In this episode, host Rosa Hart sits down with nursing thought leader, keynote speaker, and bestselling author Sara Fung to talk candidly about the realities of nursing career transitions - from the bedside to remote roles and everything in between.
What we cover:
- What networking actually is (and what it isn't) — and why nurses are already great at it
- Why LinkedIn is not just for job seekers, and how to build your presence before you need it
- The truth about remote nursing: what nurses assume vs. what it actually looks like
- How to pivot into non-bedside roles and own your transferable skills
- The "real nurse" identity trap and the mindset shift needed to move past it
- Applicant tracking systems (ATS) — what they are and how to avoid resume formatting mistakes
- AI in nursing: what's changing, what's not, and how to stay ahead
- The "golden handcuffs" dilemma and how to decide when it's time to move on
- Sara's billion-dollar proposal: better nurse-to-patient ratios and redefining full-time work for nurses
Resources mentioned:
- Sara Fung on LinkedIn: Sara Fung (no H)
- Sara's website: sarafung.com
- Resume help: https://www.thernresume.com/
- NurseFern (Emma) on LinkedIn
- AI + Nursing Academy by Steven Ferreira
- American Board of AI in Medicine (ABAIM) — free Wednesday office hours & WhatsApp group
- Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs
Timestamps:
- 0:00 – Introduction & Sara's background
- 1:51 – Sara's career coaching work: bedside, remote & everything in between
- 3:21 – What networking actually is (and what it isn't)
- 4:56 – LinkedIn: not just for job seekers
- 13:37 – AI automation and nursing: which roles are most at risk?
- 15:02 – Remote work realities: what nurses assume vs. what it actually looks like
- 16:29 – Alternatives to the bedside: public health, pharma, med devices & more
- 20:41 – The "real nurse" identity trap & how to get past it
- 23:08 – Applying for jobs you're not fully qualified for — a gender gap conversation
- 25:38 – Salary transparency & Gen Z's job search expectations
- 27:01 – What nursing schools should be teaching but aren't
- 30:15 – Applicant tracking systems (ATS) explained
- 33:38 – Trends in remote nursing & what's not getting enough attention
- 36:29 – Sara's billion-dollar idea: nurse-to-patient ratios + redefining full-time
- 43:43 – Where to find Sara & closing thoughts
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