This episode dives into one of the most pressing issues in healthcare today: the "Practice-Readiness Gap." While nursing school prepares students to pass the NCLEX, does it truly prepare them for the realities of the hospital floor?

We are "breaking the wall" between academia and clinical practice. Our guests discuss the disconnect that leads to new-grad burnout just six months into the job and explore why the traditional 1:1 student-to-patient clinical model might be doing more harm than good. From the impact of Magnet status on hiring to the "secret weapon" of having worked as a nursing assistant, we examine what it actually takes to transition from a student to a high-performing RN.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The NCLEX vs. The Bedside: Why preparing for a high-stakes exam often comes at the cost of clinical reality.
• The Reality Shock: Understanding why new grads are leaving the profession and how "practice readiness" can prevent early-career burnout.
• Post-Pandemic Challenges: How the decrease in clinical hours since COVID-19 has reshaped nursing education.
• Solutions for the Future: Strategic shifts like engaging bedside nurses as faculty, moving from 12-hour to 8-hour precepting shifts, and aligning curricula with the new AACN Essentials.

Whether you are a nursing student, a clinical instructor, or a hospital administrator, this episode is a roadmap for how we can think differently about training to ensure the next generation of the "Hive" is built to last.

Take the Next Step in Your Career

Earn While You Learn: We know how valuable your time is. That’s why select episodes of Hive Nurse | Inside the Hive are eligible for Continuing Education (CE) credits. Enhance your practice and stay compliant with your board requirements simply by listening to our expert interviews and completing a brief post-episode evaluation. Look for the "CE Eligible" tag in the episode titles to start earning credits today.

Connect with the Hive:

• Follow us on Instagram: @HiveNurse
• Join the Conversation on LinkedIn: Hive Nurse
• Visit our Website: HiveNurse.com

Love the show? If you found value in this episode, please leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support helps other nurses find our "Hive" and grow our collective impact.

Share the Buzz: Know a nurse who needs to hear this? Forward this episode to a colleague and help us evolve the profession together.

Production Credits:

• Hosts/Executive Producers: Elizabeth Walters Miller, Ashley Kellish
• Audio Engineering & Sound Design: An...

Why pursue a doctorate in nursing now? And why choose to do it at UNC Pembroke? In the second half of our special series, our inaugural DNP graduates pull back the curtain on the "why" behind their journey.

Nursing at the doctoral level requires a unique blend of clinical expertise and a passion for systemic change. In this episode, our guests discuss the motivations that drove them to advance their education amidst a challenging healthcare landscape. We also explore the unique draw of UNC Pembroke—a university rooted in community and service. From the faculty-student bond to the program’s focus on rural health and leadership, find out what makes a "Brave" doctor different.

Key topics include:

• The Drive for Excellence: The personal and professional "whys" that lead a nurse to seek the highest level of practice.
• The Power of Place: Why these students chose to make history at UNCP rather than elsewhere.
• Community Impact: How earning a DNP locally allows these practitioners to better serve the diverse populations of Southeastern North Carolina.
• Advice for the Next Cohort: Wisdom for those considering following in their history-making footsteps.

Take the Next Step in Your Career

Earn While You Learn: We know how valuable your time is. That’s why select episodes of Hive Nurse | Inside the Hive are eligible for Continuing Education (CE) credits. Enhance your practice and stay compliant with your board requirements simply by listening to our expert interviews and completing a brief post-episode evaluation. Look for the "CE Eligible" tag in the episode titles to start earning credits today.

Connect with the Hive:

• Follow us on Instagram: @HiveNurse
• Join the Conversation on LinkedIn: Hive Nurse
• Visit our Website: HiveNurse.com

Love the show? If you found value in this episode, please leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support helps other nurses find our "Hive" and grow our collective impact.

Share the Buzz: Know a nurse who needs to hear this? Forward this episode to a colleague and help us evolve the profession together.

Production Credits:

• Hosts/Executive Producers: Elizabeth Walters Miller, Ashley Kellish
• Audio Engineering & Sound Design: An...

In this historic episode, Elizabeth sits down with her students the first Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) cohort at UNC Pembroke—the first students in the university's history to earn doctoral degrees. Our conversation dives deep into the emotional and professional journey of the last few years.

The transition from student to "Doctor" is more than just a title change; it is the culmination of rigorous clinical hours, scholarly projects, and personal sacrifice. Our guests share the specific, often raw experiences that defined their time in the program—from breakthrough moments in patient care to the late-night realizations that shifted their perspective on nursing leadership.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Weight of being "The First": What it feels like to set the standard for future doctoral candidates at UNCP.
• Impactful Moments: The specific clinical or academic encounters that fundamentally changed how these students approach healthcare.
• The Finish Line: The immediate emotions of completing a terminal degree and what "Doctor" means to them and their families.

Take the Next Step in Your Career

Earn While You Learn: We know how valuable your time is. That’s why select episodes of Hive Nurse | Inside the Hive are eligible for Continuing Education (CE) credits. Enhance your practice and stay compliant with your board requirements simply by listening to our expert interviews and completing a brief post-episode evaluation. Look for the "CE Eligible" tag in the episode titles to start earning credits today.

Connect with the Hive:

• Follow us on Instagram: @HiveNurse
• Join the Conversation on LinkedIn: Hive Nurse
• Visit our Website: HiveNurse.com

Love the show? If you found value in this episode, please leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support helps other nurses find our "Hive" and grow our collective impact.

Share the Buzz: Know a nurse who needs to hear this? Forward this episode to a colleague and help us evolve the profession together.

Production Credits:

• Hosts/Executive Producers: Elizabeth Walters Miller, Ashley Kellish
• Audio Engineering & Sound Design: An...