Nursing the Nation

S2.E10. Are We Really Experiencing More Foodborne Illness in the US?

Cyclospora. Salmonella. Listeria. E. coli. It has felt like a relentless summer of foodborne illness headlines. So Jamie and Melissa Anne went looking for the actual data. In this episode, we trace how an outbreak is actually discovered. We break down which federal agency picks up which food (USDA for meat, FDA for produce and packaged goods), and we hit the fact that shocked us: nearly all food recalls in this country are voluntary. USDA cannot order contaminated meat off the shelf. It can only ask. We also examine what's happened to the response infrastructure. You won't be surprised by the reasons why. Head over to our Substack to join the conversation. The views and opinions expressed on Nursing the Nation are our own and do not represent those of our employers, academic institutions, or any organization we're affiliated with. Episode image made with CanvaAI.

S2.E9. Nursing Built This Model of Mental Health Care: Integrated Behavioral Health Care with Dr. Victoria Soltis-Jarrett

This week, Dr. Victoria Soltis-Jarrett returns to Nursing the Nation to explain integrated behavioral health care — what it actually is, what it isn't, and why "we'll refer you two doors down" doesn't count. Dr. Soltis-Jarrett is the Carol Morde Ross Distinguished Professor of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a newly inducted inaugural Fellow of the International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses, with thirty-five years of clinical practice, education, and scholarship behind her. Dr. Soltis-Jarrett walks us through TANDEM3-PC- the rural primary care integration model she built from the ground up after the off-the-shelf models didn't fit- and the Carolina Behavioral Health Integration Scholar traineeship, which has now educated more than two hundred nurse practitioners. Head over to our Substack to join the conversation. The views and opinions expressed on Nursing the Nation are our own and do not represent those of our employers, academic institutions, or any organization we're affiliated with.

S2.E8. Introducing Dr. Melissa Anne DuBois!

This week we're deviating from the norm, because as this episode airs, Melissa has defended her dissertation and is officially Dr. Melissa Anne DuBois. To mark the occasion, Jamie went and got nerdy about where the PhD actually comes from — and it turns out the history is contested, medieval, and extremely useful the next time someone tells you nurses shouldn't use the title "doctor." Nursing PhD enrollment has declined for the eleventh consecutive year, to 4,077 students in a workforce of 5.6 million. That's less than a tenth of a percent of all nurses in the US! We need more nurses with a PhD in nursing science, so contact us if you are a nurse considering this — we'd like to talk with you about it. Head over to our Substack for more, sponsor us, or drop us a message.

S2.E7 Ending Crime and Disorder on American Streets: Executive Order 14321

An executive order from July 2025 calls street homelessness a psychiatric problem and prescribes involuntary commitment. In this episode, Jamie and Melissa break down EO 14321 Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets. They discuss what the HUD data actually shows, how grant money becomes leverage, why defunding harm reduction and Housing First backfires, and what the June 2026 DOJ memo narrowing the interpretation of Olmstead v. L.C. means for community-based care. Head over to our Substack to join the conversation. The views and opinions expressed on Nursing the Nation are our own and do not represent those of our employers, academic institutions, or any organization we're affiliated with.

S2.E6 TrumpRx: GoodRx with a Red Hat

The President calls TrumpRx "the most transformative healthcare initiative of all time." So what does it actually do? In this episode, Jamie and Melissa pull apart the branded drug-discount rollout — and find a website that links you to manufacturer coupons, not a pharmacy. To understand why the same generic pill can cost $4 at one store and $19 at another, they follow the money through pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) — the middlemen who now control roughly 80% of the market through rebate games, spread pricing, and the conflict of interest baked into companies that own the insurer, the PBM, and the pharmacy all at once. They break down the structural fights that could actually change things (the bipartisan Break Up Big Medicine Act; Tennessee's Fair Rx Act and the CVS lawsuit that followed), why TrumpRx explicitly locks out Medicaid patients and won't count toward your deductible, and the now-infamous claim that prices were cut "600%" — a number that's mathematically impossible and rated Pants on Fire. TLDR: A nurse's-eye view of what TrumpRx does for most Americans: basically nothing. Have a TrumpRx story of your own? Email us or leave a note on Substack. Follow us at nursingthenation.substack.com. The views and opinions expressed on Nursing the Nation are our own and do not represent those of our employers, academic institutions, or any organization we're affiliated with.

S2.E5. MAHA Strategy Report, Part 4: Fostering Private Sector Collaboration

We close our four-part nursing analysis of the Make Our Children Healthy Again MAHA Strategy Report with its thinnest pillar on paper — and its most consequential in practice. Pillar 4 rests on one word every nurse knows intimately: voluntary. Jamie and Melissa unpack the retreat from a promised food-dye ban to a toothless voluntary tracker, the "precision agriculture" drone promises that have not materialized, and the arithmetic that defines the pillar: ~$700M into a new MAHA program while $1B+ in conservation commitments get clawed back. Then we ask the nursing questions: why a strategy obsessed with what's in kids' food stays silent on whether they have enough, and why "faster chemical approvals" is the opposite of upstream thinking. Follow the labor. Follow the money. Sources and the FDA dye tracker are in our show notes: nursingthenation.substack.com Nursing the Nation is hosted by Jamie Bourgeois and Melissa Anne DuBois. The opinions expressed are our own and not representative of any employer, institution, or organization. Sponsor Nursing the Nation. Two working nurses, independently researching and producing every episode — no network, no ad agency, no corporate backing. If our take has informed you or made you think, keep the mic on: sponsor us at nursingthenation.substack.com.

S2.E4. MAHA Strategy Part 3.2: Increasing Public Awareness and Knowledge

In the second half of our deep dive into the MAHA Strategy Report's third pillar, Jamie and Melissa take on pediatric mental health, screen time, vaping, substance use, and the report's favorite move: naming a youth crisis and then handing the responsibility to individual kids and families while quietly cutting every structural support that might actually help. We unpack what the research really says about screens and mental health (spoiler: "screen time" as a single number is nearly meaningless), why the federal government's own data shows teen substance use at historic lows even as the report frames it as a worsening crisis, and what's actually worth watching — nicotine pouches, addiction hardening, and the push to bring back flavored vapes. Then we get to the part that makes us angry: a strategy that claims to care about youth anxiety and depression while defunding the 988 Lifeline's LGBTQ+ youth service, omitting gendered and LGBTQ+ disparities from CDC data, attacking social-emotional learning, and moving to restrict psychiatric medications and gender-affirming care. As nurses, we call it what it is — a lethal contradiction. You don't get to break the safety net and then prescribe a walk in the park as the cure. 🎙️ Subscribe to Nursing the Nation, leave us a 5-star review, and find us on Substack — where you can now sponsor our work. The opinions on this podcast are our own and not representative of any employer, institution, or organization we may be affiliated with.

S2.E3. MAHA Strategy Part 3.1: Increasing Public Awareness and Knowledge

HHS calls the third pillar of the MAHA strategy "Increasing Public Awareness and Knowledge"—a plan to empower parents and restore trust in public health. Jamie and Melissa Anne read the fine print and find the bootstraps myth woven throughout: sixteen-plus awareness campaigns built almost entirely on individual behavior change, with the upstream social determinants of health conspicuously missing. We cover the well-documented way awareness campaigns can widen health disparities rather than close them; the "Make American Schools Healthy Again" push landing on an unequal delivery system of overstretched school nurses and gutted PE programs; a dietary campaign promising healthy eating "regardless of budget or location" in a world of SNAP cuts and time-poverty; and the fight over community water fluoridation, from its 1901 origins to the state-level bans spreading in 2026. Plus: the still-empty Surgeon General's office and what to know about nominee Nicole Saphier. Subscribe to our Substack for more content from the nurses you trust.

S2.E2. MAHA Strategy Part 2: Realigning Whose Incentives?

The MAHA Commission's September 2025 Strategy Report laid out four pillars for tackling childhood chronic disease. Today Jamie and Melissa Anne are digging into Pillar 2: "Realigning Incentives" — a sprawling grab-bag of food labeling, sunscreen modernization, dietary guidelines, synthetic dye phase-outs, and the still-undefined "ultra-processed food." What's actually been accomplished? We unpack why U.S. sunscreen regulation lags behind Europe and Asia, why the new upside-down food pyramid is a confusing step backward, who really profits from the petroleum-based dye phase-out (hint: not the oil industry), and why a federal definition of "ultra-processed food" keeps slipping its deadline. Underneath it all: a movement skilled at capitalizing on parental fear while ignoring the structural drivers of children's health: hunger, poverty, healthcare access, pollution, and gun violence. You can take red dye out of Swedish Fish, but it won't help a kid who comes home to an empty fridge. 🎙️ Subscribe to Nursing the Nation, leave us a 5-star review, and find us on Substack — where you can now sponsor our work. SINCE TAPING: The FDA announced June 9, 2026 that they have approved an additional sunscreen ingredient.

S2.E1. MAHA Strategy Part 1: What "Advancing Research" Actually Means

Season 2 is here, and we're opening with a topic that has been a frequent flyer: the MAHA Strategy Report. If you followed our MOCHA series in Season 1, you already know the diagnosis — poor diet, chemical exposures, physical inactivity, and overmedicalization. Now the MAHA Commission is back with their so-called playbook. Today we're putting Pillar One — Advancing Research — under the nursing microscope. Spoiler: "gold standard science" is doing a lot of heavy lifting for a document with little meat and zero citations. We break down the 14 research priorities the Commission laid out, explain why several of them function as dog whistles for the health freedom crowd, and track what has actually happened since the Strategy dropped. From the reinstatement of a long-disbanded vaccine safety task force to the quiet dismantling of the very agencies designed to protect us from chemical exposures, the gap between the promise and the reality is… wide. We also introduce you to Andrew Downing — and no, he is not from Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill. This is Part 1 of a multi-part series. Subscribe to our show so you don't miss what comes next. Subscribe to our Substack for more content from the nurses you trust.

Saturday (on a Sunday) Soapbox: The RISE Rule: How the Dept of Education Just Made It Harder to Become a Nurse

The Department of Education just finalized the RISE Rule — and graduate nursing still isn't a "professional degree." What does that mean? It means nursing students starting after July 1, 2026 can borrow less than half of what med students, law students, and even chiropractic students can access in federal loans. The Department says it's just a classification issue. Jamie says it's misogyny in a bureaucratic hat. Jamie breaks down what the RISE Rule actually does, why the CIP code defense doesn't hold up, why "just get a private loan" is not the answer anyone thinks it is, and what this means for a nursing workforce that's already short 264,000 nurses — with 40% of current nurses planning to leave within five years. Plus: what you can do about it, and why your legislators need to hear from you yesterday. Stay tuned after the Soapbox for our conversation with Dr. Victoria Soltis-Jarrett of UNC on what "professional" status really means for the nurses doing this work every day. See more on our Substack.

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BONUS Episode: Referred Pain, or When the 'Not-War' Hits Home

The U.S. and Israel have launched massive strikes against Iran. Cable news is debating carrier groups and regime change. We're checking the vitals of the people right here at home. War doesn't just happen "over there." In this bonus episode, Jamie and Melissa Anne apply the nursing lens to the Third Gulf War's homefront realities — from a spike in oil prices and the financial toxicity hitting American households, to the cortisol-soaked "Headline Stress Disorder" disrupting sleep, relationships, and mental health across the country. We also offer a four-step Nursing Care Plan for surviving a nation on a war footing — because you can't put a bandage on collective anxiety, but you can titrate media intake, add fact based journalism, and [Jamie's go to] contact your Congressional representatives.

BONUS Episode: Nursing is a Profession with Dr. Victoria Soltis-Jarrett

Today's bonus episode features a discussion based on the Department of Education's final proposed rule that will EXCLUDE graduate level nursing education from the professional federal student loan limits. Jamie and Melissa Anne discuss how this impacts nurses, patients, and the healthcare system at large with Dr. Victoria Soltis-Jarrett, while providing context to what exactly graduate level nursing is. Get more info, show notes, and follow us on Substack: https://nursingthenation.substack.com/

BONUS Episode: The Cost of Compassion & Remembering Alex Petti, RN

Jamie and Melissa Anne address the escalating violence and the tragic loss of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a VA ICU nurse who was killed by ICE agents on Saturday, January 24, 2026, in Minnesota. Speaking not just as nurses, but as witnesses to the "best and worst of humanity," they deliver an urgent message to those who have previously remained silent or supported the current administration’s immigration policies. Get more info, show notes, and follow us on Substack: https://nursingthenation.substack.com/

BONUS Episode: Bobby's Dangerous Experiment

In this episode, Jamie and Melissa Anne unpack reports of a CDC-funded study in Guinea-Bissau that would randomize newborns to receive the Hepatitis B vaccine at birth versus a delayed dose, which is framed by RFK Jr. as “gold standard science.” They break down what decades of evidence say about Hep B transmission and why the birth dose matters, then dig into the ethical red flags of testing delayed protection in a hyper-endemic setting, including concerns about vulnerable populations, justice, and preventable harm. We also connect the this "gold standard science" experiment to research ethics frameworks and discuss potential investigator bias and “cronyism” concerns. We also ask why this story hasn’t gotten more mainstream attention? For more head to Nursingthenation.substack.com.

BONUS Episode: Nursing the Nation on Humanism Now with James Hodgson

We’re excited to share a special bonus episode today. Jamie and Melissa recently joined host James Hodgson on Humanism Now, a podcast that explores how compassion, curiosity, equality, and freedom can help us build a fairer and more humane world. The show showcases the values and applications of a Humanist worldview. It's not anti-religion — it’s pro-human — and each week James speaks with thinkers, community leaders, and everyday people about how humanist values shape their lives and work. This podcast highlights various conversations that align with a shared mission of Nursing the Nation: from science and education to ethics, the arts, and social care, Humanism Now celebrates the one life we have and the responsibility we share to leave a better world for those who follow. If you enjoy this conversation, you can find Humanism Now on all major podcast platforms and on social media at @HumanismNowPod — links are in the show notes. James also runs Humanise Live, a production team helping charities and purpose-driven organizations start podcasts with heart, so do reach out if you’ve ever wanted to share your mission through podcasting. James was wonderful to work with! Here’s our conversation with Humanism Now. Remember to head to Nursingthenation.substack.com.

S1.E30 When Nurses Start Fact-Checking the Nation

As Season One of Nursing the Nation wraps up, Jamie and Melissa Anne sit down for a lighter, reflective conversation about the surprises, challenges, and insights that shaped their first year behind the mic. From discovering that both the Senate and House have nursing caucuses (who knew?) to unexpected twists in health policy history, the season taught them just as much as it informed listeners. They also share personal updates,(Melissa entering the dissertation phase of her PhD and Jamie following close behind) and how their doctoral work and nursing practice continue to guide the show’s direction. Looking ahead to Season Two, they preview deep dives into the MAHA strategy plan, a behind-the-scenes look at the business of health care with an industry insider, and a multifaceted series on the U.S. maternal health crisis. Expect even more evidence-based policy analysis, nursing-centered perspectives, and conversations that highlight just how political, expansive, and essential nursing truly is. Season Two will continue the ethical obligation nurses have to advocate for safety, dignity, equity, and just health policy. Until then, Jamie will still be active on Substack reading, writing, and keeping the conversation going. Thanks to everyone who joined us this season for a nurse’s take on the nation. For more head to Nursingthenation.substack.com.

S1.E29 Shout Out Saturday: Dr. Ann Burgess

Our last Shout Out this season is to the esteemed nurse Ann Burgess. Ann Burgess is a doctorally prepared nurse scientist that is internationally recognized for her pioneering work in forensic science. Even if you have not heard her by name, you are likely to have known of her work. Did you watch the Netflix series Mindhunter? She is depicted as Dr. Wendy Carr (and we explain why). Dr. Burgess also has a fascinating 3-part documentary, Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer, on her work that is a must watch on Hulu. If you wanted further proof that nurses have engaged with all aspects of life and death, this episode will make the case. For further information, visit Nursingthenation.substack.com

S1.E28 MOCHA REDUX: MAHA & Make Our Children Healthy Again, Part 5.2: The Misrepresentation of Gender Affirming Care

In the final installment of our MOCHA REDUX series, Jamie and Melissa Anne break down one of the most contentious sections of the MAHA report: gender-affirming care. This episode explores how the Trump administration and MAHA frame gender-affirming care as “child chemical and surgical mutilation”. This is a phrase echoed in a 2025 CMS press release that warned hospitals about “irreversible” interventions for gender dysphoria. We provide an update to this section of the MAHA report in light of their MAHA Strategy report released in September 2025, and reiterate that this rhetoric misrepresents transgender healthcare and ignores both medical and nursing guidelines and clinical realities. For more information, visit Nursingthenation.substack.com

S1.E27 MOCHA REDUX: MAHA and Make Our Children Healthy Again, Part 5.1: Rx Overload?

In this episode, Jamie and Melissa Anne revisit MAHA's claim that American children are dangerously overmedicalized. While acknowledging real problems like antibiotic overuse and chronic illness, we argue that the MAHA report manipulates data and misses the bigger picture. We debunk misleading claims about ear tube surgeries, ADHD treatment, and psychiatric medication use in children and adolescents, and call out how evidence is selectively used to fit an ideological narrative. Ultimately, Jamie and Melissa Anne emphasize that improving children’s health requires more than cutting prescriptions or regulating drug ads. It all comes back to social determinants of health like addressing housing, food access, insurance barriers, and other inequities. We also highlight what’s missing from MAHA’s plan: any mention of the leading causes of child death in the U.S., like firearms and motor vehicle accidents. This episode urges listeners to look beyond oversimplified solutions and engage in real, evidence-based dialogue about what children need to thrive. Remember to take a look at our companion Substack notes on this updated episode. Nursingthenation.substack.com