Find Your People, Save Your Sanity: Why Community in Nursing Matters More Than Ever
Burnout, bullying, and isolation are driving nurses out of the profession—but connection is helping them stay.
When nurses Brandy Pinkerton, Georgie Villarreal, Travius Keandric, and Melanie Van Sistine came together for a panel hosted by Nurse.org, the conversation went far beyond surface-level. What began as a discussion on burnout and bullying quickly became a powerful reminder of how critical community is in nursing today.
Each nurse shared deeply personal stories—from workplace trauma to chronic pain, racial isolation, and mental health struggles. But rather than staying stuck in the challenges, the group focused on how finding support online and in each other has helped them stay grounded and passionate about the profession.
Here’s what they shared—and why building a supportive nursing community is more essential now than ever.
Real Talk: Isolation in Nursing Is a Shared Experience
Nurses know what it’s like to push through hard days—but when that struggle becomes chronic and unsupported, it can lead to deep emotional isolation. During the panel, each nurse opened up about a defining moment when they felt completely alone in their career.
💬 “That was the first time I realized I might have to advocate for myself in this profession.”
— Georgie Villarreal
Georgie was only two months into her career when she experienced a verbally abusive encounter with a patient. She did what many new grads would do—she held it together until she could escape to the restroom and cry in private. But the real blow came after: instead of receiving support from her nurse manager, she was told to return to the patient’s room and apologize for leaving.
That moment became a turning point.
“It made me question who was going to protect me if my leadership wouldn’t,” she said. “It became clear that I’d need to advocate for myself moving forward. And that’s a heavy burden when you’re brand new.”
Her experience reflects what many nurses have felt: that hospital policies sometimes prioritize patient satisfaction over staff wellbeing. And without community, moments like that can feel impossible to recover from.
💬 “I didn’t feel like I had a voice.”
— Travius Keandric
Travius started his career as the only Black male nurse in his hospital. After graduating from the University of Alabama—an institution with a complex and recent racial history—he stepped into his role feeling the weight of both representation and invisibility.
“I was accused of something I didn’t do at my first job, and I didn’t feel like anyone had my back,” he shared. “It made me question whether I belonged in this profession at all.”
The situation was compounded by the lack of racial and gender diversity around him. Being underrepresented in nursing already carries emotional weight—but to be isolated and wrongly accused is a heavy double burden.
He emphasized that this wasn’t just about one moment—it was part of a larger pattern he saw, especially in Southern healthcare settings. After leaving that environment, Travius realized he wasn't the problem—the system was.
💬 “It was one of the most isolating times of my life.”
— Melanie Van Sistine
Melanie’s story of isolation came not from patient care—but from an injury that took her off the floor. After hurting her back, she was home for six months and no longer part of the fast-paced hospital routine she loved.
But what should have been a time for healing quickly became emotionally overwhelming. “I had no support system. Not from the hospital, not from peers, and even family didn’t fully understand,” she said.
Without the daily rhythm of work or a clear outlet to talk about her physical and mental pain, the silence grew heavy.
She found comfort and connection in online communities where she could be both honest and heard. It's powerful to have people who get it.
💬 “You’re always starting somewhere new…”
— Brandy Pinkerton
With 23 years of experience under her belt, Brandy has worn many hats in nursing—from the NICU to flight nursing to education. But it was her time as a travel nurse that taught her just how isolating the profession can be.
“You’re always starting somewhere new, fresh, walking into a new unit… that can feel really, really isolating,” she said.
You're constantly starting over. That gets lonely fast.
Despite being a seasoned nurse, she often felt like an outsider. That constant uprooting—while exciting in some ways—also meant repeatedly rebuilding a support system from scratch. It made her deeply value online communities like Nurse.org, where connection doesn’t depend on a zip code.
Finding Belonging Online—and Why It Matters
What helped them push through? Community—especially online.
“The internet gave me a space to ask, ‘Is anyone else going through this?’” Georgie said. “It’s scary to be honest in the hospital. But online, I could find people who truly understood.”
From Instagram DMs to Nurse.org forums, online spaces helped them build trust, mentorship, and connection.
Sometimes your workplace doesn’t listen—but someone out there will.
Travius emphasized how representation matters. “Being a Black male nurse, I often felt silenced. But this community amplifies voices like mine—and encourages others to speak up, too.”
Why Community Changes Everything
Community doesn’t just help nurses feel seen—it helps them stay in the profession.
Here’s what that support system looks like in practice:
- Validation: Realizing you’re not alone is powerful.
- Mentorship: Seasoned nurses guiding others, formally or informally.
- Empowerment: Feeling safe enough to be honest about challenges.
- Inspiration: Seeing other nurses create businesses, advocate for change, or just keep going.
You're more than just a nurse. Community reminds you that you don’t have to limit yourself to one role.
What Nurses Want in a Digital Community
The panel closed by imagining what an ideal online nursing community should look like. Their vision was clear:
- A place where nurses feel safe and supported
- A hub for shared interests—from fitness to business to art
- A platform that amplifies individuality, not competition
“We all passed the same test. We all wear the same badge. Let’s build each other up instead of tearing each other down,” Melanie said.
Community Over Competition
Each nurse agreed: vulnerability is not a weakness—it’s a strength. And when one nurse speaks up, it opens the door for others to do the same.
Whether you’re a new grad or a veteran nurse, finding community could be the thing that keeps you going. And thanks to spaces like Nurse.org and social platforms, that community is easier to find than ever.
Connect with the panelists on social media:
Instagram:
- Brandy: @travnurse101, @nursementorbrandy
- Georgie: @nurse.georgie, @healthxstrong
- Melanie: @mels.crafty.corner
- Travius: @traviuskeandric
TikTok:
- Brandy: @travelnurse101
- Georgie: @healthxstrong
- Melanie: @mels.crafty.corner
- Travius: @traviuskeandric
