Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing — Learn more at fxnursing.com Is functional medicine misunderstood—or is it being misrepresented? In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast , Brigitte Sager, FNP makes the case that functional medicine has a branding problem—and explains why nurses are uniquely positioned to help fix it. She defines what functional medicine is supposed to be: root cause care grounded in biochemistry, lifestyle, environment, and systems thinking—not expensiv...
Dec 27, 2023•36 min•Ep. 26
Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing – Learn more at fxnursing.com In this powerful interview, Brigitte Sager, DNP sits down with Dr. Terry Wahls, MD, IFM Certified Practitioner and author of The Wahls Protocol , to explore how a functional medicine and lifestyle-based approach transformed her experience with progressive multiple sclerosis. Dr. Wahls shares her deeply personal journey—from worsening MS symptoms and wheelchair dependence to regaining function and biking again—and how...
Dec 13, 2023•47 min•Ep. 25
Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing – www.fxnursing.com Are your hormone patients still struggling with symptoms like PMS, fatigue, mood swings, or irregular cycles — even when labs look normal? In this episode, hormone expert Dr. Carrie Jones joins us for a high-level conversation on the often-overlooked connection between gut health and hormone symptoms. From estrogen metabolism and detox pathways to functional hormone testing and lifestyle interventions, we explore how these sys...
Nov 29, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 24
In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager, DNP, interviews Beverly Mazza, BSN, RN, an integrative registered nurse and founder of Purely Present Health. Bev shares her journey into nursing, her focus on stress and mindfulness, and how she uses functional medicine principles to help her clients make meaningful lifestyle changes. Learn how Bev’s unique approach bridges conventional medicine and holistic practices to support clients dealing with stress, chronic conditions, and...
Nov 15, 2023•49 min•Ep. 22
In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager, DNP, discusses the crucial topic of how to prioritize care when practicing functional nursing. Drawing from her experience with over 500 nursing and nurse practitioner students, she addresses the common challenge of determining where to start when addressing patients' health concerns. Brigitte emphasizes the importance of starting with fundamental practices like stress management, sleep optimization, and the Elimination Diet as par...
Nov 01, 2023•19 min•Ep. 21
In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager, DNP, shares her favorite takeaways from the 2023 Thought Leaders Consortium hosted by Dr. Jeffrey Bland, founder of the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute. This Cutting Edge conference, held in Seattle, focused on the neuroimmune connection and explored crucial topics like long COVID, mitochondrial health, nutrition, autoimmune conditions, and chronic illnesses like fibromyalgia and Alzheimer's. Brigitte highlights the insig...
Oct 26, 2023•29 min•Ep. 23
In this episode, Brigitte Sager, DNP, IFMCP talks with Dr. Holly Lucille, nationally recognized naturopathic doctor and registered nurse about how RNs and NPs can safely and effectively use supplements in functional nursing practice. They discuss clinical decision-making, scope considerations, supplement quality, patient education, and the workflow strategies that help nurses build clear, consistent, and sustainable treatment plans. Dr. Lucille also shares how she uses Fullscript to streamline s...
Oct 18, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 20
Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing™ (IFN) Learn more: https://www.fxnursing.com Watch the Functional Nursing Program™ info session: https://learn.fxnursing.com/InfoSession Explore our Functional Nursing Membership™: https://learn.fxnursing.com/the-functional-nursing-membership Listen to the Functional Nursing Podcast™: https://www.fxnursing.com/podcast Trying to figure out your next step in functional medicine as an RN or NP? This episode breaks down exactly how nurses can navigat...
Oct 04, 2023•24 min•Ep. 19
In this episode, functional medicine nurse practitioner Brigitte Sager welcomes Lauren Briggs, a registered nurse, nurse coach, and yoga instructor, to discuss her journey from burnout to owning her own practice, Practical Medicine. Lauren shares how she integrates functional medicine, gut health, hormone balancing, and migraine relief with her unique coaching approach. They explore the power of nurse coaching and how it complements functional medicine, offering a holistic way to empower patient...
Sep 20, 2023•32 min•Ep. 18
Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more at www. fxnursing.com Functional medicine lab testing can be a powerful clinical tool, but when used too early or too often, it can also increase cost, delay care, and create unnecessary anxiety for patients. So how do nurses decide when testing truly adds value and when it’s better to focus on foundations first? In this episode, Brigitte Sager, DNP, IFMCP, CNE breaks down the popular “test, don’t guess” philosophy through a practical...
Sep 06, 2023•28 min•Ep. 17
Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing (IFN) Learn more: https://www.fxnursing.com Functional Nursing Program info session: https://learn.fxnursing.com/InfoSession Membership & community: https://learn.fxnursing.com/the-functional-nursing-membership Podcast home: https://www.fxnursing.com/podcast In this episode, we explore how nurses can use functional medicine, holistic nursing, and nurse coaching to support women in midlife while also building meaningful, sustainable nursing pr...
Aug 23, 2023•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 16
In today's episode, Brigitte Sager, DNP, explores one of the most essential aspects of functional medicine: evaluating and understanding patient readiness and motivation for change. Learn how to assess where patients are on the readiness spectrum, adapt your approach, and use coaching techniques to guide them toward lasting lifestyle transformations. Brigitte also shares real-life examples from her own practice, along with strategies for talking to friends and family who may not be ready to hear...
Aug 09, 2023•27 min•Ep. 15
Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more at fxnursing.com What happens when a bedside RN experiences firsthand what it feels like to be dismissed in conventional healthcare, and then discovers functional medicine? In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast , Brigitte Sager interviews Ashley Braaten, BSN RN, who shares how functional medicine transformed her personal health, her family’s well-being, and the way she practices nursing today. Ashley opens up about her postp...
Jul 26, 2023•44 min•Ep. 14
In this episode, Brigitte Sager, DNP, tackles a concept many of us struggle with—perfection. As healthcare professionals, the pressure to be perfect in both our personal lives and careers can be overwhelming. Brigitte shares her personal journey with letting go of perfectionism in practicing functional medicine and encourages nurses to embrace progress over perfection. From balancing healthy choices with real-life realities to setting realistic self-care goals, this episode is a candid reminder ...
Jul 12, 2023•15 min•Ep. 13
Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at fxnursing.com Lab work is a cornerstone of functional medicine, but many patients are told their results are “normal” even when symptoms persist. In this episode, Brigitte Sager explains how functional medicine interprets labs differently by looking for optimal ranges and early patterns that can reveal insulin resistance, inflammation, thyroid conversion issues, and more before a diagnosis is made. She also clari...
Jun 28, 2023•23 min•Ep. 12
In this episode, Brigitte Sager, DNP, addresses the question many registered nurses face: Do you need to become a nurse practitioner to practice functional medicine? Brigitte shares her personal journey from RN to nurse practitioner, explores the unique scopes of practice for both RNs and NPs, and offers insights into why RNs might not need to pursue the NP route to excel in functional medicine. If you’re deciding between further education or advancing your nursing practice right where you are, ...
Jun 14, 2023•25 min•Ep. 11
In this episode, Brigitte Sager, DNP, discusses why some nurses may prefer the term functional nursing over functional medicine when describing their practice. Brigitte explores the evolving role of nurses in functional healthcare, highlighting how nurses can deliver holistic, root-cause-focused care without stepping outside their scope of practice. She also delves into the history of functional medicine and explains how this powerful approach to healthcare aligns with the core principles of nur...
May 31, 2023•14 min•Ep. 10
Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing – explore our transformative training programs at fxnursing.com Are you a nurse curious about the differences between functional medicine, integrative medicine, and lifestyle medicine? Wondering which model aligns best with your nursing values, scope of practice, and passion for holistic care? In this insightful episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast , Brigitte Sager demystifies these often-confused terms and provides practical guidance for nurs...
May 17, 2023•15 min•Ep. 9
Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing — Learn more at www.fxnursing.com What if many breastfeeding challenges aren’t just about latch or milk supply—but about maternal health and root causes? In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager, DNP, IFMCP, interviews Katie Oshita, RN, IBCLC, lactation consultant and functional medicine nurse. Together, they explore how a functional medicine approach to lactation transforms outcomes for both mothers and babies. Katie share...
May 03, 2023•58 min•Ep. 8
Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing (IFN) — empowering nurses to transform healthcare through functional medicine education and training. Learn more at www.fxnursing.com Where can a functional nurse make an impact? Everywhere. In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast , Brigitte Sager, DNP, IFMCP, reveals 12 surprising places where functional nurses are creating real change in healthcare. From primary care, school nursing, and urgent care to cardiology, endocrinology, and mor...
Apr 19, 2023•28 min•Ep. 7
Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing – Explore IFN's courses and programs at fxnursing.com In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast , Brigitte Sager, FNP talks with Jill Jefferson, RN, a board-certified holistic nurse and nurse coach, about her transition from corporate healthcare to a holistic, functional medicine-based practice. Jill shares how she moved from feeling disillusioned in traditional systems to launching a nurse-led wellness career that combines coaching, root c...
Apr 05, 2023•33 min•Ep. 6
In this episode, functional medicine nurse practitioner and educator Brigitte Sager explains how to effectively evaluate evidence in healthcare, specifically within the realm of functional medicine. Brigitte shares strategies for identifying reliable research, reviewing studies critically, and finding the most up-to-date, relevant data for best practices. From understanding the hierarchy of studies to exploring why functional medicine may not always have the large-scale trials seen in convention...
Mar 22, 2023•24 min•Ep. 7
Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing – Learn more at fxnursing.com Is functional medicine just “alternative” care—or is it truly rooted in science and evidence-based practice? It’s one of the most common (and controversial) questions nurses ask—and in this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast , Brigitte Sager, FNP and functional medicine educator, provides a grounded, clinical answer. Drawing on her experience in both conventional and functional medicine, Brigitte explains how ev...
Mar 08, 2023•17 min•Ep. 4
In this episode, functional medicine nurse practitioner and nurse educator Brigitte Sager answers a critical question often asked by her students: "Can a registered nurse practice functional medicine?" Brigitte dives into the scope of practice for RNs, emphasizing that education, advocacy, and promoting wellness are well within the scope of a registered nurse. While this episode is not a substitute for legal advice, it offers clarity on the significant role RNs can play in functional medicine wi...
Feb 23, 2023•25 min•Ep. 3
In this episode, functional medicine nurse practitioner and nurse educator Brigitte Sager shares her personal journey to becoming a nurse and a functional medicine practitioner. Brigitte dives into her early experiences in healthcare, the frustrations she faced with the limitations of traditional nursing practices, and how discovering functional medicine transformed her career. She discusses the shift from symptom management to root cause analysis and how it has helped her find true healing for ...
Feb 17, 2023•17 min•Ep. 2
What is functional medicine—and why are nurses turning to it now more than ever? In this foundational episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast , Brigitte Sager, DNP, IFMCP, nurse educator and functional medicine practitioner, breaks down what functional medicine really is—and what it isn’t. If you're a nurse or nurse practitioner feeling frustrated by the limitations of conventional care, this episode will help you understand why functional medicine is such a natural fit for the nursing model. Sp...
Feb 17, 2023•36 min•Ep. 1
A podcast that explores the unique role nurses and nurse practitioners RNs and NPs play in practicing the healing art of functional medicine. The show explores many aspects of functional medicine practice, emerging research, and the unique blessings and challenges that nurses experience when practicing functional medicine. Hosted by Brigitte Sager- a family nurse practitioner, board certified functional medicine practitioner, nurse coach, and the creator and lead faculty of Functional Medicine f...
Feb 11, 2023•1 min
