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Nurses With Voices

Nurses With Voices

By: Dr. Lendra James DNP MS RN NE-BC
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Summary

 Welcome to Nurses With Voices, the podcast where we amplify the voices of nurses everywhere. I'm your host, Dr. Lendra James DNP, RN, and I'm thrilled to embark on this journey with you. As a nurse with over 20 years of experience, I've witnessed the dedication, resilience, and passion that defines our profession. Through this podcast, we aim to educate, empower, and inspire nurses at every stage of their careers. Whether you're a novice nurse navigating the challenges of bedside care, an experienced clinician looking to advance in your field, or interested in becoming a nurse entrepreneur, Nurses With Voices is for you.2024 Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living Leadership Management & Leadership Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • If You're Not at the Table, You're on the Menu

    If You're Not at the Table, You're on the Menu
    May 6 2026
    Nurses With Voices • Nurses Shift Change Special Edition This is not a conversation about nursing from the sidelines. Bryanna Patterson has been in policy rooms, on Capitol Hill, and in the middle of Rochester, New York organizing a rally in the rain — and she showed up anyway. In this special edition episode, Dr. Lendra sits down with Bryanna to talk about black maternal health wins, what the student loan cap really means for Black and brown nurses, why AI bias is a health equity issue, and what it looks like when nurses stop waiting for permission to lead. May 7, 2026 is coming. This episode is your reason to show up for the Nurses Shift Change Rally in Washington DC. visit nurseshiftchange.org Timestamps 01:43 Meet Bryanna Patterson — FNP, Policy Advocate, Community Organizer Her background, her role as co-chair of the Rochester Black Nurses Association, and why she jumped into the Nurses Shift Change movement. 02:52 How Rochester Organized Their Rally — In the Rain Mayors, commissioners, assembly members, the Women's League of Voters — how a small health policy committee pulled off a full community rally fast. 04:56 National Black Nurses Association on Capitol Hill — and the Win on Black Maternal Health Five legislative priorities, the Momnibus Act, and what it actually took to get legislation passed for Black moms and infants. 05:48 AI Is on the NBNA Policy Docket — and Here's Why That Matters Dr. Lendra and Bryanna unpack why AI is a health equity issue, how biased data harms Black and brown communities, and why nurses must be in the room when these systems get built. 11:58 Why Bryanna Is Part of This Movement — and Why Nurses Need Health Reform Now Educating legislators, showing up with clinical authority, and the real reason nurses have to stop waiting to be invited into the conversation. 12:55 Is Nursing Still a Profession? The Student Loan Cap and Who It Hurts Most The most trusted profession in America for 20+ years — now fighting to be categorized as one. What the loan caps mean for Black and brown nurses trying to advance. 17:55 Could Caps Actually Be a Good Thing? Playing Devil's Advocate Dr. Lendra pushes the other side. Bryanna responds — and the conversation lands on what institutions and universities will have to do if the money dries up. 20:12 Transitioning Into Academia — and Why the Next Generation of Nurses Needs Her There Why Bryanna left primary care, what she saw change in nursing over a decade, and what it means to be one of the only Black professors in the room. 22:38 Nursing Isn't the Same — and That's Everyone's Problem 25 years vs. 10 years of experience, the pandemic's impact on the profession, and what it means to bring humanity back to the bedside. 27:31 Final Words — Unity, Mentorship, and the Health Reform That's Coming Whether We're Ready or Not Bryanna's closing call to nurses: stop eating your young, start building each other up, and get to the table before decisions get made without you. Quotable Moments "AI is here. If you don't know, you're just going to be left behind. Nurses need to be at the table making decisions about how these systems get implemented." — Bryanna Patterson, MS, FNP-BC "There isn't nursing without ethics. If people aren't being treated fairly, how is that ethical?" — Bryanna Patterson, MS, FNP-BC "I could say I had half a Black professor going through my master's degree. That says a lot. Representation matters in all aspects." — Bryanna Patterson, MS, FNP-BC "We need to be united. Health reform is coming. I can feel it. We need to be at the table — but we also need to be together when we get there." — Bryanna Patterson, MS, FNP-BC Key Takeaways 01 Black maternal health legislation is proof that nurses showing up on Capitol Hill works. The Momnibus Act passed because advocates refused to leave it off the docket. 02 AI bias is not a technology problem — it's a health equity problem. Old, racially skewed data training AI systems means the harm gets automated at scale if nurses aren't in the room. 03 Student loan caps will disproportionately shrink the pipeline of Black and brown nurses advancing in the profession. This is not a future concern — the impact starts now. 04 Diversifying nursing academia is not optional. It changes what gets taught, who feels seen, and how the next generation of nurses understands their patients and themselves. Mentioned in This Episode National Black Nurses Association (NBNA)nbna.org Rochester Black Nurses AssociationRochester, NY chapter The Momnibus Act — Black Maternal HealthPassed legislation One Big Beautiful Bill — Student Loan CapsImpact on nursing education Nurses Shift Change Movement — National RallyMay 7, 2026 American College of Nursing — CNN CoverageNursing as a profession debate HESS Framework — Humanities, Ethics, Social Justice, ScienceNurses Shift Change foundation ...
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    31 mins
  • Ep.77: Nursing Is Political — And Silence Is Not an Option

    Ep.77: Nursing Is Political — And Silence Is Not an Option
    Apr 30 2026
    Nurses With Voices • Nurses Shift Change Bonus Series If you've ever said "I'm just a nurse, I'm not into politics" — this episode is your wake-up call. Dr. Lendra sits down with Dr. Justin Gill, who at 33-years-old became a history-maker leading the Washington State Nurses Association, to unpack why every nurse is already political whether they realize it or not. From the one big beautiful bill gutting Medicaid, to workplace violence legislation, to the power of nurses showing up in numbers — this conversation is about what it actually means to have a seat at the decision-making table and what happens to patients when we don't. Join Nurses at the "Report For Duty" rally on May 7, 2026 in Washington DC, RSVP at : nurseshiftchange.org Support the Movement : Click here Timestamps 00:00 Welcome & Nurses Shift Change Introduction Dr. Lendra sets the stage for this bonus series and introduces the national advocacy movement. 01:41 Dr. Gill's Journey — From Political Science to Nursing to President Congressional internship, bedside nursing, and why clinical practice and policy are synergistic — not separate careers. 04:46 Why Nurses Must Be at the Decision-Making Table The difference between being partisan and being political — and why your values are the compass, not the party. 08:15 Assault on Healthcare Workers — What WSNA Did About It How nurses flooded legislators with emails and stopped a dangerous bill from passing. Real advocacy. Real results. 11:34 Staffing — The Crisis That Won't Fix Itself Ratios, committees, moral injury, and why California's model matters for every state. The business AND the moral argument. 15:49 Skills Nurses Already Have for Policy Work Communication, persuasion, navigating multiple stakeholders — nurses have been doing this at the bedside all along. 19:11 The Silence After Executive Orders — and the Nurses Shift Change Origin Story What that pause was really about, and why the movement exists to break it. 20:26 The One Big Beautiful Bill — A Big Betrayal Medicaid cuts, student loan caps, hospital closures, and why this legislation crosses a moral and ethical line. 25:43 History at 33 — The Mindset That Made It Possible How Dr. Gill stepped into historic leadership, why values beat party loyalty, and the WSNA lawsuit win you need to hear. 30:16 Final Words & How to Get Involved How to plug in at whatever level works for you — nurses shift change, professional associations, and the march on Washington. Quotable Moments "Clinical practice in nursing and policy advocacy are not mutually exclusive. They are synergistic." — Dr. Justin Gill "Nurses are the oil that makes the engine of healthcare run efficiently. If you don't invest in them, you have a dysfunctional system." — Dr. Justin Gill "When policies are written without us, about us — they don't include us." — Dr. Lendra James "That negativity only becomes a reality if we allow it to take over without any ability to resist or push back." — Dr. Justin Gill Key Takeaways 01 Nursing IS political. Staying silent about policy isn't staying neutral — it's ceding the table to people who don't deliver bedside care. 02 Your clinical skills are already advocacy skills. Every shift, you negotiate, persuade, prioritize, and communicate across difference. That's exactly what policy work requires. 03 The "One Big Beautiful Bill" is a betrayal — cutting Medicaid, student loan access, and hospital funding in communities that have no alternative. This is not a partisan issue. It's a moral one. 04 When nurses mobilize in numbers, bills die. The WSNA assault bill and the CDC database lawsuit win prove what's possible when we stop watching and start acting. Mentioned in This Episode Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA)wsna.org Nurses Shift Change MovementNurses Shift Change The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB)Medicaid cuts & more CDC Database Lawsuit — WSNA + 9 plaintiffsFederal settlement win National Nurses March on WashingtonComing 2026 American Nurses Association (ANA)Endorsed staffing ratios Your Voice Is the Movement Join Nurses Shift Change, get on the call list, and make sure you have your seat at the table. The national rally is coming on May 7 2026 in Washington DC — and they need you there. Visit : nurseshiftchange.org
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    34 mins
  • Ep.76: 3 AI Tools That Save Nurse Entrepreneurs 3–5 Hours a Week

    Ep.76: 3 AI Tools That Save Nurse Entrepreneurs 3–5 Hours a Week
    Sep 23 2025
    3 AI Tools Every Nurse Leader Needs

    AI isn't coming for your job. The real threat? Nurses and leaders who refuse to adapt.

    In this episode of Nurses With Voices, Dr. Lendra pulls back the curtain on how AI can shift you from burnout to breakthrough and from survival mode into CEO energy. She shares the three must-have AI tools that every nurse leader and nurse entrepreneur needs in their toolkit right now to save time, streamline business, and step fully into strategy instead of just tasks.

    This episode is part pep talk, part blueprint, and 100% empowerment for nurses who are ready to stop trading time for money and finally launch businesses that align with their power and purpose.

    What You'll Learn in This Episode:

    • Why AI isn't replacing nurses — but why nurses who ignore it will get left behind.

    • The 3 AI tools Dr. Lendra uses every single day in her business:

      • ChatGPT → Your CEO's right-hand assistant.

      • Gemini → Your planning and research pro.

      • Claude → Your long-form content and clarity whisperer.

    • The #1 mistake nurses make when shifting from bedside or leadership into business.

    • How to train AI tools to sound like you , so your brand voice never gets lost.

    • The mindset shift from nursing role → CEO role (and why this is non-negotiable).

    Why This Matters:

    Too many nurses leave leadership or the bedside, only to rebuild burnout in business.

    That stops here.


    When you embrace AI as a partner and shift into CEO energy, you reclaim time, clarity, and strategy.

    Your license is your launching pad. Your story is your strategy. And yes, you already have what it takes.

    Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:

    • Download the Burnout to Business Blueprint → Your 90-day roadmap to launch a profitable business without burning out. Get it here.

    • https://nurseswithvoicespodcast.com/wealth-building-tips-for-nurses-1483-7814

    • Connect with Dr. Lendra on LinkedIn → Dr. Lendra James

    Join the Conversation:

    • Comment on YouTube: What AI tool are you most curious about? Do you want to see live demonstrations?

    • Share this episode with a nurse leader or entrepreneur who needs to hear it.

    And remember when you stay silent, you stay complicit. Step into your voice, your power, and your possibility.

    Subscribe & Follow:

    - Podcast: Nurses With Voices

    🔗 Subscribe to Apple : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nurses-with-voices/id1762933167

    🔗 Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7jczK5DCP0I44do5lp5vAp?si=fubkwatKTSiFomnVotf4IA&nd=1&dlsi=9e88b8ca549f4e5f

    Join the Conversation:

    Share your thoughts, experiences, and questions with us on social media using #NursesWithVoices! Let's empower each other and build a community of passionate nurses and nurse entrepreneurs.

    Support the Podcast:

    If you're enjoying the show, please leave us a review and share it with your fellow healthcare professionals. Your support helps us bring more inspiring content to our community!
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    22 mins
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