Season 2 • Episode 78

Millions Laugh at Her Videos—But Her Real Work Happens at the Bedside (With Jana Price and Courtnee Stagner)

Feb 24, 2026

33:08

Palliative Care Emergency Medicine Hospice Nursing Patient Stories

Episode Description

In this episode of Nurse Converse, Jana Price welcomes palliative care nurse practitioner Courtnee Stagner, the viral nurse who makes millions laugh online while doing some of the most sacred work in healthcare. Beneath the humor is a clinician guiding families through life’s hardest decisions. Courtnee shares her unexpected path from ICU to hospice, unpacks the truth about morphine at the end of life, and tackles the cultural, spiritual, and ethical tensions nurses face around death. With candor and compassion, she reminds us that palliative care isn’t about giving up. It’s about living well until the very end and advocating fiercely for what matters most.

>>Millions Laugh at Her Videos—But Her Real Work Happens at the Bedside

Jump Ahead to Listen:

[00:01:07] Introducing Courtnee and her story
[00:01:32] Courtnee’s role as a palliative care NP
[00:02:13] From critical care ICU to hospice and palliative
[00:04:27] Seeing patients as people, not numbers
[00:06:03] Patient story: going home to see his dog
[00:08:32] How to become a palliative care nurse/NP
[00:10:02] Shortage of palliative specialists and services
[00:13:49] Talking about morphine at end of life
[00:17:34] Helping families cope with grief and “fighting”
[00:20:30] Why advanced directives and early talks matter
[00:23:59] Honoring cultural and religious needs after death
[00:26:51] Using personal faith in end-of-life care
[00:31:19] Advice for burnt-out nurses and setting boundaries

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