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
79 episodes
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...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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5:37
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 77
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4:28
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 76
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5:15
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 75
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6:55
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 ...
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7:56
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 73
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6:43
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 ...
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Season 2
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Episode 72
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6:59
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 71
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6:20
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 70
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9:19
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 69
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8:02
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 68
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5:32
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 67
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6:57
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...
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4:18
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...
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9:26
64. Nurse Overload? Try This 4-Step Self-Check Framework
If you’ve ever found yourself thinking “something’s gotta give,” this episode is for you.In today’s episode of The Nurses Break Room, Jenny Lytle RN shares a simple yet powerful reflection tool: The Four Helpful Lists. Wh...
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4:48
63. Feeling burned out? Start here.
Feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or just off lately? You’re not alone—and this episode is your reminder to pause and ask one simple question: What do I need right now?In this 5-minute reset, host Jenny Lytle RN sha...
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Season 2
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Episode 63
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7:44
62. Feeling Overwhelmed? 7 Ways to Calm Your Mind and Stop Spiraling Fast
Feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or just stuck in a spiral of stress? In this episode of The Nurses Break Room, host Jenny Lytle, RN, shares 7 practical and proven strategies to help you pause, reset, and reclaim your...
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Season 2
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Episode 62
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7:50
61. You Are More Than a Diagnosis: Reclaiming Your Identity for World Mental Health Day
In honor of World Mental Health Day, Jenny gets real about the mental load caregivers carry — and why self-care is not selfish. Whether you’re a nurse, family caregiver, or simply navigating your own mental health challenges, this epis...
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6:39
60. Planning as Self-Care: How Nurses Can Reduce Burnout & Overwhelm
In this episode of The Nurses' Break Room with Jenny Lytle, RN, we explore how weekly planning is more than just a productivity hack—it's a powerful form of self-care, especially for nurses juggling changing shifts, emoti...
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10:01
59. Why Real Self-Care Isn’t Always Relaxing
In this episode of The Nurses Break Room with Jenny Lytle, RN, Jenny shares a surprising take on self-care that goes beyond bubble baths and breaks.What if real self-care means doing the uncomfortable thing—like catchin...
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5:24
58. Embracing 50: It's OK to Feel Grateful ... and Sad
In this deeply personal episode of The Nurse’s Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN, Jenny reflects on turning 50—and how this milestone brought up a surprising mix of gratitude, joy, and unexpected sadness.🎧 Inside this episode:<...
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Season 2
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Episode 58
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8:49
57. Why Your Progress Matters—Even If No One Notices
Ever skipped celebrating your progress because no one else noticed? In this heartfelt episode, host Jenny Lytle, RN shares a powerful real-life moment that sparked an essential reminder: your steps still count—even if they’re not being track...
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Season 2
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Episode 57
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9:26
56. From Caregiver to Care-Receiver: Learning to Ask for Help Without Guilt
In Episode 56 of The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN, we explore a powerful truth: even the strongest caregivers need care too.Titled “From Caregiver to Care-Receiver: Learning to Ask for Help Without Guilt,”
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Season 2
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Episode 56
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5:59
55. The DOSE Effect: One Small Habit to Boost Mood and Motivation
In this episode of The Nurses' Break Room, host Jenny Lytle, RN explores The DOSE Effect by neuroscientist TJ Power — a powerful framework for improving mental health, energy, and motivation through brain chemistry. Learn how ...
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9:35