Best Podcasts for Nurses & Nursing Students

When it comes to living life as a nurse, no one can fully understand what your days and nights consist of like another nurse. Only another nurse can appreciate the sometimes dark humor that you have to develop to make it through, laugh along at the pain of having to actually clock in for that extra shift you picked up that sounded good for the money in the moment, and feel the frustration of that call light dinging the second you just left the patient’s room after they assured you 10 times they didn’t need anything. 

That’s why, if you’re looking for a place to turn to for the stories that only nurses can relate to, advice you need to hear, inspiration and motivation to help you keep going, and definitely a few laughs along the way, tune in to one of these best podcasts for nurses, hosted by nurses. These highly-rated podcasts for nurses feature an engaging mix of hosts tackling tough--and sometimes hilarious--topics and will keep you listening far after your commute is over. 

Ask Nurse Alice Podcast

 

• Listen on Apple Podcasts

Nurse Alice Benjamin, MSN, APRN, ACNS-BC, FNP-C, combines no-nonsense advice with thought-provoking interviews. As she worked her way up the nursing ladder from CNA to LPN to RN to BSN to MSN to Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Practitioner, and Media Health Expert, Alice learned valuable lessons along her journey. 

In this podcast, Alice eloquently facilitates discussions in a way that only a nurse can. And, of course, she gives the best advice: from struggling as a nursing student with a young family to life beyond the bedside, all the taboo conversations in the break room, and reminiscing on those patients we’ll never forget. This podcast is made with love, for nurses by nurses. 

“It's really important to me that nursing has a voice that everyone can hear,” Nurse Alice comments on the podcast. “This is a huge opportunity to talk about all of those pressing, important, and taboo topics that we don't generally get to talk about in nursing school, or in the workplace, or in our own homes because sometimes our non-healthcare friends and families don't quite understand. It's also a way to share important information and insight that some people otherwise wouldn't have access to because it’s not offered at their school or work and they don't know where to get this type of information.” 

What can listeners look forward to this season? Well in the words of Nurse Alice, “sooooo much!” Topics include everything from going to school, how to survive nursing school, NCLEX, and certifications, DNP vs Ph.D., what it takes to work in various nursing specialties, what professional growth looks like, landing your dream job, challenges in the workplace, medical errors and mistakes, Covid-19, racism, and inequality in healthcare, career opportunities, how to secure the bag, entrepreneurship, and politics and pop-culture that impact nurses professionally and personally. 

Nurse Alice tells Nurse.org that her goal with the podcast is to have listeners walk away with more knowledge and self-confidence and feeling empowered and informed. “There’s no sugar coating here,” she says bluntly. “I will be answering questions and addressing topics transparently in a no-nonsense type of way. We've got to keep it honest and set people up for success by providing information, which is power. I'm going to tell people what really happens– and that includes the good, the bad, and the ugly. There will also be several guests, experts, and fellow colleagues who join us and share their expertise, experience, and stories. And after listening to a show, I hope listeners feel inspired to find something in the show that they can apply to their lives either professionally or personally to help them grow.”

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Listeners would have to agree that’s exactly what the show does. “Nurse Alice’s ambition and her passion for helping people separate her from your average nurse,” writes one listener. “Although I’m grateful for every medical professional in this field, she always seems to wear her heart on her sleeve and provide you with information that I’m certain has saved someone’s life at some point in time. Tune in and watch this unique and beautiful woman break down the facts in a way that many others may struggle to do.” 

Nurse Speak

• Listen on Apple Podcasts
• NurseSpeak.com
• Follow Nurselifern on Instagram 

Brought to you by the popular, laugh-out-loud account Nurselifern, which shares hilarious memes in the kind of humor only nurses get, NurseSpeak features Ebi himself as podcast host and stories from nurses around the globe. You’ll find everything from the ghost stories night shift nurses have encountered to tackling sexual harassment in the workplace. A mixture of humor, real-life issues that affect nurses and entertaining guests will keep you binge-listening all the way home from the hospital. 

With over 888 reviews, this podcast has a 5-star rating and reviewers rave about the fresh content and perspectives that combine humor and real-world topics. “Let’s be honest..we could listen to Ebi’s voice all day,” wrote one happy listener. “But besides that, the content is so refreshing for HCW, something we can absolutely relate to and give us different perspectives. Love it all.” “I love listening to this before my shift or after my shift,” wrote another. “Listening to this has lightened my mood and reminded me that we are not so alone in our experiences as a nurse.” 

Think you have a great story for the podcast? You can submit a story on their website. 

Nurse Blake Podcast 

• Listen on Apple Podcasts
• Website: nurseblake.com

You’ve probably seen Nurse Blake on social media where he’s well known for his short nurse-themed comedy clips. Now, you can listen to Blake and his husband, Brett, present an unfiltered take on nursing - both on and off the clock. 

>>Listen to this episode on the Ask Nurse Alice podcast

^{This content used under license from "Ask Nurse Alice."}

Crash Carts and Cocktails 

• Listen on Apple Podcasts

Crash carts and cocktails may not make for a great combination in real life, but in the podcast world, they work together perfectly. Centered primarily around the world of acute bedside care with two critical care nurses, Sarah and Angela, this podcast explores topics that range from buying organs on the black market (yes, really) to getting advice from experts that can speak to the difficult topics of PTSD in healthcare workers. You’ll truly get it all with this podcast, so when you’ve clocked out, put your feet up and listen with a cocktail in hand. (You can leave the crash cart at work though.)

“Sarah and Angela have amazing chemistry and share such relatable and hilarious stories. I feel like I’m friends with them!” gushed one listener. “Listening to these stories has been nice to hear that I’m not alone. It makes me laugh to hear very familiar stories and it is like I’m talking with my nursing friends. If you want to hear about relatable nursing stories that can make you realize how much nurses do and how ridiculous our job can be sometimes, this is the podcast you want to listen to. I really appreciate when they talk about near-miss medications. It is scary to report those things but good can come from it,” writes another. 

The Murses Station

 

• Follow @themursesstation on Instagram
• Listen on Apple Podcasts
• Follow the podcast hosts, Jake Vizcarra @bigdamnhero616 and Cody Jones, @codyrjones1

The Murses keep things simple in life, in work, and on their highly-rated podcast. As their show description aptly summarizes, they’re just two murses hanging out and telling stories about the real challenges nurses encounter in the world. They dive deep into different types of nursing specialties, such as NICU nursing and flight nursing, and tackle tough topics, such as the grief many healthcare workers have encountered in the past year. 

“As the totals suggest, I’m addicted to this podcast!” says one enthusiastic reviewer. “These guys have a great way of being real, honest, personable, and keeping things interesting! I am a current Murse and their topics are helpful and super interesting to hear about their different perspectives and from the guests. As a fellow murse, I love the banter and humor that comes from another murse’s point of view. They catch up with each other, then they get to the topics, and they end on a feel-good story. I’m gonna be honest, these two men are inspirations for me and have renewed my love for this job and motivate me to do my best as a current nursing student. I would love to meet these guys, plain and simple. Thank you guys and please never stop this podcast because it’s the best nursing one available and you two will make it big!”

Cellfie Podcast

• Listen on Apple Podcasts
• Find the Celllfie Show on their website and on Instagram @cellfie_podcast
• Follow the podcast hosts on Instagram at @nurse.tori_ and @heysamanthaa

Hosted by nurses Tori Meskin, BSN, RNC-NIC (sweet) and Sam Manassero, MSN, RNC-NIC this podcast promises to bring you a weekly dose of something both sweet and salty. Meskin is a NICU nurse and horse lover while Manassero is an emergency flight/transport nurse and powerlifter. 

The two bring a combination of different perspectives and a collective and impressive 17 years of nursing experience to their podcast and their banter will draw you in and keep you listening. You’ll hear everything from deep dives into advanced nursing practice specialties to mental health to Botox and boob jobs. 

FreshRN Podcast

• Listen on Apple Podcasts
• Blog: freshrn.com
• Youtube: Kati Kleber

If you’re a new nurse, this podcast was made for you! It’s hosted by Kati Kleber, BSN RN CCRN and features experienced nurses from FreshRN.com, who discuss the basics of that first year. From orientation, code blues, tricks of the trade, and personal experiences, to time management, delegation, patient deaths, and more

Nurse Keith 

• Listen on Apple Podcasts
• Website: nursekeith.com

Hosted by Board-Certified holistic career coach Keith Carlson, BSN, RN, NC-BC, this podcast presents fantastic career and lifestyle advice for savvy 21st-century nurses. The goal of the podcast is to help nurses “create the most satisfying nursing career and life possible.” 

Straight A Nursing 

• Listen on Apple Podcasts
• Website: straightanursing.com

Hosted by Nurse Mo, the Straight A Nursing podcast presents useful tips, clinical wisdom, nursing inspiration, and exploration of key topics from Straight A Nursing. Topics range from the basics of nursing care to complicated cases seen in the ICU.

See You Now Podcast

• Listen on Apple Podcasts 
• Website: nursing.jnj.com

This podcast is created in collaboration with Johnson & Johnson and the American Nurses Association. It is hosted by nurse economist and health technology specialist Shawna Butler, RN, MBA. SEE YOU NOW podcast “shines a light on the real people changing the status quo in healthcare.” It highlights nurses across specialties, healthcare innovators, nurse allies, and those at the forefront of healthcare technology. 

And if you’re looking for more podcast recommendations, be sure to browse the list of nurse favorites on our Instagram page!