About the Episode

What is a clinical nurse specialist (CNS)? What exactly do they do? How can they help us as med-surg nurses? Join the co-hosts as they welcome special guest NACNS President Dr. Jackie Iseler alongside guest co-host AMSN President Dr. Kristi Reguin-Hartman for a revealing conversation about the often-misunderstood role of the CNS — and how CNSs support bedside nurses, solve complex care challenges, improve measurable outcomes, and strengthen the entire healthcare system.

Learn more about the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists at https://nacns.org/

Special Guest

Jackeline Iseler, DNP, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC, CNE, FCNS, is an adult health clinical nurse specialist, assistant professor at Michigan State University College of Nursing, and program director of the Clinical Nurse Specialist Concentration in East Lansing, Michigan. Dr. Iseler teaches graduate nursing students and the nursing students in the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist program. She was the first certified clinical nurse specialist at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the cardiovascular and adult transplant programs. She has served as president of the Great Lakes Chapter of the International Transplant Nurses' Society and is currently serving as president of the Michigan Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists and a member of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialist Graduate Education Committee since 2020. She serves on the Michigan Board of Nursing as the clinical nurse specialist representative and is a certified nurse educator (CNE) through the National League for Nursing since 2019. Dr. Iseler's expertise is in the heart and lung transplant, left ventricular assist device (LVAD) patient population, transitions of care, and quality and process improvement.

Guest Co-Host

AMSN President Kristi Reguin-Hartman, DNP, APRN, ACNS-BC, has more than 20 years of experience in acute care nursing, professional development, and advanced practice as a clinical nurse specialist. Her expertise in technology implementation, product management, and clinical education drives her focus on streamlining workflows through data-driven approaches. She started her nursing journey with an ADN from Nassau Community College in Long Island, New York, and has completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of North Carolina – Wilmington, where she authored the 2022 CTHAT Nursing Workload Tool for Medical-Surgical Nurses. Kristi currently works as a clinical transformation manager for Philips Healthcare in the Hospital Patient Monitoring division and as clinical instructor with East Carolina University. She volunteers for the North Carolina Nurses Association and has served as director for the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses since 2018.

Kellye' McRae, MSN-Ed, RN is a dedicated Med-Surg Staff Nurse and Unit Based Educator based in South Georgia, with 12 years of invaluable nursing experience. She is passionate about mentoring new nurses, sharing her clinical wisdom to empower the next generation of nurses. Kellye' excels in bedside teaching, blending hands-on training with compassionate patient care to ensure both nurses and patients thrive. Her commitment to education and excellence makes her a cornerstone of her healthcare team.

Marcela Salcedo, RN, BSN is a Floatpool nightshift nurse in the Chicagoland area, specializing in step-down and medical-surgical care. A member of AMSN and the Hektoen Nurses, she combines her passion for nursing with the healing power of the arts and humanities. As a mother of four, Marcela is reigniting her passion for nursing by embracing the chaos of caregiving, fostering personal growth, and building meaningful connections that inspire her work.

Meet the Co-Hosts

Kellye' McRae, MSN-Ed, RN, is a dedicated med-surg staff nurse and unit-based educator based in South Georgia, with 12 years of invaluable nursing experience. She is passionate about mentoring new nurses, sharing her clinical wisdom to empower the next generation of nurses. Kellye' excels in bedside teaching, blending hands-on training with compassionate patient care to ensure both nurses and patients thrive. Her commitment to education and excellence makes her a cornerstone of her healthcare team.

Marcela Salcedo, RN, BSN, is a floatpool nightshift nurse in the Chicagoland area, specializing in step-down and medical-surgical care. A member of AMSN and the Hektoen Nurses, she combines her passion for nursing with the healing power of the arts and humanities. As a mother of four, Marcela is reigniting her passion for nursing by embracing the chaos of caregiving, fostering personal growth, and building meaningful connections that inspire her work.

Hayley Sweetser, MSN, APRN, AGCNS-BC, MEDSURG-BC, CPHQ, WTA-C, is a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Newark, Delaware, who provides support to patients and caregivers within the acute medicine cervice line at ChristianaCare. She is working toward reducing overall patient harm events within the service line through collaboration with bedside nurses, physicians, and other specialties. Hayley has a strong passion for medical-surgical nursing and has spent her whole nursing career in this specialty. She strives to advance medical-surgical nursing practice by encouraging alignment with evidence-based practice.

Eric Torres, ADN, RN, CMSRN, is a California native that has always dreamed of seeing the world, and when that didn't work out, he set his sights on nursing. Eric is beyond excited to be joining the AMSN podcast and having a chance to share his stories and experiences of being a bedside medical-surgical nurse.

Sydney Wall, RN, BSN, CMSRN, has been a med-surg nurse for five years. After graduating from the University of Rhode Island in 2019, Sydney commissioned into the Navy and began her nursing career working on a cardiac/telemetry unit in Bethesda, Maryland. Currently she is stationed overseas, providing care for service members and their families. During her free time, she enjoys martial arts and traveling.

Trish West, DNP, MSN, CMSRN, PCCN, CEN, NEA-BC, FAMSN, is a passionate nurse leader whose career reflects both expertise and a heartfelt commitment to advancing patient care. Trish's credentials include being a Certified Medical Surgical Registered Nurse, Progressive and Emergency Nursing, Nursing Executive Advanced, and most recently, induction as a Fellow of Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses. She enjoys spending time with her husband Mark and their five children. Her favorite motto, "Never underestimate the difference you can make," truly captures the spirit with which Trish approaches both professional and personal endeavors.