently, as facilitators Antra Boyd and Karen DiMarco were changed as professionals and humans by the end of this podcast course.

Diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 33, she was given one course of treatment and told that she was going to be “fine.” She didn't know then that their definition of “fine” was worlds apart from her own, and how conventional medicine’s algorithmic treatment of her diagnosis, rather than an individualized approach, would devastate her vitality and her life.

When Lianne woke up to the dissonance between ‘their fine and hers,’ she took back the reins of her treatment course, and ownership of her healthcare. She did her own research, found her voice, authored an outcome that she could accept, then became a champion for others to do the same.

OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of this course participants will be able to:

1. Recognize the importance of a establishing a patient's personal definition of "fine" in their treatment plan.
2. Explain how a patient's "fully-informed decision" contributes to the quality of their treatment. 
3. Discuss how healthcare providers' humility & empathy contribute to a collaborative, quality patient experience.

COURSE OUTLINE:

I.    Introductions

II.   Jumping-in to the deep-end: Lianne’s Story

     A. The Urgency Train: I’m 33, I’m going to die

     B. Their “fine”: Chop things off, chemo

III.  But wait, there’s alternatives?

     A. Research

IV.  Finding her voice

     A. Bringing the research, making your case

     B. Defining your treatment Vs. getting sucked-into theirs

V.  Obstacles

     A. Resistant caregivers

     B. Finances - insurance only pays for the ‘algorithms’

VI. It wasn’t over

     A. Toxic breast reconstruction

     B. Autoimmune issues - Hashimotos, SIBO, etc

VII. Please Don’t Send Me Flowers

     A. It’s more helpful to know it sucks

     B. Let me blow my nose with your pink ribbon

VIII. Having good boundaries is the best prevention

IX. What does it mean to “own your health?”

X.  Everybody's right. Partially

XI. Regrets and ‘would haves.’

XII. Coaching and contact

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:

Lianne Saffer often describes her life as: “An endless quest to feel it all.” She is a wife, mother, writer, fitness instructor, hair stylist, life coach, author, and advocate for helping people live ‘a loud and authentic life.’

From divorce, to coming out, to cancer, in her book: Please, Don't Send Me Flowers, Lianne shares how she gained resilience, wisdom, and trust for herself, through the painful discovery even healthcare professionals don’t always know what’s best for you.

Lianne believes that we should all get a little louder, and use our voices to help create true empathy and understanding. She believes in raising strong women, and telling the truth about hard situations by opening conversations that society has closed, and asking questions about things we were taught not to. Her mission is to reach and empower as many people as possible with her writing, coaching, and speaking events.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Do you also have ideas on how systems and processes at your work can be done better? What do you do with those ideas? Allen Plunkett shares exactly what you can do with them. His experience as an entrepreneur beginning at 18 years old to now running his own IT recruiting firm, helped him design a methodology, a philosophy, a winning strategy to be successful, including learning from failures. Join Allen, Antra, and Karen as they explore how these skills are vital to being a success - be it a nurse, an entrepreneur, a partner, or a member of society. Your voice matters!

OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. become professionally self-reliant and start a business, side-hustle or gig

2. identify core skills/superpowers that you want to take with you to your next promotion or job

3. find their voice and speak up to ask what they want from their workplace

COURSE OUTLINE:

I.   Introductions/Get to know Allen

II.  “I can do that better.”  - how to turn that thought into action

     A. Fear

     B. Self-reliant

     C. What is a life-style business?

     D. How does one rewire your mind to say you can do “it” (system, process, business) better?

     E. Surround yourself with people who support you

     F. “I love what I do”

III.  Nurses - why do they make awesome independent contractors?

     A. They will always have work

     B. Nurses as entrepreneurs

     C. Nurses who have ideas but don’t want to leave their environment

IV.  How COVID is rewiring the work place

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:

Allen started his career in retail, working for grocery stores and then PetSmart until getting into the staffing world in 1998. After working for one recruiting firm until 2002, he struck out with a friend to launch Phoenix Staff. Allen and his wife love the fact that they have a stellar team of people working towards a common goal – employing good people in good jobs. Outside of work, they are fortunate to be surrounded by a great extended family in Florida and California. A graduate of Florida Atlantic University, Allen is dedicated to his team and to helping identify ways to help people grow their careers and find a place where they can love what they do and where they do it.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Traditional Medicine. Functional Medicine. Holistic Medicine. These terms fly around us on social media and the news all the time resulting in confusion, distrust, and a lack of ownership of one’s own health. Brandon Vermiere’s mission is to reverse that. In this RNegade podcast course Brendon takes us through the Odyssey of the the trials and tribulations led an autodicact passionate about science and biology to establish his own holistic company that is innovating lab diagnostic methods to revolutionize treatments for chronic illness.

OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. understand the differences among traditional, functional, and holistic approaches to medicine

2. site case studies of holistic medicine approaches to use in other cases

3. appreciate and apply holistic approaches to treating patients

COURSE OUTLINE:

I.   Introductions/Get to know Brandon

II.  “I had to go through hell to get here”

     A. Triumphing over adversity

     B. Self-motivation to learn

     C. “Help me help you”

III.  Explanation of Traditional vs Functional vs Holistic Medicine

IV.  Brandon’s as a healthcare entrepreneur

V.   How nurses look to holistic medicine approach to treat and advocate for their patients

VI.  How Big Pharma bastardized medicine

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:

Brendan Vermeire (pronunciation: ‘Brehn-dehn Vur-meyer’) is a Mental and Metabolic Health Scientist & Researcher, Functional Medicine Educator, Writer,  and Speaker. He is a Board-Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, Master Nutrition Coach, Master  Personal Trainer, USAW Sports Performance Coach, and Crossfit Trainer.

He began his career as a personal trainer and nutrition coach at the age of 18 after disappointingly being  medically discharged from the United States Navy Seal training pipeline due to an injury. After being  exposed to the power of functional lab testing in the start of his career, he began intensely pursuing that  as a career path which has led him to be widely regarded as one of the top leading experts in Metabolic  Health and Functional Education.

He is the proud owner and founder of the Metabolic Solutions Institute for Functional Health and Fitness  Practitioners, and the Metabolic Solutions Research & Education Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation  dedicated to ‘changing the way the world views mental health’ through advancing the science of Mental  Health Dysfunction. He is also the creator of The Mental M.A.P.™, a cutting-edge Lab Panel for Mental Health.

When he’s not educating doctors/practitioners/professionals, helping clients overcome their most  severe health struggles, or producing cutting edge scientific education, Brendan enjoys all things fitness  and is probably working out. He also enjoys anything in nature and any activities that expand his heart,  mind, and soul.

Course Description

“If the path before you is clear, you're probably on someone else's.” ― Joseph Campbell

This podcast is like being in one of those movies that you watch until the end of the credits, hoping for surprise ‘bonus material,’ because you want the inspiration to live life more fully, and become the best version of yourself, to last a little longer.

In this podcast course, participants will understand:

• the importance of developing their own definition of success - just because an idea is popular, doesn’t mean it’s true.
• dispel the common myths regarding pace, order, and limitations in achieving career goals.
• how the courage to change-course and follow ‘bread crumbs,’ when life presents challenge and/or opportunity, is essential to one’s evolution of happiness, human potential, and meaningful work.
• how honoring the vision of one’s ideal life, and every-day ‘non-negotiables,’ engenders clarity and confidence.

About the Instructor 

Chris Recinos, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, NEA-BC, is the CEO and founder of Nurse Leader Network and podcast, which is dedicated to helping nurse leaders with tools, resources, and connections to revolutionize health care, while enhancing their lives outside of their occupation. In November 2020, Chris started the development of the texting bot app, “Hello Harmony,” to address adolescent mental health and suicide. Her former roles include Chief Nurse Executive for Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center; Deputy Nurse Executive for the Veterans Administration; and a variety of academic, nurse practitioner, and registered nurse positions.

Objectives

1. Learn how to care for yourself in order to effectively care for others.
2. Learn how to create a set of negotiables, non-negotiables, and short and long term goals that relate to your work and personal life
3. Learn how to become an entrepreneur and the power of “action”

Outline

I. Introductions/Get to know Chris       

• Growing up in Foster Homes
• Barbies to a baby - having a child at 14
• The nurse that changed everything
• The oath - not for me, and never for my child
• The reunion - “I’m here because of you; I’m a nurse because of you.”

II. Losing Harmony

• Unspeakable tragedy
• The baby that saved me
• The road to ‘success’ that bypassed the things you can’t replace
• Never again

III.  Hello Harmony - Harnessing ‘the hustle’

• First, the hustle to cope with loss
• Next, Harmony’s sis-inspired- ‘hackathon’ aims ‘the hustle’ in an unexpected direction
• Then, Grace leads ‘the hustle’ to bring healing, meaning, and saving of lives

IV.  Design your time

• Whose ‘to do’ list are you checking-off?
• Setting Boundaries - What are your Non-Negotiables?
• Design your life - and ask if everything you do goes toward or away-from that vision

V. Serving others through life lessons that’ve created an unconventional nursing leader

• Podcast
• Best Practices
• Coaching Leaders
• Serving Nurse Entrepreneurs

VI. Practices to become a leader

• Get good in the job that you’re currently in
• Help others meet their goals
• The difference between you and those that don't do it is action (not degrees or talk)
• Take care of yourself

VII. How nurses innovate when they’re unleashed, and allowed to love what they do again

• The escape room
• Dispelling sacred cows, question limitations
• Forge your own path

VIII. Contact