When you think of a nurse, you probably picture scrubs, stethoscopes, and a buzzing hospital floor. But Keith Carlson? He’s rewriting the script.
“My name is Keith Carlson,” he says, “and I have an unusual nursing career at this point in time.” Unusual might be putting it lightly. Carlson is a travel medicine specialist, nurse entrepreneur, career coach, freelance writer, popular podcast host with over 500 episodes, and occasional keynote speaker. If multitasking were an Olympic sport, he’d have more gold than Michael Phelps.
His superpower? “Juggling multiple clinical and non-clinical roles,” he says without missing a beat.
Carlson’s path to nursing wasn’t exactly traditional either. After dropping out of art school in his late 20s with only a high school diploma and a young son to care for, he turned to a family tradition three aunts who were nurses and decided to forge a meaningful career helping others. “That seemed reason enough to choose a highly respected career in a profession that contributes so much to society.”
While structured shifts define many nurses’ days, Carlson’s are a kaleidoscope of activity. “In a given day, I might work a shift at the travel medicine clinic, write an article, record a podcast, have a session with a nurse coaching client, or speak with someone who’d like to hire me as a keynote speaker at their event,” he says.
And through it all, Carlson’s secret weapon is simple but powerful: “Doing unto others as you would want done unto you.”
Carlson has countless stories of using his power for good empowering a fellow nurse through coaching or connecting a struggling family to a Christmas tree, decorations, food, and gifts when he was a case manager. “It was those moments of helping people live better lives that made me feel I was truly making a difference.”
He carries a profound lesson with him. “See patients and clients as real people and not simply as diagnoses or collections of problems that need to be fixed.”
Even outside of work, Carlson’s nursing instincts kick in. “My default response to most people is to see how I can help them,” he admits. (Some powers you can’t turn off.)
When asked what The Power of Nurses means to him, Carlson answered with a heart. “The power of nurses is their humanity and their ability to provide holistic care to patients who need them most.”
The one message he wants to share with every nurse today? “Nurses need to see their value in society, own it, and know that they have the right to demand good pay, safe nurse-patient ratios, and workplaces that are free of violence, bullying, and incivility.”
After a day of coaching, writing, podcasting, or vaccine consulting, Carlson recharges by spending time with his wife, biking, working outside and soon, by learning the art of beekeeping. (Yes, even his hobbies are buzzing with new energy.)
Carlson’s hope for the future of nursing? A profession that’s safer, stronger, and fully aware of its worth. “Workplaces free of incivility, bullying, and violence; better pay and benefits; safer nurse-patient ratios; and the ability of all nurses to see their worth and deeply honor and appreciate themselves for who they are and what they contribute to society.”
Keith Carlson is proof that a nursing career doesn’t have to fit the traditional mold to make an extraordinary impact you have to bring your full heart, hustle, and humanity to the table. And maybe a podcast mic, too.
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