In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Ondrea about her work as a substance use disorder registered nurse and how she found her way into this specialty through mental health nursing. After years in different nursing roles, she discovered that working with patients receiving treatment for substance use disorders became one of the most rewarding paths in her career.

Ondrea shares what a typical day looks like in an outpatient clinic, including patient assessments, vitals, drug screenings, injections, medication-assisted treatment inductions, follow-up calls, education, and harm reduction. She also explains the importance of working within a close interdisciplinary team to support patients who often have both substance use and mental health needs.

We also talk about how nurses can enter this field, where these roles can be found, what certifications may help, and how this specialty offers room for growth into leadership, care coordination, and other mental health roles. Ondrea’s passion for this work comes through clearly as she describes the life-changing impact nurses can have in this area of care.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

• How substance use disorder nursing blends education, treatment, and harm reduction.
• Why this work can be one of the most rewarding areas in nursing.
• How nurses can get started in this specialty and continue to grow in it.

About My Guest: Ondrea is a substance use disorder registered nurse who works in an outpatient clinic supporting patients receiving medication-assisted treatment. With 18 years of nursing experience and a background in emergency and mental health nursing, she brings both compassion and insight to this growing specialty. She is passionate about helping patients feel supported without stigma and wants more nurses to consider this rewarding path.

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In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Jill Leftwich about her role as a rapid response nurse and the path that led her there. Jill shares how she moved from telemetry step-down to cardiac ICU and eventually into rapid response after learning about an opening through a former coworker. Her story highlights how networking, timing, and experience can all play a role in helping nurses move into a new specialty.

We talk about what a rapid response nurse actually does, what a typical shift can look like, and the balance between emergency calls, rounding, education, and supporting bedside nurses. Jill also explains some common misconceptions about the role, including the idea that rapid response nurses are constantly running from crisis to crisis or fully take over patient care when they arrive.

Jill also shares why confidence, leadership, and calm decision-making are so important in this specialty. She offers honest advice for nurses considering this path, especially those coming from ICU, and talks about the teaching side of the role, the value of debriefing after emergencies, and how this specialty can lead into education or other advanced nursing roles.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Rapid response nurses support bedside teams during emergencies.
• The role requires calm leadership and strong ICU experience.
• It can be a great fit for nurses who enjoy both emergencies and teaching.

About My Guest

Jill Leftwich is a rapid response nurse with a background in telemetry step-down and cardiac ICU nursing. She has worked in rapid response for about six years and brings both emergency experience and a strong passion for teaching to her role. In addition to her hospital work, she creates educational content and resources to help nurses feel more prepared and supported during rapid responses and emergency situations.

Connect with Jill

Instagram: @nurselefty
TikTok: @nurse.lefty
Website: revitalizingnurses.com

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In this episode of My Nurse Specialty, I talk with Nurse Mari about her journey into NICU nursing and what it really looks like to care for some of the smallest and most vulnerable patients. She shares how she first became interested in working with babies, why she did not get into NICU right away, and how her background in med-surg, adult ICU, and travel nursing helped prepare her for the role she has now.

We also talk about what makes NICU nursing unique, from the emotional connection with families to the high level of critical thinking and teamwork required every day. Nurse Mari gives honest insight into both the rewarding and challenging parts of the specialty, along with advice for nurses who may be thinking about this path for themselves.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Caring for fragile newborns and their families.
• Taking a longer path into the specialty you want.
• Building skills and staying ready for the right opportunity.

About My Guest: Nurse Mari is a neonatal ICU nurse who cares for babies born as early as 22 weeks gestation, along with infants who have a wide range of medical needs. Before moving into NICU, she worked in med-surg, adult ICU, and other nursing roles that helped build the experience and perspective she now brings to her work. She also creates content online to share more about life as a NICU nurse.

Connect with Nurse Mari

Instagram: @nurse.mariii

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