The Nurse Who Fought the System: Advocacy, Ageism, and Healthcare Truths with Pam Dunwald

Carolyn sits down with Pam Dunwald, a veteran nurse turned fierce advocate for aging adults. With over 40 years in healthcare, Pam has seen it all—families lost in medical jargon, patients overlooked, and a system that often forgets its most vulnerable. She shares moments from challenges she faced standing up in a broken system, and how she found her voice as a nurse advocate. From confronting ageism to fighting for better patient care, Pam’s mission is clear: no one should navigate healthcare alone.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 – Empathy: The Superpower We Don’t Talk About Enough
• 00:00:39 – Kicking Off with Fierce Energy
• 00:01:33 – From Weak Stomach to Fierce Advocate
• 00:03:49 – A Bingo Hall, A Life-Changing Moment, and a Nursing Career Born
• 00:06:04 – The Secret to Staying Resilient (Even When It’s Hard)
• 00:07:42 – Why Aging Adults Deserve More—and How to Fight for It
• 00:09:17 – The Nursing Stories That Changed Everything
• 00:11:04 – Spit On, Cursed At, Ignored—The Truth About Being a Nurse
• 00:14:16 – Want to Be an Advocate? Here’s What You Need to Know
• 00:20:08 – How to Find Your Fierce in 5 Minutes at a Time
• 00:24:43 – The Self-Assessment Trick That Changes Everything
• 00:27:14 – The Final Word: One Fierce Mission, One Powerful Legacy

Links and Resources:

• Pam on LinkedIn
• Your Nurse Advocate Consulting, LLC

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