Always the Strong One: Balancing Work at the Hospital and Motherhood
What does a 17-year career in cardiac ICU nursing really look like—and how do clinicians find their way into roles they never originally planned? In this Spotlight episode, Kaleigh shares her path into nursing, what drew her to the CICU, and how experience, confidence, and perspective of always being the strong one.
Show Notes
What We Talk About
Key Takeaways
- Many healthcare careers evolve in unexpected ways—and that’s normal
- Early unit experiences often shape long-term specialty choices
- ICU environments provide opportunities for deeper clinical involvement and impact
- Hospital resources and team structure significantly affect workflow and satisfaction
- Longevity in critical care often comes from teamwork, curiosity, and continued growth
Timestamps
00:00 – Spotlight intro: Meet Kaleigh
05:05 – Lessons from early nursing years
12:39 – Being a working mom in healthcare - "never get a day off"
17:01 – Leaving work at work (emotional boundaries)
21:13 – What healthcare gives you—and what it takes from you
29:03 – Mentorship, training culture, and new-grad confidence
40:54 – Rapid-fire game: This or That
43:22 – Staying steady in a career with constant turnover
50:14 – The hidden challenges of working motherhood in healthcare
Tags
Cast & Guests
Abby
DNP, AGAC-NP
Kaleigh
BSN, RN
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