2.8 Lea Durante, From Family Nurse Practitioner to Remote Integrative Health Coach

12/04/23 • 42 min

5 Listeners

In this episode, Lea Durante, a former family nurse practitioner turned integrative health coach, unfolds her transformative journey from traditional clinical work to a fully remote role. With a decade in primary care, Lea faced burnout and witnessed patients struggling with health insurance limitations, sparking her critical questioning of the healthcare system.

A pivotal moment, where a mother couldn't afford inhalers for her son, exposed the flaws in the 15-minute model of patient care. Lea emphasizes its limitations in addressing overall well-being, leading her to transition to a remote integrative health coaching role. Her approach, rooted in a community-based model, aims to empower patients, incorporating behavioral models for sustained change.

Reflecting on her pandemic experience, Lea highlights the mental health challenges faced by patients and the inadequacy of the traditional healthcare model. Leaving clinical practice for a remote role significantly improved her mental health and work-life balance, allowing the flexibility to prioritize family and meaningful work.

Lea shares insights into her unique remote office setup, the pivotal role of her husband's support, and the decision-making process involving vision casting and negotiation. She encourages redefining success beyond societal norms and advocates for fixing charting issues, addressing health insurance challenges, and embracing the positive potential of AI in healthcare.

This episode provides a holistic view of Lea's journey, emphasizing the importance of courage, commitment to change, and the pursuit of a patient-centered, remote wellness approach.

Connect with Lea:

LinkedIn
Lea's website
Take Lea's brief quiz to find out your nervous system "type"
Love the show? Want to support the show? We've got merch. Visit us at wfhforever.com/shop.⁠

This episode provides a holistic view of Lea's journey, emphasizing the importance of courage, commitment to change, and the pursuit of a patient-centered, remote wellness approach.

Connect with Lea:

LinkedIn
Lea's website
Take Lea's brief quiz to find out your nervous system "type"
Love the show? Want to support the show? We've got merch. Visit us at wfhforever.com/shop.⁠

Previous Episode

2.7 Nick Korwin, From Manufacturing Operations into Tech and Remote Work

2 Recommendations

Nick Korwin, a seasoned operations and engineering professional with a background in mechanical engineering shares his career pivot from manufacturing to a remote career in tech. Nick's diverse experience spans various industries, including medical, automotive, and chemicals. Currently, he manages virtual data operations for a tech company based in California, all while residing in the Midwest, specifically the Chicagoland area.

Nick delves into his motivation for transitioning from a traditional in-person career managing large-scale operations to remote work. The catalyst for this shift was the unexpected news of expecting twins while already having a one-year-old. Working for a conservative family-owned manufacturing company, Nick faced challenges balancing his responsibilities as a dedicated father within a rigid work-life mentality. Seeking more flexibility, he explored remote opportunities, eventually landing a fully remote position with a tech company.

Addressing the initial hesitation about the career pivot, Nick discusses the adjustments required for the new role. Moving from manufacturing to tech, he navigated cultural shifts, adapting to a virtual environment. He shares insights into managing a global workforce of over 1000 people remotely and the expectations set in a tech-centric operational landscape.

Nick reflects on the challenges of remote work, highlighting the trade-offs, such as missing spontaneous interactions and Gemba walks that were integral to operations in a physical setting. He emphasizes the importance of building a personal brand on LinkedIn, sharing expertise around Operational Excellence (OpEx), and being a realistic OpEx professional.

In the discussion, Nick ranks people, plant, and intellectual property as the three significant components in manufacturing, stressing the paramount importance of prioritizing the "people" aspect.

This episode offers valuable insights into Nick's journey, from navigating the challenges of remote work to building a personal brand and addressing critical components in the manufacturing industry.

Connect with Nick on LinkedIn.

Love the show? Want to support the show? We've got merch. Visit us at ⁠wfhforever.com/shop⁠.

Next Episode

2.9 Eileen Tanner, 27 Years of Remote Work from Fax Machines to Virtual Meetings

3 Recommendations

Join host Don in an insightful conversation with Eileen Tanner, a PR veteran with 27 years of remote work expertise. Eileen's journey, starting in 1996, unfolds a transformative era from fax machines to virtual meetings.

Explore the early days, where landlines and fax machines with thermal paper defined remote communication. Eileen vividly contrasts this with today's efficient workflows enabled by advanced communication tools.

Delve into her reflections on the evolving work landscape shaped by technology. Discover how rapid decision-making today compares to the '90s, and the challenges of navigating the transformed news cycle, emphasizing the demand for immediate updates in a 24-hour news cycle.

The interview concludes with Eileen shedding light on the contemporary emphasis on click-worthy content, underlining the challenges for PR professionals in gaining media coverage amidst changing newsroom structures.

In subsequent segments, Eileen shares her personal transition to remote work, the challenges faced, and the changing perceptions over the years. Her experiences at Golin and Zebra Partners provide valuable insights into workplace dynamics, the importance of self-advocacy, and the evolving landscape of remote work.

Connect with Eileen on LinkedIn
Discover Eileen's PR capabilities on Tanner Communications
We talked about this series where NPR's Planet Money used AI to create a podcast episode from start to finish

Eileen's story offers a comprehensive exploration of remote work's transformation, from the late '90s to today, and valuable advice for professionals navigating this dynamic space.