The Functional Nurse Podcast - Nursing in Functional Medicine

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at http://www.fxnursing.com/.

How can an RN turn a personal health challenge into a purpose-driven functional nursing practice? In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, Samantha Hamilton, MSN-Ed, RN, speaks with Nicole Brzuchalski, RN, BSN, about her journey from postpartum nursing and the pediatric cardiac ICU to becoming a functional nurse entrepreneur. Nicole shares how unexplained cardiac and neurological symptoms after the birth of her third child led her to explore nutrition, holistic care, postpartum depletion, and the root causes of her symptoms.

Nicole now owns Shore Beginnings, where she provides holistic nursing support to women navigating fertility, pregnancy, hormonal health, and postpartum recovery. She discusses working within RN scope of practice, collaborating with medical providers, using functional labs when appropriate, and helping clients implement sustainable changes involving nutrition, sleep, stress, and environmental exposures. Nicole also shares how the Holistic Nurse Entrepreneur Program and Functional Nursing Program helped her build confidence, structure her practice, and turn her nursing knowledge into meaningful support for women and families.

Connect with Nicole Brzuchalski

Practice: Shore Beginnings
Location: Bishopville, Maryland
IFN Directory: https://www.fxnursing.com/directory/nicole-brzuchalski

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at http://www.fxnursing.com/.

Are people already asking to work with you, even though you do not feel ready to start your own nursing practice? In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, Dr. Brigitte Sager explores the confidence challenges and imposter syndrome that often arise when nurses and nurse practitioners begin imagining a career beyond conventional healthcare. She explains how creating a simple waitlist can help you document interest, learn more about your potential clients, clarify your niche, and build motivation without committing to a launch date or specific service.

Brigitte shares practical ideas for creating a low-pressure waitlist, choosing helpful questions, collecting the language prospective clients use to describe their challenges, and keeping marketing information separate from clinical intake. She also discusses avoiding shiny object syndrome, staying within your scope and competency, establishing boundaries, and remembering that you do not have to serve everyone. You do not need a website, logo, pricing structure, or complete business plan to take this first small step toward becoming a nurse entrepreneur.

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at http://www.fxnursing.com/.

What is shaping the future of pediatric functional medicine? In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, Dr. Brigitte Sager shares her biggest takeaways from A4M’s Pediatrics Reimagined 2026 conference in Nashville. She explores emerging insights into pediatric metabolic health, food as information, environmental toxins, mold exposure, the gut microbiome, neuroinflammation, trauma, genomics, methylation, PANS/PANDAS, and personalized vaccine conversations.

Brigitte also reflects on the importance of staying current as a healthcare professional and translating complex research into practical, actionable care. She discusses why inflammation requires a more specific, root-cause investigation, why pediatric health cannot be separated from family and environmental health, and how nurses and nurse practitioners can make functional and integrative care more accessible. From foundational nutrition and lifestyle support to whole-child care, this episode highlights how helping children earlier may transform the health of families, communities, and future generations.

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at http://www.fxnursing.com/.

Could a child’s sudden anxiety, OCD, behavioral changes, or psychiatric symptoms have an underlying biological cause? In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, Dr. Brigitte Sager sits down with Dr. Zendi Moldenhauer, a psychiatric and pediatric nurse practitioner, functional medicine expert, and nationally recognized leader in pediatric functional psychiatry. Together, they explore PANS, PANDAS, neuroinflammation, and the ways infections, immune dysregulation, mold exposure, Lyme disease, gut imbalances, and nutritional deficiencies may influence a child’s brain and mental health.

Dr. Moldenhauer shares powerful stories from her clinical practice and explains why treating the whole child can uncover answers that may be missed when physical and psychiatric symptoms are addressed separately. The conversation also explores foundational strategies involving nutrition, sleep, movement, screen time, and family health, along with the important roles nurses, nurse practitioners, and nurse coaches can play in root-cause care. Dr. Moldenhauer also shares lessons from building a functional medicine practice and her vision for bringing functional and holistic care into nursing education.

Connect with Dr. Zendi Moldenhauer

Practice: Arbor Health Functional Medicine and Psychiatry
Location: Pittsford, New York, in the Rochester area
Website: https://www.arbor-health.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arbor_health
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArborHealthFunctionalMedicine

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at http://www.fxnursing.com/.

The Functional Nurse Podcast is celebrating its 100th episode! In this milestone episode, Dr. Brigitte Sager reflects on the evolution of functional nursing—from the early conversations that inspired this podcast to a growing movement of nurses and nurse practitioners bringing root-cause, holistic, and personalized care into healthcare. With that foundation established, Brigitte looks ahead to an important next chapter: strengthening the evidence for functional nursing through research, quality improvement, evidence-based practice, and meaningful patient outcomes.

Brigitte explores how nurses and nurse practitioners can help shape the future of functional medicine by asking better clinical questions and studying what actually improves patient care. She shares ideas for DNP projects, PhD research, capstones, quality improvement initiatives, patient-reported outcomes, and practice-based research—including nutrition assessments, functional medicine screening tools, group visits, nurse coaching, access to care, patient satisfaction, and clinician outcomes. She also discusses the Institute for Functional Medicine's approach to studying the complete functional medicine care model and why systems thinking, antecedents, triggers and mediators, modifiable lifestyle factors, and personalization matter when evaluating functional care. Whether you're currently in nursing school, considering an advanced degree, or simply want to help transform healthcare, this episode invites nurses to help build the evidence that can move functional nursing forward.

IFM's research page 🔗 https://www.ifm.org/about/research

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at http://www.fxnursing.com/.

What does functional nursing look like in Canada? In this episode of the Functional Nurse Podcast, Samantha Hamilton MSN-Ed, RN is joined by Canadian nursing professionals Megan Kroeker MSN, NP, FMCP-M, Mat Chartrand, NP, and Tabetha Hystad, RN, BSN, to explore how nurses and nurse practitioners are bringing functional medicine into the Canadian healthcare landscape. They discuss the realities of working within a publicly funded, often reactive healthcare system and why more nurses are becoming interested in prevention, integrative medicine, patient education, and root-cause care.

The conversation dives into some of the biggest questions Canadian nurses have about functional nursing, including career opportunities, private practice, scope of practice, functional lab testing, supplements, and the differences between practicing as an RN versus a NP. Megan also shares her experience building a virtual functional medicine practice in Ontario, while Mat and Tabetha discuss how they hope to incorporate their functional nursing education into their careers. Throughout the episode, the guests share why they believe Canadian nurses are uniquely positioned to help patients become more informed, proactive participants in their health and why functional nursing may represent an exciting new direction for nurses looking beyond the traditional healthcare model.

This episode is for educational purposes and does not provide legal or scope-of-practice advice. Nursing regulations vary by province, and nursing professionals should consult their applicable regulatory body.

Connect With the Guests:

Megan Kroeker, NP
Location: Ontario, Canada
Website: https://functionalnp.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megankroeker_functionalnp
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/functionalnpmegankroeker

Mat Chartrand, NP
Location: Ontario, Canada

Tabetha, RN
Location: Alberta, Canada
Website: https://rootedprairiewellness.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rootedprairiewellness

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at http://www.fxnursing.com/.

In this episode of the Functional Nurse Podcast, Samantha Hamilton sits down with Jessica Spradley, RN, a former Navy corpsman, emergency department nurse, and Functional Nursing Program student who recently began working in a functional medicine clinic. Jessica shares how a simple curiosity about nutrition sparked a journey into functional medicine and ultimately transformed both her personal health and nursing career.

Jessica discusses how she integrates functional nursing principles into the fast-paced emergency department by meeting patients where they are, providing practical nutrition education, recognizing root-cause patterns, and empowering patients with small, meaningful lifestyle changes. She also shares her personal experience with functional lab testing, the GI-MAP, and the elimination diet, along with how these tools changed her own health perspective. Whether you're an RN, nurse practitioner, military veteran, or healthcare professional wondering how functional nursing fits into traditional healthcare, this episode offers practical examples, career inspiration, and hope for a more fulfilling future in nursing.

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at http://www.fxnursing.com/.

In this episode of the Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager DNP, FNP-C, FMCP-M, CNE challenges one of the most common narratives in healthcare: are nurses truly burned out, or are they experiencing something deeper? Drawing from years of conversations with nurses across a variety of specialties, Brigitte explores why so many healthcare professionals feel disconnected from the very calling that inspired them to enter nursing. She examines how modern healthcare systems often prioritize tasks, documentation, and productivity over meaningful patient relationships, leaving many nurses questioning their purpose and future in the profession.

Brigitte discusses the concept of professional misalignment and how functional nursing offers a path back to the heart of nursing by emphasizing root-cause care, patient education, prevention, holistic nursing, and therapeutic relationships. She also explores why functional medicine is reigniting purpose for many nurses, helping them move beyond symptom management toward meaningful healing and long-term patient outcomes. Whether you're experiencing nurse burnout, considering a career change, or searching for a more fulfilling way to practice nursing, this episode offers encouragement, perspective, and a vision for the future of the profession.

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at http://www.fxnursing.com/.

In this episode of the Functional Nurse Podcast, Samantha Hamilton sits down with Autumn Wake, RN, IBCLC, to explore how functional nursing is transforming lactation consulting and postpartum care. Autumn shares her personal journey into functional medicine after searching for answers to her son's digestive issues, and how those experiences led her to integrate root-cause thinking into her practice supporting mothers, babies, and families.

Together, they discuss the connection between maternal health and infant wellbeing, including gut health, food sensitivities, breastfeeding challenges, birth interventions, tongue ties, structural issues, maternal stress, and the importance of treating the whole family, not just the symptoms. Autumn also shares practical ways she's incorporating functional nursing into lactation consulting, helping parents simplify care, build confidence, and support healthy development through nutrition, lifestyle, and individualized education. Whether you're a nurse, lactation consultant, maternal-child health professional, or parent interested in holistic postpartum care, this episode offers valuable insights into creating healthier outcomes for both mom and baby.

Connect with Autumn Wake:

• Website: https://breastfeedingsupportlv.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/advancedbreastfeedingsupport/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BreastfeedingLasVegas

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at http://www.fxnursing.com/

In this episode of the Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager shares her biggest takeaways from two major healthcare events: the Institute for Functional Medicine's Annual International Conference (AIC) and the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) Conference. From innovative care models and functional medicine implementation to the growing role of nurses in integrative healthcare, this episode offers an inside look at the conversations shaping the future of patient care.

Brigitte discusses emerging trends in functional medicine, including the integration of artificial intelligence in clinical practice, the impact of social determinants of health, fertility and women's health, chronic disease prevention, neuroplasticity, longevity, and metabolic health. She also shares inspiring examples of how nurses are leading change in healthcare through education, coaching, entrepreneurship, community-based care, and functional nursing. Whether you're a nurse, nurse practitioner, healthcare entrepreneur, or simply interested in the future of holistic and root-cause medicine, this episode is packed with insights, inspiration, and practical ideas you can apply in your own work.

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing™. Learn more about our programs at http://www.fxnursing.com/

In this episode of the Functional Nurse Podcast, Samantha Hamilton MSN-Ed, RN sits down with Tabetha Hystad RN to discuss her journey from traditional community nursing to functional nursing. After 15 years in healthcare and experiencing the challenges of burnout, pandemic-era healthcare, and personal health struggles, Tabetha began searching for a more holistic and empowering approach to patient care. Her path eventually led her to functional medicine and the Institute for Functional Nursing.

Together, they explore how functional nursing principles can be integrated into everyday nursing practice, even in home care and rural healthcare settings. Tabetha shares how she now views patient stories through a root-cause lens, helping clients improve sleep, blood sugar balance, pain management, and overall quality of life through education and lifestyle strategies. She also opens up about her personal experience with fertility challenges, pregnancy loss, women's health concerns, and how functional medicine transformed her perspective on wellness. Whether you're a nurse exploring career possibilities, interested in women's health, or looking for ways to bring functional medicine into your current role, this conversation offers inspiration, practical insights, and hope for what's possible.

Connect with Tabetha:

• Location: Alberta, Canada
• Profession: Registered Nurse (Home Care & Community Health)
• Instagram: @rootedprairiewellness

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at http://www.fxnursing.com/

How should nurses list credentials after their name? In this episode of the Functional Nurse Podcast, Dr. Brigitte Sager explains how nurses, nurse practitioners, and advanced practice nurses can understand and display their professional credentials with more clarity and confidence.

If you have ever wondered whether RN, BSN, MSN, DNP, APRN, NP, board certification, holistic nursing certification, or your other credentials should come first, this episode will help you make sense of the “alphabet soup” after a nurse’s name. Brigitte breaks down the difference between academic degrees, nursing licensure, advanced practice titles, national board certifications, specialty certifications, and program-created certificates.

You’ll also hear how credentialing applies to nurses entering functional, holistic, and integrative healthcare. Brigitte discusses holistic nursing board certification through AHNCC, the Institute for Functional Medicine’s certification process, and the future need for a true functional nursing board certification.

This episode is especially helpful for RNs, NPs, APRNs, nurse entrepreneurs, holistic nurses, functional medicine nurses, integrative health professionals, and nurses pursuing advanced education or specialty training. Whether you are updating your email signature, website bio, resume, professional title, or social media profile, this conversation will help you think more carefully about credibility, professionalism, and how to represent your qualifications accurately.

In this episode:

• How to list nursing credentials after your name
• The difference between degrees, licenses, certifications, and certificates
• Where RN, NP, APRN, MSN, DNP, and board certifications fit
• Why credential order matters for nurses and nurse practitioners
• What holistic nursing certification means
• How IFM certification fits into functional medicine education
• Why functional nursing needs clearer professional standards
• How nurses can communicate credibility in functional and integrative healthcare

Learn more about the Institute for Functional Nursing: http://www.fxnursing.com/

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at http://www.fxnursing.com/

In this episode of the Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager welcomes Samantha Hamilton, MSN-Ed, RN, a functional nurse educator, entrepreneur, and the Director of Growth and Partnerships at the Institute for Functional Nursing (IFN). Together, they pull back the curtain on what functional nursing education actually looks like, how nurses can integrate functional medicine into practice, and why nursing-specific training is so different from traditional functional medicine programs.

This conversation explores the foundations of IFN's signature Functional Nursing Program™, including how it teaches to IFM's published clinical competencies, leans heavily into case-study learning, offers holistic nursing certification pathways, supports students interested in entrepreneurship, and how nurses can apply functional medicine principles in real-world clinical settings. Brigitte and Sam also discuss the growing demand for root-cause nursing care, the importance of community and mentorship in nursing education, and why nurses are uniquely positioned to lead the future of preventative and integrative healthcare. If you're curious about functional nursing, holistic nursing certification, or starting your own wellness-focused practice, this episode offers an inside look at what’s possible.

Connect with Samantha Hamilton:

• Director of Growth & Partnerships at the Institute for Functional Nursing
• Registered Nurse & Functional Nurse Educator
• Website: https://www.fxnursing.com/
• Attend a Q & A webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zNGnUGlaRzqrJlWzaA6AXw#/registration
• Schedule a 1 on 1 call: https://calendly.com/samantha-fxnursing/30min

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at http://www.fxnursing.com/

In this episode of the Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager answers one of the most common questions nurses ask when exploring holistic and functional healthcare: can a registered nurse or nurse practitioner become certified in functional medicine?

Brigitte breaks down the current landscape of functional medicine education, explains the difference between certificates and board certifications, clarifies what options are currently available for nurses seeking credibility and advanced training in this growing field and why holistic nursing certification is currently the closest aligned pathway.

This episode also explores the future of functional nursing, including the need for a true nursing-specific board certification in functional medicine and why holistic nursing certification may currently be the closest aligned pathway. Brigitte shares insights on IFM certification, holistic nursing credentials, and how nurses can strategically position themselves for career growth in integrative and functional healthcare settings. If you're considering additional education, wondering what credentials matter most, or trying to decide your next step as a functional nurse or nurse practitioner, this episode offers practical guidance and clarity.

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at http://www.fxnursing.com/

In this episode of the Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager shares key takeaways from the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute (PLMI) conference, founded by Dr. Jeffrey Bland, often called the father of functional medicine. This conference focused on clinical integration and real-world application, offering insights that nurses and practitioners can immediately implement.

Brigitte breaks down powerful themes from leading experts in functional medicine, including neurodegeneration and microglial health, the role of inflammation and mitochondrial function, evolving gut health protocols, and the critical impact of circadian rhythm and sleep on metabolic health. She also explores practical nutrition insights, including how taste satisfaction influences eating behaviors, and dives into emerging tools like AI-driven clinical support for functional medicine practitioners. If you're a nurse or healthcare professional looking to stay current and effectively apply functional medicine principles, this episode delivers actionable insights and future-forward thinking.

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at http://www.fxnursing.com/

In this episode of the Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager is joined by Dr. Chip Nguyen, DNP, NP-C, IFMCP, to explore how a functional medicine nurse can successfully integrate aesthetics with root-cause medicine to create a more holistic, patient-centered practice. With over 18 years of experience across primary care, urgent care, pulmonology, aesthetics, and functional medicine, Chip shares how her own health journey led her to a root-cause, patient-centered approach that redefines modern healthcare.

She explains how functional medicine enhances aesthetic results by addressing hormones, gut health, inflammation, and metabolic balance—creating longer-lasting, more meaningful patient transformations.

This conversation dives into:

• How functional medicine supports better outcomes in the aesthetics world
• The role of a functional medicine nurses in integrative and aesthetic care
• Lab testing, root-cause analysis, and personalized treatment strategies
• Building a hybrid practice combining aesthetics and functional medicine
• Entrepreneurship, systems, and scaling a sustainable nurse-led business
• How to stand out in the growing fields of functional medicine and aesthetics

Whether you're a nurse practitioner, aesthetic provider, or exploring functional medicine, this episode offers actionable insights on combining beauty, wellness, and clinical expertise into a powerful, future-focused career.

Connect with Dr. Chip Nguyen:

• Location: Newport Beach, CA
• Website: https://www.wellnesswithchip.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellnesswithchip/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Wellnesswithchip-61571193423514/

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at http://www.fxnursing.com/

In this episode of the Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager, DNP breaks down one of the most common questions nurses and nurse practitioners ask: should you go back to school, and if so, which path is right for you? From BSN to MSN, nurse practitioner programs, DNP vs PhD, and beyond, this episode explores the real impact of advanced degrees on your career, scope of practice, income potential, and long-term fulfillment.

More importantly, this conversation challenges the assumption that more education is always the answer. Brigitte shares insights from her own journey and from working with over a thousand RNs and NPs navigating burnout, career transitions, and the shift toward functional and integrative healthcare. If you're questioning your next step, considering entrepreneurship, or feeling pulled toward a more aligned way of practicing nursing, this episode will help you clarify your goals and make a more intentional decision about your future.

So you’re thinking about starting a holistic nursing business? Amazing. But before you launch that website or invest in a program, there are a few things you need to hear—things most people don’t tell you when you’re just starting out.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what it really looks like to become a nurse entrepreneur in the holistic space. We’ll talk about the emotional rollercoaster, the real cost (in time or money), and the surprising skills you’ll have to learn along the way.

You’ll hear hard-earned truths like:

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Why “if you build it, they will come” is a myth (and what to do instead)

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Why passion isn’t enough—and what you’ll need to learn to succeed

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Why crying (sometimes out of nowhere) is part of the process

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And why there's plenty of room for you in this space—even if someone else in town is doing something similar

Whether you’re in the dreaming phase or already building your practice, this episode will help you feel seen, supported, and seriously prepared.

It’s not supposed to be easy—but it is worth it. Let’s talk about it.

Learn more about what we offer at the Institute for Functional Nursing or join the movement at https://fxnursing.com/

Considering our Holistic Nursing Entrepreneur Program™? Learn more here: https://learn.fxnursing.com/hnep

Subscribe for more episodes on nurse entrepreneurship, holistic care, and transforming healthcare through nursing.

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our courses and programs at http://www.fxnursing.com/.

In this episode, Brigitte Sager, DNP IFMCP shares a major milestone for IFN: the official launch of the first cohort of the Functional Nursing Program. She also shares highlights from two recent conferences: the AANP Health Policy Conference in Washington, DC and the Integrative Healthcare Symposium in New York City, where IFN hosted its first ever exhibitor booth.

Brigitte recaps key takeaways from health policy advocacy on Capitol Hill, and reflects on why nurses must show up, increase policymakers’ understanding, and communicate in language that resonates with constituents. She also shares insights from the NYC symposium, including emerging themes around GLP-1s, brain health, nitric oxide and the glymphatic system, imaging as a tool in functional care, and the realities of nutrition research. The episode closes with behind the scenes lessons from launching the IFN booth, building partnerships, advocating for registered nurses to be recognized by functional lab companies, and navigating a surprise blizzard that extended the trip.

Thinking about becoming a functional medicine nurse? Before you dive in, there are a few things you need to know.

In this episode, I’m sharing 10 hard-earned truths I wish every nurse knew before stepping into functional nursing. This isn’t just a career shift—it’s a whole new way of thinking about patient care, your scope, and your purpose as a nurse.

We’ll talk about:

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Why you’ll never feel fully “ready”—and why that’s okay

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What makes functional medicine feel like coming home to nursing

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How to stop thinking in silos and start treating the whole person

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Why you don’t need 50 labs or supplements to be effective

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And why this path might finally align with why you became a nurse in the first place

Whether you're exploring root-cause healing, looking for more autonomy, or just craving work that matters—this episode is for you.

Let’s redefine what it means to be a nurse in today’s healthcare system.

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about IFN's current programs at https://fxnursing.com/

Subscribe for more episodes on holistic nursing, functional medicine, and building your dream practice.