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The Chaos Whisperers of Healthcare

The Chaos Whisperers of Healthcare

By: Dr. Megan Carter DNP RN NEA-BC
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 Join Dr. Megan Carter and healthcare industry innovators who are leading the charge on healing the broken US healthcare system as Chaos Whisperers. Chaos Whisperers are clinicians and leaders who are done with burnout, overwhelm and interruptions that prevent them from focusing on what matters most. Dr. Carter and her guests share practical tips and tools to help you lead with impact. Whether it's simplifying a chaotic calendar, getting back more time in patient care or leveraging the latest in AI tech...every listener will walk away with tools and strategies they can use at work right away. Connect with Dr. Carter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-megan-carter-dnp-rn-nea-bc/ Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • S2 EP8: The Nurse Manager Guide to Sustainable Leadership

    S2 EP8: The Nurse Manager Guide to Sustainable Leadership
    Dec 22 2025
    Summary In this episode of Chaos Whispers of Healthcare, Dr. Megan Carter speaks with Ilene Sipp, a passionate advocate for nurse managers. They discuss the overwhelming challenges faced by healthcare leaders, including burnout, work-life balance, and the emotional toll of leadership. Ilene shares her experiences in the emergency room, highlighting the chaos and lack of support in high-stress situations. The conversation emphasizes the importance of clear communication, setting boundaries, and the need for emotional intelligence in leadership roles. Ilene provides practical strategies for nurse managers to navigate their roles effectively while maintaining their well-being. Keywords healthcare, nurse managers, burnout, work-life balance, emotional intelligence, leadership, conflict resolution, coaching, healthcare challenges, nurse advocacy Chaos Whispering Practical Tips Work/life balance: Have a transparent conversation with your leader about what you need and clarify expectations between you both around what this looks like realistically. Clarify with your direct reports about communication outside of normal work hours. What situations constitute an email/text/phone call and then be consistent in holding that boundary Create your own “end of day” ritual that signals to you and your brain that you are leaving work and transitioning to home life. Navigating conflict while feeling imposter syndrome: Remember that everyone struggles with navigating conflict When preparing for an accountability conversation, take time before it happens to set your intention/start with heart. Remember your nervous system will be in fight/flight mode so give yourself grace and ground yourself before/after the conversation. When in doubt, ask clarifying questions “I’d like to solve this for you, what are you looking for from me?” Struggling to say no without guilt: Acknowledge that for many nurse leaders, we were trained to be altruistic even at the cost of our own well-being. Unlearning this takes time and patience as well as self-awareness of our own behavior patterns. Remember that overwhelm is counterproductive and not only is declining additional work/requests healthy, it sets the tone for your team and empowers them as well. Seek to delegate when possible to help others grow Connect with our Guest: Email: info.ilenesippcoaching@gmail.com LinkedIn (sign up for a clarity call): https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilenesippcoaching/ Free Journal Tool: https://learninglounge.ilenesippcoaching.com/dreadtocalmconfidence Connect with Dr. Carter: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-megan-carter-dnp-rn-nea-bc/ Company website: www.mchcc.net Podcast official website: https://www.mchcc.net/cw-podcast
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    32 mins
  • S2 EP7: Breaking Overwhelm Through Better Habits

    S2 EP7: Breaking Overwhelm Through Better Habits
    Dec 15 2025
    Summary In this episode of Chaos Whispers of Healthcare, Dr. Megan Carter interviews Lori Smith, a seasoned healthcare leader and executive coach. They discuss the chaotic moments experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the transition from a CNO role to coaching, and the mental overwhelm faced by healthcare leaders today. Lori shares insights on effective time management, the importance of accountability, and strategies to combat burnout. The conversation emphasizes the humanity of leadership and the need for connection and support among peers. Lori also highlights the significance of finding joy and laughter in life outside of work. Keywords healthcare leadership, coaching, mental overwhelm, time management, executive coaching, healthcare challenges, leadership strategies, burnout, organizational psychology Chaos Whispering Practical Tips • The first step to minimize mental overwhelm is self assessment: what are your habits, potential blind spots and biases that have led to overcommitment or wasting time in non-value-added meetings? • Neuroplasticity can either help or hurt mental overwhelm. Habits that are repeated over time become the new “normal” for our brains. Start small by identifying 1 habit that is lending itself to overwhelm and try doing it differently. Be consistent so that new neural pathways can form. • Consider viewing delegation as a growth opportunity instead of a burden to others. We all get to leadership because someone trusted us to do more. • When delegating, clear is kind…state what the deliverable is and negotiate the due date together out loud. Unspoken assumptions lead to frustration. • Start your workday by viewing your time and energy as a finite resource (like a dollar). Consider how much of it you want to spend on work activities vs at home and act accordingly. • Note that silence/total agreement from a group does not necessarily mean things are going well. Healthy debate is necessary in a room of diverse viewpoints. Seek these opposing views as a leader to ensure the best possible solution. • Consider accountability pods of peers who can help you stay on track with your new habits as a leader to ensure you sustain your own hard-earned improvement. Connect with our Guest: Company website: www.laurieleeleadership.com Email: laurie@laurieleeleadership.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-lee-smith/ Connect with Dr. Carter: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-megan-carter-dnp-rn-nea-bc/ Company website: www.mchcc.net Podcast official website: https://www.mchcc.net/cw-podcast
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    25 mins
  • S2 EP6: Leading Through Change Without Losing Your Mind

    S2 EP6: Leading Through Change Without Losing Your Mind
    Nov 17 2025
    Summary In this episode of Chaos Whispers of Healthcare, Dr. Megan Carter interviews Jessica Jacobs, a change management expert, about the challenges healthcare leaders face in navigating change. They discuss the importance of effective communication, understanding the neuroscience behind change, and strategies for leading teams through transitions. Jessica emphasizes the need for clarity, empathy, and transparency in leadership, while also highlighting the significance of finding joy and laughter amidst the chaos of healthcare leadership. Chaos Whispering Practical Tips • Remember that change is detected as a risk/danger by our brains without us realizing it, so you and your team must acknowledge this dynamic before rolling out anything new • Give time and space for yourself as the leader to adjust to the idea of the change. • Take the time to decide how/when/what you will communicate with your team, knowing that they are hearing this for the first time and may not have the background info that you do • When dealing with resistors, listen to their reasons for resisting. Reframe them as opportunities to update the process or your communication. • Be as transparent as possible with the what/how/why for the change. It’s ok to answer some questions with “I don’t know, but I will find out and close the loop w/ you” Keywords healthcare leadership, change management, self-care, team prosperity, communication, neuroscience, resistance, empathy, clarity, joy Connect with our Guest: Company website: https://www.3-kc.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicamjacobs/ Connect with Dr. Carter: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-megan-carter-dnp-rn-nea-bc/ Podcast official website: https://www.mchcc.net/cw-podcast Company website: www.mchcc.net
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    30 mins
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