Nursing - An Open Mind. Thinking Forward. Staying Curious.

About Nursing - An Open Mind. Thinking Forward. Staying Curious.

Nursing – An Open Mind. Thinking Forward. Staying Curious. is a reflective, practical podcast created to support nurses as they grow into the profession and beyond. The first series focuses on the transition from student to practicing nurse, addressing the real challenges of the first one to two years of practice. Through honest conversation, evidence-informed insight, and thoughtful reflection, the podcast explores clinical judgment, confidence, professional identity, and well-being—helping new nurses navigate complexity, sustain curiosity, and build a meaningful, enduring career. Music credit- "The Best Jazz Club In New Orleans" by Paolo Argento on Pixabay, tagged under royalty-free music and associated with the username PaoloArgento. Nursing - An Open Mind. Thinking Forward. Staying Curious is hosted by Richard Ridge, PhD, PMHNP-BC, CNL. He is a nurse, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, and nurse educator with more than four decades of experience across bedside practice, leadership, education, and policy. Most recently, an Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University of Virginia, Richard has worked in diverse clinical and organizational roles and is deeply committed to nurse development, healthy workplaces, mental health, and professional sustainability. He brings a calm, honest, and reflective voice to conversations that nurses at all levels need most. Please feel free to contact me at richardridge@virginia.edu for comments, reactions, and/or suggestions for future episodes. Please put “Nursing-An Open Mind” in the subject line, and you’ll be added to my monthly newsletter email list.

Publisher

Richard Ridge

Category

business · news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

3 May 2026

Latest episode

1 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

6 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   1 Sept 2026

   Episode 6 - Working with Preceptors, Charge Nurses, and Teams

   Episode Notes This episode focuses on one of the most defining parts of a new nurse’s first year: learning to work with preceptors, charge nurses, and your team. We explore how to build strong relationships, use feedback well, and understand unit culture through Tuckman’s stages — forming, storming, norming, and performing. Most importantly, we talk about staying grounded, well, and human throughout the transition.Guest for the segment, “One Thing I wish Someone Had Told me”: Tiara Beverly, RN, University of Virginia Health traumaMusic credit: "The Best Jazz Club In New Orleans" by Paolo Argento on Pixabay, tagged under royalty-free music and associated with the username PaoloArgento.sustain curiosity, and build a meaningful, enduring career.

2. 

   1 Sept 2026

   Episode 5 - Confidence vs. Competence

   Episode Notes This episode tackles a challenge every new nurse faces: navigating the gap between confidence and competence. If you’ve ever started a shift hoping no one notices how nervous you are, you’re far from alone — most new nurses feel exactly the same. Today, we dig deeper into what confidence actually is, what competence truly requires, and why these two rarely develop at the same pace. Understanding their differences — and learning how to build each intentionally — is essential in the transition from student to practicing nurse. This conversation helps you grow both your skill and your self-trust. Guest for the segment, “One Thing I wish Someone Had Told me” Nakayla Figgins, RN, National Children’s Hospital, Washington DC Music credit: "The Best Jazz Club In New Orleans" by Paolo Argento on Pixabay, tagged under royalty-free music and associated with the username PaoloArgento.sustain curiosity, and build a meaningful, enduring career.

3. 

   1 Sept 2026

   Episode 4 - Accountability in a Safe Culture: What Happens After the Error

   Episode Notes Episode Three introduced psychological safety and how it shapes learning from mistakes. This episode goes a step further, focusing on what happens after something goes wrong — a miscommunication, a lapse in judgment, or a moment that didn’t land the way you intended. Psychological safety doesn’t mean “anything goes” or “mistakes don’t matter.” It means accountability handled with dignity, clarity, and a commitment to growth. Today, we explore the practice of repair: restoring trust, rebuilding confidence, and strengthening the team rather than fracturing it. This episode is about moving forward together, wiser and more connected. Guest for the segment, “One Thing I wish Someone Had Told me”: Katherine Krievs, RN, University of Wisconsin Cardiac Intensive Care Unit Music credit: "The Best Jazz Club In New Orleans" by Paolo Argento on Pixabay, tagged under royalty-free music and associated with the username PaoloArgento.sustain curiosity, and build a meaningful, enduring career.

4. 

   4 May 2026

   Episode 3 - Mistakes, Guilt, and Learning

   Episode Notes This episode discusses mistakes, guilt, and learning within the context of nursing practice. We go in depth to discuss how psychological safety is critical for all nurses, especially new graduates, as they develop their competence and confidence. The Guest on the "What is one thing I wish someone had told me" segment, is Frankie Allen, a nurse on the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Virginia. Music credit: "The Best Jazz Club In New Orleans" by Paolo Argento on Pixabay, tagged under royalty-free music and associated with the username PaoloArgento.

5. 

   4 May 2026

   Episode 2 - Am I Doing This Right?

   Episode Notes This episode explores the source of feelings of self doubt, how some self-doubt is part of the learning process, and how perfectionism can be especially harmful to a developing nurse. Brene' Brown's work on Daring Greatly is discussed as we better understand how we can shift from a "comparing mind" to a more self awareness mindset. The Guest on the "What is one thing I wish someone had told me" segment, is Gracie Williams, a staff nurse on the Acute Lymphoma and Leukemia unit at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Music credit: "The Best Jazz Club In New Orleans" by Paolo Argento on Pixabay, tagged under royalty-free music and associated with the username PaoloArgento.

6. 

   3 May 2026

   Episode 1 - Your First Year as a Nurse

   Episode Notes Introduction to the Podcast series, with a focus on the first year nurse. "The Best Jazz Club In New Orleans" by Paolo Argento on Pixabay

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.