Hey friend, welcome back! If you’re new here, I’m Caroline, nurse educator, career coach for new grad nurses, and the host of the Life After Nursing School Podcast and author of this Blog!

And this week, I’m sharing something a little different, a behind-the-scenes look at the Indeed Careers in Care Off the Clock networking event I attended in New York City… and the powerful life and career lessons I brought home with me.

This experience wasn’t just inspiring — it reminded me why I’m so passionate about supporting new nurses as they step into the profession. And whether you’re a nursing student, a new grad nurse trying to land your first job, or a nurse figuring out your next steps, these lessons absolutely apply to you, too.

So grab your coffee, settle in, and let’s talk connection, confidence, mentorship, career clarity… and saying yes to the opportunities that scare you just a little.

Behind the Scenes: The Itinerary That Set the Stage

At the time I started writing this, I was sitting in a hotel room right in the middle of Times Square. I had been in the city for three days, soaking up every minute of the Careers in Care event.

Here’s what the experience looked like from the inside:

Day 1 — Welcome Ceremony at Indeed HQ

Drinks & dinner
Mingling with nurses, healthcare professionals, and creators
A few familiar faces from Instagram and TikTok
The kind of casual, energetic networking nurses rarely get

Day 2 — Wellness + Keynote + Skyline Painting

We started with:

A morning stretch session
A keynote from Dr. Darien Sutton (a New York ER physician and media contributor) all about feeling valued in the workplace, burnout, and AI in healthcare
Lunch
A sip-and-paint session where we painted the NYC skyline
A sunset tour of the Empire State Building
Rooftop dinner and drinks overlooking the city

And somewhere in between all of that… I connected with two amazing women, Nicole and Stephanie, who run The Notes Ninja — an online business serving OTs and PTs. (If that’s your world, go give them a follow!)

Day 3 — Job Market Insights + Self-Care

We heard from leaders at:

Indeed
BrightSpring Health Services

They shared powerful insights on:

Standing out in the application process
Finding the right job fit as a nurse
Navigating today’s competitive job market
Interview do’s and don’ts

One thing they said made me want to cheer:

They hate when candidates say “I don’t have any questions” at the end of the interview.

THANK YOU.
I’ve been preaching this for over a year, which is why I created my free List of Questions to Ask Your Interviewer — it helps you look prepared, engaged, and intentional. (Click here if you want a copy of it!)

After the panel came a full self-care experience — facials, back massages, manicures, hand treatments. Truly the perfect way to wrap up such a packed event.

But the real magic?
The life lessons that came out of the past few days.

Lesson 1: It Really Is a Small World — And Human Connection Is Everything

You know that saying, “It’s a small world”?
I lived it this weekend.

I met people I had only ever seen through a screen — influencers I follow, nurses I’ve collaborated with on Zoom, and even my friend Ellaine, who teaches nurses about investing.

Seeing her walk up to me at the welcome dinner and say,
“Caroline? Is that you?”
was surreal.

It reminded me that:

You don’t need a huge following to make an impact
You’re influencing and inspiring more people than you realize
Online connections do translate into real, meaningful relationships
Nurses are craving community and connection

If you're a new nurse or nursing student, this applies to you too. You never know who might become a mentor, a coworker, or a friend down the line.

And if you’re scared to network? Start small:

Say hello to the nurse next to you
Ask a panelist a question
Follow someone from your cohort on Instagram
DM someone whose content you like

Connection matters. More than we think.

Lesson 2: The Best Mentors Are Often the Ones You Don’t Look For

Entrepreneurship can feel lonely — and so can the new nurse journey.

But this event reminded me that the best mentors:

Show up unexpectedly
Don’t always hold formal titles
Don’t need you to ask “Will you be my mentor?”
Are often people who think out loud, share generously, and believe in collaboration over competition

This was exactly my experience with Nicole and Stephanie.

We connected over:

Business
Content creation
Email lists
Lead magnets
Being moms
Birth stories
Military deployments
Growth and setbacks in entrepreneurship
Our mutual love for Amy Porterfield (who is basically the Beyoncé of online business)

By the end of the trip, I felt like I had attended a mini-mastermind.

They reminded me that:

Business is a long game
Growth comes in seasons
You learn more from vulnerability than from perfection
The right relationships accelerate everything

And this doesn’t just apply to business — it applies to nursing too.

As a new grad nurse, yes, you’ll be assigned a preceptor.
But your most meaningful mentors may come from:

A nurse on another floor who answers your questions
A coworker who believes in you
A charge nurse who sees your potential
A colleague who teaches you something without even realizing it

You don’t need to ask someone to “officially” mentor you.
Let it happen naturally — those are the relationships that stick.

Lesson 3: Take Things One Step at a Time

One panelist, Matthew Berndt, said something that stuck with me:

“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”

Everyone laughed — but the truth landed hard.

Because whether you’re:

A new nurse trying to manage a full patient load
A new grad overwhelmed by the job search
A student trying to survive clinicals
A nurse trying to make a career change
An entrepreneur building something from scratch

…the big picture can feel impossible.

But guess what?

You only need to take the next step.
Not the next 10 steps.
Just the next one.

If you’re overwhelmed by:

Finding a job → Start with updating your resume.
Orientation → Focus on one patient at a time.
A long-term goal → Take one small action daily.

Progress doesn’t have to be fast.
It just has to move forward.

I’ve learned this as both a nurse and an entrepreneur.

One step closer is still one step closer.

Lesson 4: Don’t Be Afraid to Pitch Yourself — And Say Yes Before You’re Ready

This one is huge.

During the panel on the last day, one speaker really stood out, again it was Matthew Berndt. I remember thinking, he would make an incredible podcast guest.

Part of me wanted to:

Introduce myself
Walk away
Then send a follow-up email once I felt “brave enough”

But lately, I’ve been working on mindfully choosing courage.

So I went for it.
I introduced myself and asked him if he’d consider coming on the podcast.

And he said HELL yes.

He even said he might ask me to be a panelist at a future event.

Which leads to the second part of this lesson:

Say yes to opportunities you want to say no to out of fear.

Because here’s the truth:
The things that terrify you a little?
They’re almost always the things that change your life.

A Pivotal Story From My Career

When I worked as an ER nurse and was in grad school, I completed my clinical hours with the inpatient nurse director (who is now the CNO).

The hospital was struggling with high nurse vacancy rates. The recruiter at the time didn’t have a clinical background, so she couldn’t speak to nurses at job fairs in the way she needed to.

I offered to help — mostly to get my clinical hours done.
But what happened next shifted my entire career.

I:

Attended job fairs
Connected with candidates
Spoke about my experience in med-surg and the ER
Helped the hospital attract more applicants

Leadership noticed.
At the end of my rotation, the director said:

“I have a unique opportunity for you — would you consider being our hospital recruiter?”

My heart was set on nurse management, not recruiting.
At first, I felt… disappointed.

But after some thought, I said yes.

And I loved it.

Interviewing candidates
Analyzing resumes
Learning what hiring managers look for
Understanding the job market
Helping new grads find their place
— all of it.

That “yes” became the foundation of my entire business today.

If I had let fear or ego say no?
My life would look completely different.

So whether it's a job opportunity, a collaboration, a conversation, or a chance to grow — say yes before you’re ready.

Final Thoughts: Connection, Mentorship, Courage, and Small Steps Forward

As I reflect on this three-day event, a few things stand out:

1. Connection is everything.

Small moments with strangers can change how you feel about yourself and your career.

2. Mentorship isn’t formal.

Some of the best guidance you’ll ever receive comes from people who enter your life unexpectedly.

3. Take things one step at a time.

You don’t need the full plan — just the next step.

4. Pitch yourself (& Say Yes!).

Say yes to opportunities that stretch you, even when they intimidate you.

Growth happens in the in-between moments — when you’re open, curious, and willing to take the next step.

If You Want to Hear More BTS from the Event ⬇️

Check out the Life After Nursing School Podcast Episode 43: What a Healthcare Networking Event Taught Me About Connection, Confidence, and Saying Yes! Click Here

And if you’re preparing for interviews, don’t forget to download my free resource:

👉 Questions to Ask During Your Nursing Interview
(It’s linked in the show notes and helps you stand out instantly!)

Thank you so much for being here.
As always — I have one hand for me, and the other for you. 🤍

Signing Off…

Caroline

PS. Want more on this topic? Listen to Life After Nursing School Podcast Ep 43

4 Lessons I Learned at the Indeed Careers in Care Event in NYC (That Every New Nurse Should Hear)