Disclaimer: This episode discusses violence and the death of a healthcare worker. Listener discretion is advised.

In this critical episode of Love n’ Leary, Marion Leary and Rebecca Love address the killing of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse in Minnesota, and what this moment demands of the nursing profession. Joined by Dr. Teddie Potter, clinical professor at the University of Minnesota and founding director of its Planetary Health Program, the conversation explores nursing’s moral obligation to speak out against injustice. Dr. Potter introduces the concept of “Code White,” a powerful, nonviolent act of collective advocacy rooted in nursing history. Together, they call on nurses to reject silence, lean into discomfort, and take action in ways that honor humanity, solidarity, and the true calling of nursing.  

>>Dedicated VA ICU Nurse Alex Pretti Dead After Clash with Border Patrol in Minneapolis

Jump Ahead to Listen: 

[1:31] What Happened in Minnesota & Why It Matters
[3:20] Why Speak Out Now
[5:33] The Origins of “Code White”
[8:00] From Code White to Collective Action
[9:38] Silence, Upstanders & Historical Parallels
[11:39] No Hierarchy of Service: Do What You Can
[12:53] Discomfort, Duty, and Nursing as a Calling
[15:06] Loving People You Don’t Like & Seeing Shared Humanity
[17:23] Breaking Nursing’s Silence
[19:19] The Petition & Policy Moment
[21:45] Many Ways to Show Up
[23:05] Nelson Mandela’s Story & A Vision for the Future

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Connect with Marion on social media:
Instagram: @marionleary
TikTok: @marionleary
Facebook: Marion Leary

In this episode of the Love n’ Leary Nursing Podcast, Marion Leary and Rebecca Love announce the podcast’s new partnership with Nurse.org and reflect on how this milestone represents the power of saying yes to opportunity. They revisit the early conversations that sparked the show, including imposter syndrome and career uncertainty, and connect those experiences to the broader responsibility of nurse leadership. The discussion explores advocacy, the importance of nurses using their voices with confidence, and how storytelling, policy engagement, and diverse communication platforms can expand nursing influence. Together, Marion and Rebecca emphasize how nurses can shape public narratives, strengthen the profession, and drive meaningful change across healthcare. 

>>Love n' Leary Nursing Podcast

Connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn

Connect with Marion on social media:
Instagram: @marionleary
TikTok: @marionleary
Facebook: Marion Leary

Marion & Rebecca are back with season two of the Love n' Leary podcast, discussing school gun violence with Robin Cogan, MEd, RN, NCSN, FNASN, FAAN, a Nationally Certified School Nurse (NCSN).

Ever thought about participating in a hackathon? Marion & Rebecca break down the history of nurse-led hackathons and why you should participate.

Marion & Rebecca discuss the importance of recognizing the nursing as part of STEM.

On this episode, Marion & Rebecca discuss why we need nurses in the media. Their first special guest is Barbara Glickstein, a public health nurse, health reporter, and media strategist. She discusses why nursing is so underrepresented in the media, how nurses can be more engaged with journalists, and tips on how to become media competent.

Marion & Rebecca talk about why it is vitally important for nurses to vote and be civically engaged.

Marion and Rebecca discuss how Gen Z faces more pressure at work than previous generations because technology has eliminated work-life boundaries, and how it directly is affecting the nursing workforce.

Marion and Rebecca discuss their origin story in nurse-led innovation and shoutout those who led the way for innovation to take hold in nursing.

Marion and Rebecca discuss the personas that we create and use on social media platforms, the power, privilege, and pressure that comes with using one's voice on these outlets, and the imposter syndrome that creeps in.

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has proposed new rules that would narrow the definition of a "professional degree" for the purposes of federal student loans, potentially excluding graduate nursing, physician assistant (PA), and public health programs from specific higher loan limits (Google AI). There are many misconceptions around the educational requirements for various nursing degree programs. In this episode of the Love n' Leary podcast we talk with Kathryn Shaffer, EdD, RN, MSN, CNE, nurse educator and innovator, about the proposed new definition, the effect it would have on student loans for graduate nurses, the rigor of what it really takes to obtain a degrees in nursing, and why there are so many misconceptions about nursing programs. We also talk, as we do in almost all of our episodes, about what we can do as nurses to use our voices to amplify nursing, this time focused on amplifying nursing as a "professional degree" program.

Nurses have the skills and knowledge to run for office and just by virtue of our education and experience, we are ready to govern. In this episode of the Love n' Leary podcast, we invited our colleague Dr. Danielle McCamey to join in the conversation, discussing our respective experiences going through the Healing Politics Campaign School for Nurses and Midwives. Healing Politics is an educational, non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)3 organization whose mission to inspire, motivate, recruit, & train nurses & midwives to run for elected office. Rebecca Love attended the program in 2023, Dr. McCamey attended in 2024, and Dr. Marion Leary attended the program in 2025.

In part one of the Love n' Leary podcast, Dr. Marion Leary comes to you live from the 2025 Healing Politics Campaign School at Duke University. Healing Politics (https://healing-politics.org) is an educational, non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to inspire, motivate, recruit, & train nurses & midwives to run for elected office up & down the ballot while building a culture of civic engagement within the professions.

Today, on the Love n' Leary podcast, we are raising awareness among nurses and other providers about the risks of DEHP in IV bags and other medical devices. **This episode is sponsored by B. Braun, a pioneer of safe medical equipment. They are a leader in smart infusion therapy and safe and effective pharmacy products, patient and provider safety, and sustainable health solutions.**

In our first live, roaming podcast, we talk with nurse entrepreneurs and innovators at the AONL (https://www.aonl.org/) Nurse Innovation Showcase. Building on the theme, we showcase their companies and discuss why they felt compelled to take the leap (and risk) to fill a gap and create a healthcare start-up company.

In our first live podcast recording from the AONL Nurse Hack 4 Health Innovation Sprint, we talk with colleagues from Johnson & Johnson and SONSIEL as well as nurse leaders from around the country about the importance of supporting nurses as innovators.

We are back! On this new episode of the Love n' Leary podcast, we discuss the new administration and the tangible ways you can use your voice and power to stand up for the future of the nation.

Marion & Rebecca give an update on the Nursing is STEM coalition. In August, the Nursing is STEM board submitted an application to the Department of Homeland Security to designate nursing as a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) profession.