If I could hop in a time machine and redo my journey to becoming a nurse, knowing what I know now... I’d take a very different path (and spend a lot less money). In this episode, I’m walking you through what I actually did: From changing majors to juggling basketball and nursing school, and what I’d do differently if I could go back.

We’ll talk about:

✅ Why I wish I’d started as a CNA in high school

✅ How going the ADN route first could’ve saved me thousands

✅ What I learned about tuition reimbursement and scholarships the hard way

✅ The importance of progress over perfection when planning your nursing path

Plus, I’ll share some encouragement for anyone stuck in decision paralysis, trying to figure out their next step. Your nursing journey doesn’t have to be perfect to be worth it, and there are so many smart, affordable ways to get where you want to go.

My free workbook that will help you map out costs, pros/cons of different schools, applications, and more: https://www.freshrn.com/planner/

Sign up for my email list: https://www.freshrn.com/email-sign-up

My nursing degrees and programs learning hub: https://www.freshrn.com/nursing-degrees-and-programs/

Need to take out loans? Check out my partner, Juno, to join a collective bargaining group and score lower interest rates better than the big-name lenders (the 2025-2026 rates start at 3.47%!). Free to join, and it can save you thousands → https://www.freshrn.com/juno

Connect With Me Online!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshRN
X: https://x.com/Kati_Kleber
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Fresh_RN/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kati_kleber/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@freshrn
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@freshrn

Ok that title might be a little spicy, but stick with me. In this episode, I discuss why so many of us over-identify with our roles, how “we’re a family” culture keeps us stuck, and what learned helplessness looks like at the bedside. We’ll also talk about the sneaky way suffering becomes a badge of honor, and how to step out of that martyr mindset.

Sign up for my email list: https://www.freshrn.com/email-sign-up

My professional development learning hub: https://www.freshrn.com/professional-development/

In this episode, we’re diving into what happens when perfectionism collides with the messy, high-pressure reality of nursing. If you’ve ever felt like your entire identity is wrapped up in being the “good nurse” ... you know, the one who never messes up, never says no, and always holds it together, this conversation is for you.

We’ll talk about:

• How nursing school subtly wires us for people-pleasing
• Why high-pressure roles make us more vulnerable to shame
• Why self-compassion (not shame) is the key to confidence and performance
• What to do when you disappoint someone—and how to recover with integrity

Join my email list, already! https://www.freshrn.com/email-sign-up

Get thoughtful support, freebies, and honest pep talks straight to your inbox:

If you want to learn more about self-compassion, check out the resources from Dr. Kristin Neff: https://self-compassion.org/

Need to take out loans? Use Juno to join a collective bargaining group and score lower interest rates—usually 1–4% better than the big-name lenders. Free to join, and it can save you thousands → https://www.freshrn.com/juno

Connect With Me Online!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshRN
X: https://x.com/Kati_Kleber
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Fresh_RN/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kati_kleber/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@freshrn
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@freshrn