In today’s digital age, the power of social media has transformed various industries, opening up new avenues for creativity, education, and entertainment. One trend emerging from this technological revolution is the rise of individuals who can leverage their professional expertise to become influential in the online world. By combining my passion for nursing with the far-reaching platforms of social media, I was able to find a unique and impactful way to connect with and educate millions of people around the globe.
As a nurse, I experienced firsthand the transformative power of healthcare, witnessing the impact that compassionate care can have on patients and their families. After 20 plus years of working bedside nursing I accrued quite a bit of knowledge not only in patient care, but the obstacles that nurses face on a daily basis. This experience ignited my desire to share my vast knowledge and expertise with a wider audience beyond the confines of a hospital setting.
As a healthcare professional, we go through lots of stress whether it’s dealing with administration, management or all of the other things that come along with being a bedside nurse. I’ve been able to use the day-to-day struggles and experiences that nurses go through and translate that into social media platforms.
Now I’m able to use my social media platform to educate as well as entertain and empower people to transform the healthcare industry. Myself, along with other nurses and healthcare workers across the nation, face many challenges on a daily basis, emotionally and physically. Many times, these healthcare heroes need an outlet and relatable escape to help cope with these daily workplace issues. Fortunately, I am able to provide an outlet that healthcare workers can turn to for motivation, entertainment, relaxation, and have a good laugh at the end of a rough day.
In the realm of healthcare, where challenges and complexities abound, incorporating comedy can serve as an effective means to engage, educate, and raise awareness. By leveraging my nursing experience and comedic talent, I’m able to educate, empower, and entertain my audience. I find that by creating relatable content that reflects different issues such as the ongoing nursing crisis, I’m able to connect with my audience at a deeper level. My TikTok videos, insightful blog posts, and interactive Q&A sessions serve as virtual classrooms, empowering my followers to take charge of their life and make informed decisions regarding well-being and career path.
Using the power of social media to raise awareness of major issues impacting the healthcare system, from the daily struggles nurses face, including insufficient nurse to patient staffing ratios, battling in unsafe work environments, dealing with burnout, the ongoing fight for better pay and benefits, and the nationwide nursing shortage crisis. In fact, many times, healthcare workers are physically, verbally, mentally abused, which is a very difficult topic that I address, but always find a way to portray in a way that allows healthcare workers to decompress and destress. At the same time, I address these ongoing challenges in hopes my message is being seen by people in charge who have the power to fix systematic issues.
I’m a firm believer that other professionals can use their expertise and talents to take a leap of faith and follow their dreams, whether it’s becoming an entrepreneur, embarking on a new career path, or becoming a social media influencer. There are so many options and resources out there, if people are feeling stuck in their current day-to-day work life and want to branch out to a new field, while still using their degree. I hope others can view my transition from a successful 20-year nursing career to becoming a full-time social media sensation as a testament to the power of embracing change and daring to explore new horizons.
Many healthcare workers and nurses aren’t aware of the many fields and jobs that are available outside of bedside nursing while still using your experience, training, and nursing degree. From working from home, exploring telemedicine, medical sales representative, becoming a nurse educator, consider a career in pharmaceuticals, or even start your own business and take care of diabetics or other avenues of healthcare. There are so many career paths and options available for people wanting to branch out of nursing and work in other fields. The key is not to be afraid, and not let fear deter you from your hopes and dreams. If the fear of failing is the only thing holding you back, you can always start out slowly and test the waters first, before making the big leap.
There are so many uses for social media, and for many digital content offers a refuge from everyday stress for a lot of people. People use social media platforms for humor, entertainment, distraction, connection, and to stay informed on the news of the day. Social media offers such an array of content, views, news, topics, among other things. It’s this combination of various content that allows a person to sit back, relax, and just get away for a little bit. Social media is the only place you can look to, where you’re not asked to make decisions and all that weight that was on your shoulders is relieved, even if for a few minutes.
This successful social media transition has allowed me to shed light on important issues and raise awareness for healthcare-related campaigns. I am grateful for the audience, followers, and supporters who have contributed to my rise to social media, as this incredible journey has opened up doors for meaningful collaborations with healthcare organizations, brands, and other philanthropic initiatives. This includes my recent partnership with Moxie Scrubs, which is a very exciting opportunity that sells nurse-designed medical apparel and scrubs. Moxie’s message is all about courage, recognizing your inner power, and expressing your inner self. Currently, there are so many healthcare workers that feel depleted and lack courage, as they struggle with these challenges in their profession. Everyone working in healthcare knows that it takes a very strong and courageous person to even consider a career in this field. Through brand collaborations like Moxie, I can help spread the message of courage and empower other healthcare workers.
As we continue to witness the evolving landscape of social media, we should continue to celebrate those who are using their platforms to promote positive change, fostering a world where knowledge, compassion, and connectivity thrive, both online and offline.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
