In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Jessica Nelson, an ICU nurse and educator with 24 years of experience in critical care. She shares what ICU nursing is really like, what nurses should know before pursuing this path, and why strong support and education matter so much in this specialty.

Jessica also talks about the best ways to prepare for ICU, including building experience in step-down or med-surg, learning from mentors, and continuing to study outside of orientation. We also discuss certifications, the emotional side of critical care, and the many ways ICU experience can open doors later in a nursing career.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What ICU nursing is really like day to day
• How nurses can prepare for a future in critical care
• Why support, mentorship, and knowing your why matter in ICU nursing

About Jessica Nelson:
Jessica Nelson has 24 years of nursing experience, with most of her career spent in neuro critical care. Her background also includes eight years in interventional radiology, leadership as manager of a Neuro ICU and Neuro Step-Down Unit, and her current role as Clinical Nurse Educator for three high-acuity critical care units. She continues to work bedside twice a month and is passionate about supporting nurses, strengthening clinical judgment, and creating learning environments where nurses feel confident and capable.

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In this solo episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk about one of the most overlooked parts of building a nursing career: networking.

Many nurses work hard, gain experience, and still feel stuck when it comes to moving into a new specialty. Often, the difference is not talent or effort. It is relationships. In this episode, I share why networking is not about using people or self-promotion, but about building genuine connections that can open doors, offer insight, and help you move forward with more clarity.

I also walk through a simple, realistic way to start building your network as a nurse, even if it feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar.

In this episode, I talk about:

• Why networking often makes the difference in who gets access to new nursing opportunities
• How nurses can build genuine professional relationships without feeling fake or self-promotional
• A simple, practical way to start reaching out and growing your network over time

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In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Nurse Daisy about how she moved from bedside nursing into a full-time remote role as a prior authorization nurse. She shares her path from skilled nursing and emergency nursing into the insurance side of healthcare and how this work-from-home specialty became the right fit for her.

We also talk about what this role looks like day to day, what skills transfer well, what nurses should look for when applying, and the benefits and challenges of remote nursing. Daisy gives a realistic look at this specialty for nurses who want more routine, flexibility, and a non-bedside path.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

• What a prior authorization nurse does in a remote role.
• How bedside and ER experience can help nurses move into this specialty.
• What to look for when searching for work-from-home nursing jobs.

About My Guest

Nurse Daisy is a prior authorization nurse who works full-time from home in the insurance side of healthcare. Over the course of her nursing career, she has worked in skilled nursing, emergency nursing, outpatient surgery, home health, school nursing, and private duty nursing. She has now spent more than a decade in her current role and is passionate about helping nurses explore flexible, non-bedside career options.

Connect with Nurse Daisy

Instagram: @thatnursedaisy

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Get the FREE guide here on how to choose your specialty!