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Caroline talks with April Waddell, former ICU nurse and founder of NurseMoneyDate, about financial literacy for nurses and how to build wealth without burnout.

If budgeting, debt, investing, or retirement planning feels overwhelming, this episode gives you a simple starting point.

April shares a practical system that helps nurses:

• Understand where their money is going
• Build a 3 to 6 month emergency fund
• Pay off high interest debt strategically
• Start investing with confidence
• Understand 401k matching and vesting policies

Other topics discussed:

• Money mindset
• Emotional spending
• How financial clarity creates career flexibility
• Syncing funds
• Vesting period

When you understand your finances, you can reduce overtime, avoid burnout, and make career decisions based on your goals, not just your paycheck.

Whether you are a nursing student, new grad nurse, or experienced nurse planning your next move, this conversation will help you feel more confident and in control of your money.

Connect with Nurse Coach Caroline:

Instagram →⁠ @NurseCoachCaroline⁠

TikTok →⁠ @NurseCoachCaroline⁠

Youtube → Nurse Coach Caroline

Website →⁠ nursecoachcaroline.com⁠

Guest Information and Resources mentioned in this episode:

Book recommended by April Waddell: Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

Connect with April:

• Instagram: @Nursemoneydate
• Linkedin: April Rose Waddell
• Website: www.nursemoneydate.com

Please consider rating & subscribing to the show if this episode brought value to your life! I am here for you <3

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In this episode of Life After Nursing School, Caroline chats with Matt Berndt, Head of the Job Search Academy at Indeed, about what nurses need to know to navigate today’s job market with confidence.

Matt shares practical insights on how resumes are changing in a digital world, what hiring teams really look for in the first few seconds, and why job hopping isn’t always a bad thing. They also break down interview preparation, career pivots, and how to tell your story in a way that actually resonates.

With nearly 30 years of career strategy experience and a personal connection to nursing as the father of an oncology nurse, Matt offers a powerful framework for understanding career seasons and finding purpose in every role.

Perfect for nursing students, new grads, and nurses planning their next move.

Connect with Nurse Coach Caroline:

Instagram →⁠ @NurseCoachCaroline⁠

TikTok →⁠ @NurseCoachCaroline⁠

Youtube → Nurse Coach Caroline

Website →⁠ nursecoachcaroline.com⁠

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Indeed’s Job Search Academy: go.indeed.com/jobsearchacademy

Please consider rating & subscribing to the show if this episode brought value to your life! I am here for you <3

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In this episode of the Life After Nursing School Podcast, Nurse Coach Caroline shares 10 bedside nursing hacks that make shifts easier, reduce burnout, and help nurses protect their time and energy.

These practical nursing career tips cover everything from picking up shifts strategically and charting smarter, to finding burnout-proof PRN jobs, networking on the unit, and using workplace benefits like education money and EAP. This is real, big-sister nurse advice you won’t learn in nursing school.

Whether you’re a new grad nurse or an experienced bedside nurse, these nursing hacks can help you work smarter, leave on time, and build a more sustainable nursing career.

Connect with Nurse Coach Caroline:

Instagram →⁠ @NurseCoachCaroline⁠

TikTok →⁠ @NurseCoachCaroline⁠

Youtube → Nurse Coach Caroline

Website →⁠ nursecoachcaroline.com⁠

Please consider rating & subscribing to the show if this episode brought value to your life! I am here for you <3

Send us a text

Not getting interviews despite applying to nursing jobs? Your resume and cover letter may be the problem.

In this episode of the Life After Nursing School podcast, we break down the most common resume and cover letter mistakes nurses make — mistakes that affect both new graduate nurses and experienced nurses. Drawing from real experience in hospital recruiting and nurse leadership, this episode explains why generic cover letters get overlooked, how unclear resumes cost interviews, and what hiring teams actually look for.

If you’re a nursing student, new grad nurse, or experienced nurse feeling stuck in the job search, this episode will help you understand how to create clear, strategic, and human application documents that open doors.

Resources mentioned, including Application Advantage, are linked in the show notes.

Thank you to our Life After Nurse School Podcast Affiliate

-Mometrix: Study for the NCLEX or entrance exams (HESI & TEAS) with affordable resource Mometrix. Apply “ Caroline20” to get 20% off: https://ref.mometrix.com/1191-852.htm

Connect with Nurse Coach Caroline:

Instagram →⁠ @NurseCoachCaroline⁠

TikTok →⁠ @NurseCoachCaroline⁠

Youtube → Nurse Coach Caroline

Website →⁠ nursecoachcaroline.com⁠

Episode Mentioned Resources:

• Application Advantage Resume and Cover Letter Course → Here
• Ep 49: New Grad Nurse Interviews: Why First Impressions Matter More Than You Think

Please consider rating & subscribing to the show if this episode brought value to your life! I am here for you <3

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First impressions in nursing interviews matter more than most candidates realize and they form fast. In this episode of Life After Nursing School, we break down what hiring teams are actually noticing in the first few seconds of an interview, often before you even answer the first question.

Drawing from over a decade of experience on new grad nurse hiring teams, we explore why first impressions are so “sticky,” how they influence interview decisions, and how they can either work for you or against you throughout the entire interview process. You’ll learn how arrival time, body language, professionalism, warmth, confidence, and energy shape hiring decisions sometimes within the first 60–90 seconds.

This episode is especially helpful for new graduate nurses, nursing students preparing for interviews, and nurses navigating career transitions. We talk about how to show up prepared, lead with warmth, and project confidence — even when you’re nervous — so hiring teams stay engaged and open to your answers.

If you’re preparing for a nursing interview, residency program, shadow experience, or networking opportunity, this episode will help you show up intentional, confident, and grounded from the moment you walk into the room.

Connect with Nurse Coach Caroline:

Instagram →⁠ @NurseCoachCaroline⁠

TikTok →⁠ @NurseCoachCaroline⁠

Youtube → Nurse Coach Caroline

Website →⁠ nursecoachcaroline.com⁠

Application Advantage Resume and Cover Letter Course → Here

Please consider rating & subscribing to the show if this episode brought value to your life! I am here for you <3

Send us a text

In Episode 48 of Life After Nursing School, I’m sharing a new nurse survival guide to help you navigate your first 90 days on the job—especially if you’re in orientation, starting your first nursing role, or wondering, “Why does this feel so hard… and is it supposed to?”

We break down why the first 90 days as a new nurse feel so intense, what’s happening behind the scenes during new employee orientation and nursing orientation, and how confidence is actually built through repetition—not perfection. I walk you through the three phases most new nurses experience: Days 1–30 (survival mode), Days 31–60 (the confidence dip), and Days 61–90 (early competence and finding your footing).

You’ll also learn practical mindset shifts to help with new nurse anxiety, imposter syndrome, and the pressure to compare yourself to other new grads—plus tips on asking questions, staying safe, getting support, and recognizing the difference between normal discomfort and an unsafe work environment.

If you’re a new grad nurse trying to survive orientation and become a confident bedside nurse, this episode will remind you: you’re not failing—you’re becoming.

Thank you to our Life After Nurse School Podcast Affiliate

-Mometrix: Study for the NCLEX or entrance exams (HESI & TEAS) with affordable resource Mometrix. Apply “ Caroline20” to get 20% off: https://ref.mometrix.com/1191-852.htm

Connect with Nurse Coach Caroline:

Instagram →⁠ @NurseCoachCaroline⁠

TikTok →⁠ @NurseCoachCaroline⁠

Website →⁠ nursecoachcaroline.com⁠

Other Life After Nursing School Podcast Episodes mentioned that may help during the first 90 days:

• Episode 28 - “New Nurses: What No One Tells You During Orientation.” In that episode, we talk through things that often get overlooked—like basic 401(k) questions, how to handle intimidating or difficult coworkers, what I recommend keeping in your work bag, and more of the behind-the-scenes realities of being a new nurse.
• Episode 31 - “Surviving Nursing Orientation When Your Preceptor Isn’t the Best Fit.” In that episode, I share very tangible, realistic ways to navigate that relationship and advocate for yourself while still staying professional.
• Episode 36 - “How New Nurses Can Use ChatGPT to Build Critical Thinking Skills.” This episode is geared toward helping you build your critical thinking skills as quickly as possible. This one is especially helpful if you’re looking for ways to strengthen your clinical thinking outside of your shifts.

Please consider rating & subscribing to the show if this episode brought value to your life! I am here for you <3

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In this episode of Life After Nursing School, we’re kicking off 2026 by talking about Main Character Energy for nurses—what it really means and how to bring it into every shift.

If you’ve ever felt like a background character in your own nursing career, this episode is your invitation to shift from survival mode to intention. Main Character Energy isn’t about ego or perfection—it’s about self-respect, confidence, and ownership, even when you’re still learning.

We cover how nurses—especially new nurses—can build confidence through preparation, ask questions without apologizing, protect their energy, and make career decisions intentionally instead of emotionally. You’ll also hear real-life examples that show how confidence is built through action, not before it.

If 2026 is your year to show up differently in nursing, this episode is for you.

Connect with Nurse Coach Caroline:

Instagram →⁠ @NurseCoachCaroline⁠

TikTok →⁠ @NurseCoachCaroline⁠

Website →⁠ nursecoachcaroline.com⁠

Please consider rating & subscribing to the show if this episode brought value to your life! I am here for you <3

Send us a text

In this episode of the Life After Nursing School Podcast, we’re talking about one of my favorite end-of-year rituals: choosing a Word of the Year to guide your mindset, career decisions, and personal growth. Instead of relying on rigid New Year’s resolutions, I’m sharing how a single, intentional word has shaped my confidence, my nursing career, my business, and the way I move through life.

We’ll reflect on what worked this year, what didn’t, and how to choose a word that supports where you’re headed in 2026—especially if you’re a new nurse navigating overwhelm, burnout, imposter syndrome, or big career transitions. I’m also walking you through the pivotal moments, spiritual insights (yes, we talk astrology!), and real-life examples that helped me land on my word for 2026.

By the end of this conversation, you’ll feel inspired to choose a word that aligns with your goals, honors your energy, and helps you step into the most grounded, confident, and intentional version of yourself in the new year.

Whether you're a nursing student, a new grad nurse, or a nurse exploring your next chapter, this episode will give you clarity, direction, and a fresh perspective on how to approach 2026 with purpose.

Connect with Nurse Coach Caroline:

Instagram →⁠ @NurseCoachCaroline⁠

TikTok →⁠ @NurseCoachCaroline⁠

Website →⁠ nursecoachcaroline.com⁠

Please consider following and/or rating the show or leaving a review if you feel inspired by the show!