On this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, host Brigitte Sager, DNP interviews Karina Landing RN, a seasoned healthcare professional who has transitioned from traditional nursing to functional medicine and wellness coaching. Karina shares her journey through various nursing roles, her insights into the challenges faced by mid-career professionals, and how she integrates technology with functional medicine to empower her clients. The conversation explores the importance of personalized heal...
Jan 22, 2025•54 min•Ep. 56
On this episode of the Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager, DNP discusses the important distinctions between education, recommendations, and prescribing within the nursing scope of practice. She emphasizes the role of nurses in educating patients, the nuances of making recommendations, and the importance of empowering patients to make informed decisions about their health. The conversation also touches on the use of online dispensaries for quality supplements and the significance of clear c...
Jan 08, 2025•15 min•Ep. 55
In this episode of the Functional Nurse Podcast, host Brigitte Sager, DNP interviews Andrew Newland, co-founder of Functional Medicine Marketing. They discuss the importance of functional medicine in healthcare, the challenges of implementing these practices at home, and the critical role nurses play in the future of healthcare. Andrew shares insights on effective marketing strategies for functional medicine practices, emphasizing the need for community engagement and building trust with potenti...
Dec 25, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 53
In this inspiring reunion episode, host Brigitte Sager, DNP, welcomes five past guests and graduates of Brigitte's Functional Medicine for Nurses program. Together, they share their personal journeys into the world of functional medicine, reflecting on the passion that drove them to start their own practices. The conversation dives deep into the realities of entrepreneurship, from overcoming roadblocks and marketing challenges to the determination it takes to "get in the door." The group shares ...
Dec 11, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 52
In this bonus episode , Brigitte Sager, DNP and Monique Class, MS, APRN, BC discuss the evolving landscape of Functional Nursing, focusing on the new certification processes, educational tracks, and the launch of a membership community for nurses interested in functional medicine. They emphasize the importance of nurses in the Functional Medicine movement and outline the structure of upcoming programs designed to enhance nursing competencies in this field. Join the waitlist for The Functional Nu...
Dec 10, 2024•19 min•Ep. 54
In this engaging episode host Brigitte Sager, DNP interviews Samantha Hamilton, MSN-ED, RN. Samantha shares her journey through nursing and her transition into functional medicine. From her early days as an ICU nurse in a high-need area of Milwaukee to becoming an organ procurement coordinator and eventually working as a heart failure clinician, Samantha's passion for patient education shines through. She explains her mission to empower patients by teaching them to make informed decisions and un...
Nov 27, 2024•54 min•Ep. 51
On this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, I’m diving into key insights from the recent Personal Lifestyle Medicine Institute (PLMI) conference. 🌿✨ From cutting-edge research to actionable strategies, PLMI continues to lead the way in integrating personalized lifestyle medicine into healthcare. As functional nurses and practitioners, staying ahead of these trends is essential for empowering patients and creating meaningful change in our system. 💡 If you’ve been curious about what’s next ...
Nov 13, 2024•33 min•Ep. 50
In this engaging episode, host Brigitte Sager introduces special guest Rose Acholla, MSN APRN FNP-C RN NC, an experienced ICU nurse and family nurse practitioner, who shares her inspiring journey from traditional healthcare to holistic and functional medicine. With 13 years in critical care and as an NP since 2021, Rose explains how she began to feel limited by conventional approaches in primary care. Seeking a deeper way to support her patients, she found functional medicine, completing courses...
Oct 30, 2024•58 min•Ep. 49
In this bonus episode of the Functional Nurse Podcast, host Brigitte Sager shares exciting news for nurses interested in entrepreneurship. After listening to feedback from students in her functional medicine course, Brigitte realized that many nurses need guidance on starting their own businesses, especially in functional medicine and holistic healthcare. She discusses the challenges nurses face, like business structure, marketing, and client acquisition, and announces the launch of a new mentor...
Oct 23, 2024•13 min•Ep. 48
In this insightful episode, host Brigitte Sager interviews Rebekah Sireci BSN, RN, the founder of Bare Health Co. Rebekah shares her inspiring journey into nursing, which began after a life-changing car accident as a teenager. Though she initially pursued a career in the corporate world, she later followed her passion for healthcare, training as a nurse in England. Specializing in oncology, Rebekah reflects on her experiences caring for cancer patients, the compassion that drives her work, and h...
Oct 16, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 47
In this episode, functional medicine nurse practitioner Brigitte Sager shares important updates and emerging topics in functional nursing. From the availability of continuous glucose monitors over the counter to new certification processes by the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), this episode covers the latest developments that are shaping the future of functional nursing. Brigitte discusses how CGMs can empower patients with metabolic issues and previews exciting changes in functional me...
Oct 02, 2024•30 min•Ep. 46
In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager interviews Jazmine Reyes, RN, BSN, BC-NC, about her journey from ICU nursing to holistic and functional medicine practice. Jaz shares her experiences as a travel nurse during the pandemic, which led her to shift towards a more intentional, slow-paced, and ancestral approach to health. Together, they discuss how nurses can integrate ancestral wisdom, mindfulness, and slowing down into modern healthcare while navigating the challenges...
Sep 18, 2024•55 min•Ep. 45
In this episode, functional medicine nurse practitioner Brigitte Sager shares her thoughts on how nurses can transform healthcare through holistic and functional nursing practices. Brigitte discusses the critical role nurses play in reshaping healthcare systems by stepping into leadership and entrepreneurial roles, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining integrity and ethics. She explores how functional medicine empowers nurses to address root causes of chronic health issues, offering a ...
Sep 04, 2024•33 min•Ep. 44
In this episode of The Functional Nurse podcast, host Brigitte Sager, DNP, discusses a frequent question: Should a nurse call themselves a health coach? Brigitte addresses the differences between calling oneself a nurse coach versus a health coach and the legal and professional implications. She explains the importance of protecting the nurse’s license and adhering to scope of practice laws, especially in different states. Key points covered in this episode: Nurse Coaching vs. Health Coaching: B...
Aug 21, 2024•16 min•Ep. 43
In this episode of The Functional Nurse podcast, host Brigitte Sager, DNP, answers a frequently asked question: Can a registered nurse become certified in functional medicine? Brigitte, a functional medicine nurse practitioner, delves into the topic of certification and board certification, specifically for nurses interested in pursuing functional medicine. She explains the current options available for nurses and nurse practitioners and the difference between a certificate of completion and a t...
Aug 07, 2024•12 min•Ep. 42
In this episode of The Functional Nurse podcast, host Brigitte Sager, DNP, sits down with Pamela Melson, a dedicated nurse coach with over 30 years of experience in blending allopathic and integrative medicine. Pamela is passionate about holistic community and mental health care, emphasizing mindfulness, self-care, and functional medicine to prevent compassion fatigue and burnout among healthcare professionals. As a clinical assistant professor and senior faculty member at the Integrative Nurse ...
Jul 24, 2024•51 min•Ep. 41
In this episode of The Functional Nurse podcast, host Brigitte Sager, DNP, explores the common misconception that registered nurses (RNs) cannot diagnose patients. Brigitte addresses this misconception by distinguishing between medical diagnoses and nursing diagnoses and explains how nursing diagnoses align with the holistic and functional medicine approach. Key highlights include: The differences between medical and nursing diagnoses, with an emphasis on how functional medicine focuses on the "...
Jul 10, 2024•14 min•Ep. 40
In this episode of The Functional Nurse podcast, Brigitte Sager interviews Chelsea McGee, a registered nurse and holistic health practitioner. Chelsea shares her journey from serving in the military to becoming a nurse, nurse coach, and ultimately starting her own business. She explains how she integrates Eastern healing concepts with Western medicine through modalities such as sound healing, Reiki, meditation, and functional medicine. Chelsea discusses the importance of self-healing and self-lo...
Jun 26, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 39
In this episode, functional medicine nurse practitioner and educator Brigitte Sager shares her key takeaways from the 2024 IFM Annual Conference in Las Vegas. Brigitte highlights the growing role of nurse coaches in functional medicine and the exciting developments presented by thought leaders like Dr. Mark Hyman and Dr. Jeffrey Bland. She discusses topics like the long lag between research and clinical practice, how emerging tech and AI are shaping healthcare, and the potential for a blood test...
Jun 12, 2024•23 min•Ep. 38
Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing — Learn more at www.fxnursing.com What does functional medicine look like when practiced through the lens of 35 years of nursing experience? In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast , Brigitte Sager, DNP, IFMCP, interviews Monique Class, MSN, ARNP, IFMCP, a board-certified family nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist in holistic health. Together, they explore how functional medicine, holistic nursing, and systems biology come to...
May 29, 2024•58 min•Ep. 37
Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing — Learn more at www.fxnursing.com Imposter syndrome in nursing is more common than we admit — and it often intensifies when stepping into functional medicine, holistic nursing, leadership, or advanced practice roles. In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast , Brigitte Sager, DNP, IFMCP, explores why nurses at every level — from new grads and charge nurses to nurse practitioners and educators — experience self-doubt when their responsibilit...
May 15, 2024•31 min•Ep. 36
In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager, DNP, shares her top five key takeaways from the Integrative Nurse Coach Symposium held in Miami, Florida. From the importance of self-care in nursing to trauma-informed care and community service, Brigitte covers the most impactful insights from the event. Learn more about the Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation movement, the power of trauma-informed care, the significance of service and outreach, cannabis in nursing, and the shared expe...
May 01, 2024•15 min•Ep. 35
This episode is proudly sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Explore functional nursing education, mentorship, and community at: www.fxnursing.com Discover how nurses are transforming patient care through the lens of functional and integrative medicine. In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast , host Brigitte Sager, DNP, sits down with Rita Wadhwani, RN, MSN, ACNP, CNS, RNC-NIC, explore her inspiring shift from conventional ICU nursing to a root-cause, holistic approach grou...
Apr 17, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 34
Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing – Explore programs and resources at www.fxnursing.com What happens when nurses start asking why—why symptoms are showing up, why healthcare is failing so many patients, and why they became nurses in the first place? In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast , Brigitte Sager explores how functional medicine begins with asking deeper questions—about the patient, the root cause, and the system. She shares how functional nursing is not about ab...
Apr 03, 2024•17 min•Ep. 33
Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing (IFN) — helping nurses lead the future of healthcare through functional medicine education and support. Learn more at www.fxnursing.com In this inspiring episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast , Brigitte Sager, DNP, IFMCP, sits down with Melissa Armstrong, BSN, RN, HWNC-BC, a board-certified nurse coach and functional medicine practitioner who left her career in the Pediatric ICU to build a thriving virtual wellness business. Melissa shares her ...
Mar 20, 2024•54 min•Ep. 32
In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, host Brigitte Sager, a functional medicine nurse practitioner, explores the question: “Is functional medicine covered by insurance?” Brigitte dives into common misconceptions about billing for functional medicine, the role of insurance in healthcare, and how functional medicine can be integrated into conventional healthcare models. She explains how nurses can incorporate holistic care and patient education into insurance-based visits and emphasize...
Mar 06, 2024•21 min•Ep. 31
Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing (IFN) — supporting nurses in building impactful, root-cause-focused practices through functional medicine education. Learn more at www.fxnursing.com In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast , Brigitte Sager, DNP, sits down with Julie Davey, NP, a nurse practitioner and functional medicine educator with over 25 years of experience. Julie shares her journey from traditional healthcare to a gut-health-focused functional medicine practice, and...
Feb 21, 2024•54 min•Ep. 30
Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing — Learn more at www.fxnursing.com “What should I call myself?” It’s one of the most common questions nurses ask when stepping into functional medicine, integrative care, lifestyle medicine, or holistic nursing practice. In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast , Brigitte Sager, DNP, IFMCP, breaks down the practical and ethical differences between common titles such as: Functional Nurse Functional Medicine Nurse Holistic Nurse Integrative N...
Feb 07, 2024•26 min•Ep. 29
Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing (IFN) Learn more: https://fxnursing.com Explore the Functional Nursing Program™: https://learn.fxnursing.com/the-functional-nursing-program In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast , Brigitte Sager, DNP, IFMCP interviews Lindsey Buhl, RN, BSN about the essential role of functional nursing in preventive care, chronic disease management, and patient transformation. Lindsey shares how she blends functional medicine with conventional nursing t...
Jan 24, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 28
Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing (IFN) — supporting nurses in building sustainable, nurse-led functional and holistic practices. Learn more at www.fxnursing.com In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast , Brigitte Sager, NP, a functional medicine nurse practitioner and nurse educator, dives into an important and often challenging topic for nurse entrepreneurs: knowing your worth as a nurse. Brigitte explores why nurses frequently undervalue their time, expertise, and lived...
Jan 10, 2024•32 min•Ep. 27
