Hate the ICU, but still thinking about CRNA school? You're not alone. And it might not be the dealbreaker you think.

In this episode, I (Kati Kleber, MSN RN) sit down with Jenny Finnell, MSN, CRNA, to unpack what it really takes to get into CRNA school, and what life actually looks like on the other side. Jenny shares her honest experience of struggling emotionally in the ICU, why becoming a CRNA felt completely different, and how many nurses misunderstand what this career path truly demands.

Instead of glamorizing CRNA school, we break down the realities: who's a good fit, who might not be (yet), and how to approach the process strategically: without burning yourself out or self-selecting out too early.

What you'll learn:

✅ Why you don't have to love ICU nursing to thrive as a CRNA (and how the emotional load can be totally different)

✅ What CRNA programs are really looking for: ICU experience, prerequisites, references, and the details most applicants miss

✅ How to prepare for the interview (clinical questions + emotional intelligence) and how to handle questions you don't know without panicking

We also talk candidly about fear, rejection, impostor syndrome, and why "no" doesn't mean never. If you're burned out in the ICU but curious about CRNA, or you're early in your ICU journey and trying to decide if this path is worth pursuing, this episode will help you make a more informed, grounded decision.

🔗 Resources & Links:

• 🎁 CRNA Conference Giveaway: Enter to win TWO full scholarship tickets (you + a CRNA buddy) to the in-person CRNA School Prep Academy Conference in Louisville, KY (June 12-14, 2026), plus travel vouchers for both of you. Learn more and ENTER HERE.
• Join Jenny's free aspiring CRNA Community of 3,500+ nurses
• Learn more about Jenny and CRNA School Prep Academy ➡️ https://crnaschoolprepacademy.com/
• Follow CRNA School Prep on socials for free resources and giveaways: @CRNASchoolPrepAcademy
• Join the FreshRN email list ➡️ https://www.freshrn.com/email-sign-up
• Nurse leaders: Need a comprehensive residency program for your new grads? Check out: https://www.freshrn.com/enterprise/

🎧 Follow & Subscribe:

If this episode gave you something to think about, follow FreshRN wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with a nurse friend who might need it too!

Correctional nursing, home health, aesthetics, nurse leaders… and now AI? NSO's newest nurse liability report highlights some surprising trends in where claims are happening (and why), and this episode breaks it all down in a way that's actually useful for real-world nurses.

In this episode, I (Kati Kleber, MSN RN) sit down with Jennifer Flynn from NSO to discuss their latest nurse liability data: what's increasing, what's getting more expensive, and what nurses can do today to reduce risk without practicing scared.

What you'll learn:

✅ Why correctional nursing is showing up more in claim trends, and what "deliberate indifference" means in real cases

✅ Why home health continues to drive a huge portion of claims (even though far fewer nurses work in that setting)

✅ A real example of how blurred boundaries in home health can spiral into scope issues, board investigation, and job loss

✅ How lack of equipment + improvising (yes, even "I'll just YouTube it") can turn into devastating patient harm

✅ Why aesthetics/cosmetic nursing is higher risk than many nurses assume

✅ How nurse leaders and charge nurses can be named in claims, even without touching the patient

✅ The big AI questions no one can fully answer yet: Who's responsible if AI contributes to harm? Should patients be told? Is AI a tool… or a product?

✅ The "feast or famine" documentation problem: EMRs capture everything… except the context you actually need to defend care

If you're a bedside nurse, a home health nurse, a correctional nurse, or a nurse leader, this episode will help you spot risk patterns before they become a problem, and reinforce the simplest truth in nursing liability: good care + good documentation = protection.

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Learn more about professional liability coverage through NSO: https://www.nso.com/
• Join the FreshRN email list for free (non-spammy) resources & updates: https://www.freshrn.com/email-sign-up
• Nurse leaders: Need a comprehensive residency program for your new grads? Check out: https://www.freshrn.com/enterprise/

🎧 Follow & Subscribe:

If this episode gave you something to think about, follow FreshRN wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with a nurse friend who might need it too!

A home health nurse thought she was helping her patient, but her actions ultimately led to probation with the state board of nursing.

In this episode, I (Kati Kleber, MSN RN) sit down with my husband, licensed clinical counselor John Kleber, to walk through a real NSO case study involving a nurse who crossed professional boundaries, practiced outside her scope, and failed to document critical aspects of care. Step by step, we break down what happened, where the nurse's intentions and actions diverged, and how small decisions compounded into some serious professional consequences.

We talk:

✅ How good intentions can still result in board discipline

✅ Where professional boundaries were crossed, and why that matters legally

✅ What "practicing outside your scope" actually looks like in real life

✅ How documentation gaps can become your biggest liability

✅ Why informal care and "just helping out" can carry serious risk

✅ Practical guardrails to protect your license, your patients, and yourself

This episode is especially important for home health nurses, new grads, travel nurses, and anyone practicing with a high degree of autonomy. If you've ever wondered how nurses end up before the board (and how to make sure it doesn't happen to you) this conversation is for you.

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Learn more about professional liability coverage through NSO: https://www.nso.com/
• John's counseling practice: https://www.klebercounseling.com/
• Join the FreshRN email list for free (non-spammy) resources & updates: https://www.freshrn.com/email-sign-up
• Nurse leaders: Need a comprehensive residency program for your new grads? Check out: https://www.freshrn.com/enterprise/

🎧 Follow & Subscribe:

If this episode gave you something to think about, follow FreshRN wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with a nurse friend who might need it too!