The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN
Nurses don’t often get to visit the breakroom in real life.
Welcome to The Nurses’ Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN — a warm, encouraging space where hospice nurses and caregivers can pause, feel seen, and find practical support for the emotional realities of this work.
Hosted by Jenny Lytle, RN, with over 20 years of hospice experience in case management, on-call, and leadership roles, this podcast offers honest conversations about what it really feels like to care deeply for others while also learning to care for yourself.
Through The Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project and real conversations with hospice nurses, each 5–10 minute episode shares emotional validation, practical self-care tools, nervous system support, and gentle reminders that you do not have to carry it all alone.
Whether you’re a hospice nurse, caregiver, or helping professional, you’ll find encouragement, reflection, and realistic strategies that fit real life.
Because self-care isn’t selfish.
It’s essential if we want to continue to care for others and live our best lives.
stress, self-care, nursing, nurse, healthcare, holistic health, mental health, relax, RN hospice nurse, caregiver stress, compassion fatigue, nurse burnout, self-care for nurses
Episodes
88 episodes
87. Hospice Nurse Burnout: Why Self-Care Alone Isn't Enough
What happens when you’re doing all the “right” things—taking breaks, setting boundaries, packing snacks, taking a breath between visits—and you’re still exhausted?Self-care matters. But self-care was never supposed to make an unsustainab...
85. When Being the “Rock Star” Hospice Nurse Becomes Unsustainable
What happens when being the hospice nurse everyone can count on starts costing you more than you realize?For a long time, I was proud to be the nurse my patients and families depended on—the one who was always available, always willing t...
84. Why Hospice Nurses Stay (Even When It's Hard) | Remembering Why You Chose Hospice
How did you end up in hospice?It's one of my favorite questions to ask hospice nurses because everyone has a story. Some were inspired by a loved one. Some had a mentor who believed in them. Others stumbled into hospice alm...
83. What If Tomorrow Felt Different? A Hospice Nurse Reset
What If Tomorrow Felt Different? A Hospice Nurse ResetWhat if tomorrow wasn't easier...…but you felt different walking into it?In this episode, I invite you to imagine what a real Hospice Nurse Reset might look like....
82. Hospice Nurse Burnout: When You Know Something Needs to Change
If you're experiencing hospice nurse burnout and you know something has to change, this episode is for you.After interviewing hospice nurses across the country for the Hospice Nurse Well-Being Project, one message has become incre...
81. You Don't Have to Leave Hospice to Feel Better: How to Stay in the Work You Love Without Losing Yourself
Do you ever wonder if the only way to feel better is to leave hospice?In this episode, I'm sharing a personal update about a big transition in my own nursing career and why I'm choosing to focus even more on supporting hospice nur...
80. “I’m Always Behind”: What So Many Nurses Are Feeling
During Nurses Week, there’s often a mix of emotions.Sometimes it feels validating and appreciated. Other times, it can feel like pizza parties and tote bags are being used to cover up very real struggles nurses face every day.In t...
79. Why Hospice Nurses Feel So Exhausted (It’s Not Just the Workload)
Are you a hospice nurse feeling more exhausted than your workload alone can explain?In this episode of The Nurses’ Breakroom, Jenny Lytle, RN, explores emotional exhaustion in hospice nursing—and why it’s not just about c...
78. I Didn’t Plan This Pause… But It Changed Everything
After an unexpected injury and a couple of months away from the podcast, I’m finally back — and this pause brought more clarity than I ever expected.In this episode, I’m sharing what happened, what this season taught me, and why The N...
77. When the Work Starts to Feel Heavier: Understanding Cumulative Emotional Weight
If the work feels heavier than it used to, you’re not failing — you’ve been carrying a lot.This episode explores the cumulative emotional weight of caregiving and why it adds up over time.You’re not weak for feeling it. You’re hu...
76. Why You Can’t Just “Turn It Off” — And How to Transition After Work
Rest doesn’t just happen — it often needs a transition.In this episode of The Nurses’ Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN, hospice nurse and stress-relief coach Jenny Lytle explains why going straight from a shift into the rest of yo...
75. Why Rest Feels So Hard for Nurses and Caregivers (Even When You’re Exhausted)
If rest feels uncomfortable, frustrating, or even unsafe — you’re not doing anything wrong.In this episode of The Nurses’ Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN, hospice nurse and stress-relief coach Jenny Lytle explores why rest fee...
74. The Hidden Weight of Hospice Work, Part 2: How to Release It After Your Shift
Hospice work is sacred — and it’s heavy.If you find yourself replaying conversations, second-guessing decisions, or feeling like the emotional weight of the day follows you home, this episode is for you.In this episode of The ...
73. The Hidden Weight Hospice Nurses Carry part 1
In this opening episode of a new season of The Nurses’ Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN, hospice nurse of 20 years Jenny invites you to slow down and take a Monday moment for yourself.This episode isn’t about fixing a...
72. Bonus - Pause, Breathe, Reflect: A Heart-Centered Holiday Practice for Nurses
As the holidays approach, stress and emotional overload can quietly build—especially for nurses and caregivers who are used to putting everyone else first.In this bonus episode of The Nurses’ Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN, Jenny ...
71. Listening to Your Body: Early Stress Signals Nurses Often Ignore
As nurses, we’re trained to push through—but your body often knows you’re stressed long before burnout shows up.In this episode of The Nurses’ Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN, we explore the early physical stress signals nurses c...
70. Rest, Boundaries, and Grace: A Holiday Survival Guide for Busy Caregivers
This week on The Nurses’ Break Room with Jenny Lytle, RN, we’re talking about something so many caregivers struggle with during December: slowing down without feeling guilty.The holidays bring pressure — expectations, inv...
69. Grieving Through the Holidays: Rituals, Rest, and Realistic Expectations
In this episode of The Nurses’ Break Room with Jenny Lytle, RN, we talk about something many people quietly carry this time of year: grief during the holidays. Whether you’re missing a person, a relationship, or a seas...
68. Somatic Self-Care for Nurses: Quick Body-Based Practices to Ease Stress
In the final episode of our three-part Winter Blues series, we’re shifting from the mind to the body. When you’re tired, stressed, or overwhelmed, you can’t always think your way into feeling better — but you can move your way...
67. From Holiday Hustle to Winter Flow: How to Boost Energy and Beat the Winter Blues
If the dark mornings, cold weather, and post-holiday slump have you feeling tired, sluggish, or unmotivated — you’re not alone. In part two of the Winter Blues series, Jenny shares simple, practical ways to support your energy du...
66. Keeping Spirits Bright: Beating the Holiday Blues with Kindness and Self-Care
The holidays can bring joy, connection, and celebration — but also stress, sadness, and overwhelm. In this first episode of Jenny’s three-part Winter Blues series, she shares gentle, practical ways to keep your spirits bright through t...
65. Morning Routines for Busy Nurses: A Realistic Approach
What’s your morning routine really like? If you're a nurse juggling on-call nights, family responsibilities, and a full-time job, mornings can feel more chaotic than calm.In this episode, Jenny Lytle, RN, gets honest about her o...