Listen to this holy-grail list of episodes from all aspects of the NICU! These Cellfie Show episodes will give you insight into your most pressing NICU-related questions as well as a fresh perspective from the point of view of NICU providers, entrepreneurs, and parents. No matter your experience with the NICU so far, I hope you take away something new in these episodes that you can apply to your unique journey!
For those of you new to The Cellfie Show we are two nurses talking "Off The Clock," about healthcare, self-care, & the down & dirty in between. You will hear from providers, innovators, brands, businesses, people of interest, health specialties, HOT TIPS, TABOO TOPICS, and a whole new side of the healthcare world you didn't even know existed. Love that for you! Together Tori Meskin & Sam Manassero are bringing you the unfiltered side of the medical world. We have unmatched chemistry with sassy banter & 18 years of combined nursing experience. Together we host the conversations you really want to hear, answer the questions you want to know, and bring our spicy energy to the show.
Let's Jump into the Episodes!
Nurse Tori's Biggest Secret Revealed! Nurse Blogging, Achieving Your Goals, NICU Nurse, Social Media, Grey's Anatomy #RealTea, Empowering Providers & Patients, Embracing Your Journey, Pushing Through Hardships.
Listen to the OG episode of The Cellfie Show all about Nurse Tori’s NICU experiences. Nurse Tori BSN RNC-NIC talks her BIGGEST SECRET YET! Tori reveals her biggest NURSE secret, talks blogging, NICU nurse, NP student, social media, holding yourself accountable, pushing through hurdles, etc. You will want to start here if you’re new to The Cellfie Show!
The Life of a NICU Nurse with Nurse Tori BSN RNC-NIC
Hear from Nurse Tori on all things NICU Nursing on this episode. We get specific! Pull back the curtain and spill what it is REALLY like working with the most vulnerable and tiny mighty patient population. Tori drops some HOT TIPS on how to land a job in the NICU, interview tricks, overcoming roadblocks, requirements to become a NICU Nurse, experience, training, etc. If you’re considering becoming a NICU Nurse this podcast will shed some light for you on what it is really like!
The Nurse Nook! Alexis Nicole. The Nurse Nook! Alexis Nicole BSN, RN. Nurse, YouTuber, Social Media Curator. We talk nurse life. Switching specialties and starting her journey as a NICU Nurse!
Alexis Nicole BSN, RN. She is also the founder of the “Nurse Nook,” and the largest Nurse Youtube content creator! We talk Pediatric, Emergency Dept, Mother/Baby, & NICU nursing! She recently made this transition, already announced it so no spoiler alert for you! Alexis holds a very strong presence in the social media space! Her YouTube has 267K subscribers, not to mention her Instagram presence, all while balancing working as a full-time nurse. She vlogs details in her life as a nurse and everything in between. Studying, getting ready for tests, morning routines, well-being.
Today we get into all things Nurse life, tips & tricks, switching specialties, social media, taboo topics like CBD, self-care, a day in the life of a nurse… her YouTube channel is so relatable and fun to watch that she has more than ten million views!
Dr. Amir Ashrafi. NeoHeart Co-Founder. Secrets to Navigating High-Stress Situations, Saving Tiny Lives + Unleashing the Medical Buzz. Cardiac Neonatologist. Entrepreneur. Speaker
On this episode we are joined by Dr. Amir Ashrafi. Get ready for a spicy conversation! He is an expert in neonatology and neonatal-cardiac physiology. Dr. Ashrafi’s primary focus is treating newborns with congenital heart disease. He holds the national distinction of being one of the few physicians to receive formal training in both neonatal intensive care and cardiac intensive care. Dr. Ashrafi attended medical school at the University of Utah and completed pediatric residency training at Emory University in Atlanta.
He spent time in the Emergency Dept at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles prior to completing his Neonatal Intensive Care Fellowship at UCLA, where he was recognized as the Chief Fellow. Dr. Ashrafi then completed a second fellowship in Cardiac Intensive Care at Boston Children’s Hospital at Harvard University. Dr. Ashrafi is the co-founder of the conference NeoHeart: Cardiovascular Management of the Neonate, an international collaboration dedicated to advancing the care of newborns with complex heart disease. From navigating high-stress clinical situations, sharpening leadership skills, the science behind saving tiny lives, and unleashing your medical buzz.
NICU Nurse 101. Taylor Ebner BSN RNC-NIC, NICU Nurse Life, Neonatal Insight, NP Grad School, Travel Nursing, Becoming a Nurse, Modern Day Healthcare Perspective.
NICU Nurse 101. On this episode, I sit down with Taylor Ebner BSN RNC-NIC. We dive into NICU nurse life, #realtalk NICU nurse perspective, transitioning into the nursing role, and meaningful nurse tips. Taylor gives us a behind-the-scenes look into her unique journey in NICU with a modern take!
Dr. Kate Rubey NICU Attending. Infant Intensive Care Doctor. Scientist. Lifestyle. Female Dr. Energy!
Take a behind-the-scenes look in the NICU with Dr. Kate, Neonatologist! She is an Attending Physician in the Division of Neonatology at a major facility in Philadelphia. In this episode, we get into her life both as a clinical and research-based MD caring for tiny lives. From her 14 years of training, her passion for NICU patients, to her life as an MD-we go all over learning about the ins and outs of Neonatology and Dr. Kate’s journey!
Phil Martie Founder & CEO of Nicolette. Nico Board! NICU Dad. App Developer. Entrepreneur. Patient Empowerment. Provider Partnership.
Phil Martie founded Nicolette based on his experience with premature twins in 2014, with the goal of empowering patients fighting acute health battles to be their own competent advocates. Prior to founding Nicolette, Phil was VP of Operations at Canon’s Business Process Services division.
Parents use NicoBoard to view updates and insights about their baby's health, receive curated education specific to their baby, and document their NICU journey with sharable media and journaling. This is Nicolette's first entry into the commercial market. CHOC Children's, a pediatric healthcare system in Orange County, California, is the first organization to implement the technology. Parent Empowerment. Provider Partnership.
It’s Your Birthday, I’ll Cry If I Want To. NICU Parent Perspective with Former Micro Preemie Mamas Julie + Carol (Part 1)
NICU moms are the strongest women you will ever meet... and something we don't talk about nearly enough! So, buckle up… this is going to be a special episode! (Well, actually two episodes). Raw. Real. Wild. Bringing the "health,” back into healthcare. This is a personal episode full of perspectives from two moms who tackled the NICU head-on. This is the vulnerable, sincere, patient's side of the healthcare world. And we get personal today!
Unpopular Opinion: as healthcare providers, we almost block out the reality of what this is like for our parents…we cope by moving forward. Well today, we are taking a step back. Really listening, and taking in the NICU perspective from the parent’s point of view. 1 in 9 babies are admitted to the NICU prematurely. That does not account for the surgical admissions, but specifically, prematurity. Babies born before 37 weeks.
NICU Parent Perspective (PART 2) with Former Micro Preemie NICU Mom’s Julie + Carol
PART: 2 NICU moms are the strongest women you will ever meet... and something we don't talk about nearly enough! So, buckle up… this is going to be a special episode! (Well, actually two episodes). Raw. Real. Wild. Bringing the "health,” back into healthcare. This is a personal episode full of perspectives from two moms who tackled the NICU head-on. This is the vulnerable, sincere, patient's side of the healthcare world. And we get personal today!
Unpopular Opinion: as healthcare providers, we almost block out the reality of what this is like for our parents…we cope by moving forward. Well today, we are taking a step back. Really listening, and taking in the NICU perspective from the parent’s point of view. 1 in 9 babies are admitted to the NICU prematurely. That does not account for the surgical admissions, but specifically, prematurity. Babies born before 37 weeks. This is a great episode for not only the experiences but for us as providers, future providers, families, etc. to gain insight, perspective, and resources.
NICU Dad Energy! Adam Wood. Former Military Leader. Author of "Our Preemie Adventure". NICU Meme Creator
Adam is a husband, father, retired military leader, and author of 'Our Preemie Adventure.” Adam and his wife, Jenn, spent 135 days with their son, Brady, in the NICU at Connecticut Children’s Hospital. Brady was born at 1 pound 4 ounces, at just 25 weeks gestation, with complications from bronchopulmonary dysplasia, apnea of prematurity, pneumonia, and a variety of other respiratory issues. While their journey is far from over, their experiences have become https://amzn.to/3gyQQsP (a children’s book for preemie families), which takes a humorous and heartwarming look at the journey shared by so many.
He brings humor into the preemie parent world and opens up about his experience being a father of a 25-week preemie. Adam is also the founder of the IG @preemie_adventures, where he shares NICU parent memes and gives a fun humorous side of NICU life. Moreover, we are thrilled to bring the NICU dad experience and masculine energy today! Like many NICU families, they had many ups and downs in their roller-coaster journey. We love the community he is building with the goal of helping to support NICU families by bringing humor into their lives.
Dr. Prem Fort, The NICU Doc. Neonatologist, Youtuber, Instagram Curator. A Neonatologist perspective. Overcoming challenges, stress, & saving some of the tiniest most vulnerable patient populations. NICU Attending. The thrill of saving lives for a living.
On this episode, I am joined by Dr. Prem Fort Pediatrician/Neonatologist. Trilingual MD. Swiss Peruvian helping to save lives in the NICU. Doctor, YouTube, Instagram Curator and Fun Dad, Platforming topics near and dear to my heart. Health care provider and patient family care, bridging the gap. The NICU Doc talks about things such as NICU topics “Who is in the NICU.” “5 tips for going out safely with your baby” “NICU parents asking the tough questions” and so many awesome topics bridging the gap between provider and parent.
We break down the role of a NICU attending, his journey to become a Neonatologist, and developing skills to care for medically complex patients. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best! It is NICU awareness month, and what better way to celebrate this week than to bring on an expert in the field, someone who lives this every day with me.
BEB ORGANIC Founder Kim Walls, Entrepreneur, NICU Skin Care, Health and Beauty Brands, Strong Female Figure, Starting a Business, Business Strategy, Product Development, Fair Trade Products
BEB ORGANIC Founder Kim Walls @beborganic -We sit down with Entrepreneur, Innovator and Founder of the FIRST NICU skincare line BEB Organic. Daughter of a renowned skincare founder Kim originated a Bioactive complex designed mindfully for the most delicate patients in the world! Understanding the power of touch. Texture, consistency, aromas etc. How skincare can help your mind and overall health. Studying brands and understanding how to build a business from scratch. Creating fair trade products from the sourced ingredients to consumers. From brain and body development to improved sleep and a sense of calm, Kim’s NICU skincare line is working to provide a lifetime of great health for these preemies!
I am a skincare buff. Specialty products for a very niche part of the world. Skin is in the forefront of our healthcare. Food for thought about skincare as a whole. Becoming an active and knowledgeable consumer.
Diaries of a NYC NICU COVID front lines nurse, Windy BSN RNC-NIC, COVID-19, NYC Experience, Travel Nursing, New Frontiers, Moving across the country during an unknown time, Emotional Journey
Diaries of a NICU COVID front lines nurse, Windy BSN RNC-NIC - NYC perspective in the thick of it! Wendy is a NICU nurse, Travel Nurse, and worked front line during this pandemic in the sickest city in the nation. Love in a Time Corona. Learning to say “YES,” and take journeys as nurse. Exploring new frontiers. Hear her emotional account of being a NICU NYC pandemic RN. The beauty of New York City and its citizens. We dive into her experiences moving across the country, hearing her personal account of New York in its sickest moments. Special Time in history to be a nurse. Hear her positive message to the world about Windy’s experience.
Danielle Maltby RN, The Womed Podcast Founder, Bachelor in Paradise, Nurse Entrepreneur, Social media curator, We talk #realtea nurse experiences. A different side of the NICU. Modeling & taking opportunities , ups & downs of NICU, dynamics of NICU nurse
The WoMed founder Danielle Maltby - Former NICU RN turned Nurse Entrepreneur, Podcaster, Social media curator, we talk #realtea nurse experiences, a different side of the NICU, modeling, ups, and downs of NICU, dynamics of NICU nursing, burnout and shifting into new roles. We talk about overcoming tragedy, crafting a life you love etc. Nursing role first. Leading with kindness and going the extra mile in your career. Trusting your gut.
Taking care of ourselves as nurses, work-life balance. Creating a platform for the female representation…a space for women to talk about their stories through medicine. Talk about her experiences with Bachelor in Paradise. Taking opportunities, living your life for yourself, platforming the Woman’s voice and how social media can change your life for the good and bad is all discussed on this episode.
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner 101, Karen Rapoport, MSN, RNC, NNP-BC, Level IV NICU, Scope of Practice, Work Flow, Nursing Tips, Nursing Life. Keys to success, Bedside vs. Practitioner, working in a boutique patient population, the real deal.
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner 101, Karen Rapoport, MSN, RNC, NNP-BC. We talk all things NNP life! Level IV NICU provider perspective. Qualities of a good NNP, scope of practice, workflow, Nursing Tips, Nursing Life. Keys to success, Bedside vs. Practitioner, working in a boutique patient population, the real deal. etc. We go micro on what it is like to be an NNP, saving tiny lives!
"Mommy Labor Nurse" Liesel Teen BSN-RN, Founder of "Birth it Up", Online Birth Courses, Podcast, Blog, Entrepreneur, & Brand Builder
We get behind the mic with Liesel Teen BSN-RN, a labor and delivery nurse, mom of two, entrepreneur, brand builder, and founder of “Birth it Up,” (a series of online birth courses for expecting mothers). She is on a mission to help empower new moms to give birth and care for their newborns with confidence. Liesel started Mommy Labor Nurse in 2017 and currently holds a HUGE presence on IG with over 380K followers, has created an amazing brand, blog, and podcast as well. Over 20,000 expecting moms have taken her courses and transitioned into motherhood with her resources.
She has been featured in BabyList, Verywell family, Happiest Baby, The Tot, and has truly created a community where the number one goal is to support women.
You can use code CELLFIE10 for 10% off all MOMMY LABOR NURSE BIRTH COURSES.
Check out some of these additional episodes for bonus NICU content that I think you’ll find valuable! With every NICU experience being unique, there is truly no shortage to the amount of content you can find in the podcast world. I encourage you to keep listening to leaders in this space with an open heart and mind! XO Nurse Tori
BONUS PODCASTS & EPISODES TO CHECK OUT HERE
Welcome to The Incubator
A platform dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in neonatal care
Created by three NICU docs (Rune, Daphna and Ben), we have launched a series of initiatives aimed at disrupting the status quo in neonatology and improving access to evidence-based practices, creating connections within our community and providing frameworks for mental wellness for our colleagues and the families we serve.
Supporting Infant Mental Health in the NICU- Empowering NICU Parents Podcast
Have you ever heard the term infant mental health? On this podcast episode, they discuss how you, as a parent or caregiver of an infant, can positively shape and support a baby’s early social and emotional skills so they are able to build long-lasting connections in the future! You will not want to miss this episode if you are a NICU parent or member of the NICU care team!
Hear from Katie Ross, a Certified Neonatal Occupational Therapist. She is very passionate about positively fostering the development of our specialized NICU population from the earliest stage of life. They discuss infant mental health, what it actually means, and how it applies to our high-risk NICU population. We as NICU caregivers in close collaboration with the parents have the ability to positively change the trajectory of the developmental outcomes for our NICU babies. They discuss tips and offer words of encouragement for parents and NICU care team members on ways we can support, educate, and empower NICU parents to become actively engaged in their infant’s daily cares including skin-to-skin care!
Plain and simple, parents of a NICU baby need to be involved, they are the therapy for their infant! Tune in to learn ways we can all work together to foster and encourage parental support and involvement! Studies have shown that parental engagement actually influences the neurobiology of the infant’s brain and promotes physiological changes in the parents as well - meaning, with parental contact during skin-to-skin care, levels of oxytocin increase which reduces stress and facilitates increased feelings of comfort and attachment, and leads to positive physiological stability in both the baby and the parents! So please, do not underestimate your role as parents, even if your baby is in the NICU! Continue listening as we educate, guide and empower you to work through your grief, trauma, and fear so you can simply love on your baby.
Safe Staffing in the NICU- NANNcast
Understaffing puts patients at increased risk of missed or rationed care, medical incidents, disparities of care, and morbidity and mortality. In September 2021, NANN released the RN Staffing in the NICU position statement with staffing recommendations based on the acuity of the population served. Dr. Lori Armstrong and Karen Kopischke, the authors of the position statement, join Jill Beck on NANNcast to break down the position statement and share how nurses can advocate for safe staffing in their units.
How NICU Babies Communicate: Featuring Dr. Heidelise ALs PhD- NICU Care with NIDCAP
NIDCAP is short for the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program. In each episode, we bring to you Healthcare Professionals, Parents, and others to discuss best practices to support the health and development of infants and their families, and those who care for them, in intensive care hospital settings and beyond.
In this episode, Heidelise Als, PhD, Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and Director of Neurobehavioral Infant and Child Studies at Boston Children's Hospital discusses all things health and development of infants in and out of the NICU.
Let me know in the comments your favorite
NICU episodes so I can check them out! XO
Tori Meskin BSN RNC-NIC. Nurse. Blogger. Podcaster. Tori has been a clinician since 2012, works in acute care/inpatient NICU & Pediatric settings in southern California. She is a blogger, podcaster, NICU & Pediatric Critical Care RN, Sponsored Capella University MSN student, a Barco Uniforms Ambassador & Brave beginnings Ambassador. She has obtained her National NICU Nurse Certification (RNC-NIC) & has previously worked as a travel nurse, pursuing bedside experiences in several NICU settings. Follow her as she shares her NICU journey married life & juggles work, school, content creation, & brings you top-notch Tips & Tricks along the way. Find her at www.tipsfromtori.com or info@tipsfromtori.com