In this episode of The Nursing Strategies for Success Podcast, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Jody Long, MSN, MBA, RN, CEN, a Nurse with over 30 years of experience, to have a powerful and honest conversation about what it truly takes for Nurses to earn a seat at the decision-making table.

Throughout our discussion, Jody shared real-world strategies that helped her successfully pivot into roles that expanded her influence, visibility, and impact — including corporate leadership positions, education roles, regulatory work with a State Board of Nursing, and her experience working with a major EHR technology company, PointClickCare.

We talked candidly about the reality many Nurses face: working within broken systems, overly burdened workflows, and environments where control often feels out of reach. Jody emphasized that while we may not always control the system, we can control our strategic career moves. By intentionally stepping into roles that add knowledge, insight, and systems-level perspective, Nurses can position themselves as indispensable voices in healthcare decision-making.

This episode highlights the importance of being strategic, adaptable, and proactive — seeking opportunities that broaden your understanding of operations, policy, education, and technology, while leveraging your clinical expertise to influence meaningful change for patients and nursing teams alike.

If you’re a Nurse at any level who wants to move beyond simply reacting to the system and start shaping it, this conversation is filled with insight, encouragement, and actionable strategies you won’t want to miss. 🎧

Ways to Connect with Jody:

LinkedIn: Jody Long, MSN, MBA, RN, CEN

Resources Shared in this episode:

KAIZEN Methodology: https://kaizen.com/what-is-kaizen/

LEAN Methodology: https://www.lean.org/explore-lean/what-is-lean/

PointClickCare: https://pointclickcare.com/

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In this episode of the Nursing Strategies for Success Podcast, I decided to come on and discuss how each one of us are in FULL CONTROL of our Nursing Career Trajectories - and I share valuable tips & strategies on just how to do that!

So whether you are a CNA, LPN, RN, RN Supervisor, Unit Manager, Educator, Nurse Leader, Nurse Policy Maker, Nurse Lawyer, or Nurse Business Owner - this podcast episode is for YOU and for YOU TO SHARE with all of your colleagues, and those who may be just starting out, or who want to level up.

For those individuals that I mentioned in this episode, here are the ways that you can connect with all of them:

Damion Jenkins, MSN, RN - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damionjenkins/

Renee Thompson, DNP, RN, FAAN - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rtconnections/

Donna Cardillo, RN, MA, CSP, FAAN - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnawilkcardillo/

Keith Carlson, BSN, RN, NC-BC - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithallancarlson/

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In episode 7 of season 4 of the Nursing Strategies for Success Podcast, I had the ABSOLUTE PLEASURE of having another amazing conversation with Maggie Ortiz of advocatesfornurses.com - She was a guest on Season 2 - where we discuss just how little education is being done to prepare Nurses for just how serious it can be if Nurses do not effectively leverage their licenses and the regulations that are placed against them to advocate for safe and effective care - despite the pressures of an increasingly difficult healthcare system. This is a CALL TO ACTION for Nursing Programs of Study to really beef up the education that Nurses need to protect their patients/residents, themselves, their licenses and the organizations in which they work! From the CEO all the way down to the CNA - following scope of practice and ensuring that others are doing the same is EVERYONE's Responsibility, and in today's healthcare industry - it's more important than ever! ⚖️

YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS EPISODE! 🎧

Ways to connect with Maggie:

E-Book: Help! I'm a Nurse Being Deposed

Website: https://www.advocatesfornurses.com/

E-Course: Charting to Protect Your Livelihood

LinkedIn: Maggie Ortiz, MSN, RN

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