Hello, hellooo babes—your daddy Colton here with this week’s hot brew of nursing news. Here’s what we’re spilling today:

• NCLEX goes remote: At-home testing with 360° AI proctoring. Convenient or chaos?
• Tylenol & ibuprofen drama: New research says they may fuel antibiotic resistance.
• Imposter nurse alert: Fake nurse in New Mexico nearly killed a patient with morphine.
• Children’s Hospital LA layoffs: 439 roles cut, mostly admin/management.
• $951M birth injury verdict: Utah jury delivers record-breaking malpractice award.
• CDC in chaos: Director fired, walkouts, and even an armed attack at HQ.

It’s a lot, but you know Club Nurse is here to keep you informed without making you carry the weight alone.

>>The NCLEX Is Moving Remote in 2026 — What Nursing Students Need To Know

>>Fake Nurse Faces 27 Years After Morphine Error Nearly Fatal for Hospice Patient

>>Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to Cut 439 Jobs Amid Financial Strain

>>$951M Birth Injury Verdict: Nurses in Training, Sleeping Doctor Blamed

>>Chaos at the CDC: What Nurses Need to Know

Jump Ahead to Listen:

[00:00:48] NCLEX moves to remote option.
[00:03:46] Antibiotic resistance and pain relievers.
[00:06:43] New Mexico Nurse impersonation scandal.
[00:07:44] Children's Hospital of Los Angeles workforce reductions.
[00:10:06] Utah's largest medical malpractice verdict.
[00:13:02] CDC leadership crisis and implications.
[00:17:21] Community engagement for a better world.

Connect with Colton on social media:
Instagram: @coltonalanlord, @nursedaddies, @club.nurse
TikTok: @nursedaddies

This week, Colton is hanging out with two absolute powerhouses, Rebecca Love and Shannon Lunn, to talk about how nurses are finally getting a seat at the table when it comes to healthcare innovation. They’re diving into the Nurse Pavilion at HLTH and the very first nurse-led hackathon, where all those “what if” ideas we’ve had at the bedside can actually come to life. From napkin sketches to real prototypes, Rebecca and Shannon share how nurses are turning frustrations into solutions—and proving that we have what it takes to change the future of healthcare. Whether you’re curious about starting something of your own, want to link up with other nurse leaders, or just need a little inspo to keep going, this convo is one you don’t want to miss.

>>Nurses: Turn Your Ideas Into Prototypes at HLTH Hackathon—Discount Tickets Available

Jump Ahead to Listen:

[00:02:14] Nurses' representation at conferences.
[00:04:00] Nurse-led innovation and hackathons.
[00:06:02] Nurse innovation and entrepreneurship.
[00:10:51] Nurse-led healthcare innovation hackathon.
[00:12:24] Engaging nurses in healthcare solutions.
[00:19:13] Nurses' Pavilion at HLTH
[00:23:06] Nurse representation in healthcare innovation.
[00:25:06] Investing in nursing careers.
[00:28:04] Networking on LinkedIn for HLTH.

Connect with Colton on social media:
Instagram: @coltonalanlord, @nursedaddies, @club.nurse
TikTok: @nursedaddies

Connect with Rebecca and Shannon on LinkedIn:

• Rebecca Love
• Shannon Lunn

Colton’s back with the latest nurse news you need to know:

• A patient with MS was left behind in an empty clinic. Alone. No phone. No staff. This one’s a PSA for everyone in healthcare—check your rooms.
• A Colorado nurse wins $20 million after being falsely charged and racially targeted at work. The details? Absolutely infuriating—and a major win for justice. Slay, Joppy.
• The plague is back, again. A camper near Lake Tahoe tests positive. Flea bites. Enough said.
• Epic’s teaming up with Microsoft to roll out new AI tools for both patients and providers. Colton’s asking the real question: Where’s our AI charting assistant for nurses?!

>>Disabled Patient Says She Was Abandoned in Clinic, Rolled Off Exam Table to Call Help

>>Jury Awards Nurse DonQuenick Joppy $20M for Discrimination Lawsuit

>>Two U.S. Plague Cases: Fatal in Arizona, Patient Recovering in California

>>EPIC AI Tools Promise to Cut Nurse Charting Time—Reality or Gimmick?

Jump Ahead to Listen:
[00:02:18] Patient left alone in clinic.
[00:05:18] Racial discrimination in nursing.
[00:07:16] California resident tests positive for the plague.
[00:08:38] Epic's AI advancements for patients.
[00:10:14] AI documentation for nurses.

Connect with Colton on social media:
Instagram: @coltonalanlord, @nursedaddies, @club.nurse
TikTok: @nursedaddies

Colton chats with Dr. Jason Bolton, CRNA about his journey from ICU hustle to running the show at the head of the bed. Jason shares how he discovered anesthesia, the grind of ICU life, and what it really takes to survive CRNA school. From mentorship and emotional intelligence to the hard truths about the profession, this convo is packed with insight and inspiration for anyone curious about the CRNA journey.

>>Why Most Applicants Don’t Get Into CRNA School—and How to Stand Out

Jump Ahead to Listen:

[00:01:06] CRNA career journey insights.
[00:05:35] Inspiration to become a CRNA.
[00:08:16] Career path to CRNA.
[00:12:20] Travel nursing trends and opportunities.
[00:14:29] ICU vs. ER experience for CRNA.
[00:19:21] Interview process for nursing students.
[00:20:24] Competitive admissions process insights.
[00:23:00] CRNA application requirements overview.
[00:27:57] CRNA school challenges and realities.
[00:30:31] CRNA lifestyle and experiences.
[00:32:39] Solo work in anesthesia.

Connect with Colton on social media:
Instagram: @coltonalanlord, @nursedaddies, @club.nurse
TikTok: @nursedaddies

Connect with Jason on social media:
Instagram: @bolt_crna

From pandemic chaos to nurse boss energy, babes — this episode’s got it all. Colton chats with Stephanee Beggs, the powerhouse who turned her nursing school grind during COVID into ER experience and a thriving business with RNExplained. She opens up about surviving those first wild shifts, the family roots that shaped her path, and why advocacy and confidence are must-haves in scrubs. Plus, Stephanee gives us the scoop on her book Debrief — a heartfelt reminder that nursing is as much about humanity as it is about medicine.

>>Author & CEO Stephanee Beggs on Debrief and Leading Change in Nursing

Jump Ahead to Listen:

[00:01:38] RN Explained origin story.
[00:05:52] Unconventional nursing career path.
[00:08:36] Mother’s influence on nursing journey.
[00:11:14] Health advocacy and cancer diagnosis.
[00:14:48] Book title inspiration.
[00:20:03] New grad experiences in ER.
[00:23:18] First patient during COVID.
[00:28:33] Finding confidence in nursing.
[00:32:11] Patient advocacy in nursing.
[00:34:18] Trusting your intuition in nursing.
[00:36:01] Respect in high-stress situations.

Connect with Colton on social media:
Instagram: @coltonalanlord, @nursedaddies, @club.nurse
TikTok: @nursedaddies

Connect with Stephanee on LinkedIn and social media:
Instagram: @stephaneebeggs
TikTok: @stephbegg

Don't forget to explore her website, RNExplained

Colton’s back (recording live from LA—construction noise and all) with this week’s wild ride of nurse news:

• Nurse Blake hits Watch What Happens Live—but a bedpan joke steals the spotlight.
• From Filipino teen star to psych NP—Kim De Los Santos shares her powerful journey.
• Whistleblower nurse Carla LeBlanc gets fired after speaking up about deadly staffing—now the union's stepping in.
• Plus: Harvard’s new lithium research could be a game-changer for Alzheimer’s care.

>>Nurse Blake Says Cringe Nurse Question on Andy Cohen’s Show Really Pissed Him Off

>>Kim delos Santos: Filipino Teen Star, Nurse, and Mental Health Advocate

>>Nurse Fired After Podcast Criticizing Employer — Sues Hospital for Retaliation

>>Harvard’s Groundbreaking Lithium Treatment For Alzheimer's and What Nurses Must Know

Jump Ahead to Listen:

[00:01:19] Nurse Blake's TV appearance.
[00:04:10] Filipino nurse Kim De Los Santos.
[00:05:57] Carla LeBlanc whistleblower case.
[00:09:07] Lithium treatment for Alzheimer's research.
[00:10:10] Early detection for Alzheimer's risk.

Connect with Colton on social media:
Instagram: @coltonalanlord, @nursedaddies, @club.nurse
TikTok: @nursedaddies

Colton and Nurse Jenn explore the real challenges of nursing, from delivering care in remote settings with limited resources to protecting your own well-being through healthy boundaries. Jenn shares the story behind her book Nursing Intuition and reflects on why trusting your instincts can make all the difference for patients—and for yourself.

>>"Trust Your Gut, Save Your Sanity": ER Nurse & Author on Surviving Your Nursing Career

Jump Ahead to Listen:

[00:01:35] Nursing intuition in ER nursing.
[00:06:08] Nursing intuition in practice.
[00:10:21] Missed opportunity in patient care.
[00:12:12] Nursing intuition and emotional processing.
[00:15:14] Writing as a therapeutic outlet.
[00:18:12] Nursing intuition in practice.
[00:22:01] Gut feelings in nursing.
[00:27:06] Importance of empathy in nursing.
[00:28:10] Protecting emotional boundaries in healthcare.
[00:34:30] Saying no to work requests.
[00:35:31] Nurse burnout and its impact.

Connect with Colton on social media:
Instagram: @coltonalanlord, @nursedaddies, @club.nurse
TikTok: @nursedaddies

Connect with Jenn on LinkedIn and social media:

Instagram: @ernurse.jenn

Pour yourself a latte and settle in, babes. This week on Club Nurse, Colton Lord dishes the big nursing headlines: Travis Nelson, Oregon’s first Black LGBTQ+ nurse lawmaker, fighting to make nursing care a billable service; the shocking arrest of nurse Amanda Trebach during an immigration raid; a Florida fraudster posing as a nurse; and a heartfelt goodbye to ER legend Grace Adams. Colton keeps it real on why our voices matter in advocacy and why now’s the time to reflect on the kind of nurse — and human — we want to be.

>>Oregon’s First Black LGBTQ+ Nurse Lawmaker Is Passing Historic Laws for Nurses

>>Nurse Arrested While Filming Immigration Raid — and the Video Is Going Viral

>>Fake Nurse, Autumn Bardisa, Arrest Caught on Video After Treating 4K+ Patients For 18 Mo

>>The Nursing Community Honors The Legacy Of Nurse Grace Adams

Jump Ahead to Listen:

[00:01:26] Travis Nelson's historic nursing advocacy.
[00:05:50] Nurse detained during immigration raid.
[00:08:05] Fake nurse scandal in Florida.
[00:11:39] The legacy of a nurse.

Connect with Colton on social media:
Instagram: @coltonalanlord, @nursedaddies, @club.nurse
TikTok: @nursedaddies