Ep04: Advocating for Nurses – Interview with “Citizen Nurse” Gilanie De Castro
In this conversation, Nurse Gilanie shares her background as an oncology nurse and her journey into advocacy and healthcare policy. She discusses her realization during the pandemic that the nursing profession lacked the necessary resources and support, which led her to become @citizennurse on social media and use her platform to advocate for change.
“I thought if I could do something so that if there is a pandemic or something of the scale that happens in the future, the nursing profession will not have to go through what we went through again.”Gilanie explains how she uses social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn to engage and educate nurses about civics and healthcare policy. She also highlights the importance of nurses being involved in decision-making positions and reframing the narrative around the nursing profession.
The conversation between Rosa and Gilanie focuses on the value of nursing and the need for recognition and fair compensation. They discuss the difficulty of quantifying the compassionate care that nurses provide and the importance of recognizing the impact they have on patients’ lives. Gilanie shares her experience of receiving the 2024 American Nurses Association Advocacy Award and emphasizes the need for nurses to have a voice and influence in healthcare decision-making.
Answering the Billion dollar question: Gilanie describes the idea of creating a nurse-led think tank to conduct research and education in health policy. The conversation highlights the power of nurses in advocating for quality healthcare and the importance of nurses being both authentic and professional in their roles.
Follow her on social media @CitizenNurse or connect on LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilaniedecastro/
Subscribe to the CitizenNurse podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CitizenNurse_News_Network
Connect with Rosa on LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosa-hart-scrn/
03:08
The Need for Nurses in Decision-Making and Policy
11:23
Engaging Nurses in Advocacy through Social Media
15:19
Reframing the Narrative: Showcasing the Positive Aspects of Nursing
17:33
The Importance of Education on Civics and Healthcare Policy
20:36
Creating Intentional Social Media Content for Nursing Leaders
23:03
Recognizing the Invaluable Contributions of Nurses
23:39
The Challenge of Quantifying the Value of Nursing Care
25:38
Advocacy: Giving Nurses a Voice and Influence
27:39
Being Authentically Professional as a Nurse
29:15
Nurses in Politics and Advocacy
33:40
Creating a Nurse-Led Think Tank: Advancing Nursing and Healthcare
