Nurses in Media Day 2026

Join us for our highly anticipated 5th Annual Nurses in Media Day, a dynamic virtual experience designed to help nurses step confidently into the media spotlight.

This one-of-a-kind, three-part event brings together an inspiring lineup of self-made nurse influencers, journalists, and news and communications experts who are shaping today’s healthcare narratives. Through engaging panels and real-world conversations, you’ll explore how media policy, culture, and storytelling intersect—and what that means for nurses looking to elevate their voice and impact.

Attendees will gain insider tips and practical strategies for working with the media, shining in interviews, and navigating digital platforms with confidence. Our speakers will share their personal journeys, lessons learned, and proven techniques through mini media-training sessions designed to empower both individual nurses and nursing organizations to lead conversations, influence public understanding, and advocate effectively in today’s fast-paced media landscape.

Whether you’re media-curious or media-ready, this event will equip you with the tools, confidence, and connections to take your message further.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this event, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the media landscape for nurses by learning how journalists work, what they look for in stories, and how nurses can effectively engage with media outlets.

2. Apply practical tips and strategies from nurse influencers and media professionals to confidently share their expertise, grow their platform, and show up authentically in media spaces.

3. Strengthen on-camera and interview skills using proven techniques to communicate clearly, stay on message, and shine in media appearances related to their work.

4. Recognize the role of media policy and ethics and how they impact storytelling, professional boundaries, and advocacy efforts within nursing and healthcare.

Day of Breakdown:

Opening Remarks

Media Policy for Health Institutions

Media Policy for Academic Institutions

The Power to Greenlight: Who Controls the Story and Why it Matters

Media Pitching

How to get featured in the Media

Speakers:

ANA\C 2025 Media Policy Fellow: Dr. Deborah Finn-Romero DNP, RN, PHN, CNE, PACT

Dr. Deborah Finn-Romero DNP, RN, PHN, CNE, PACT is faculty at the California State University, Sacramento School of Nursing. Her areas of specialty are Structural and Social Determinants of Health, community health, cultural humility, ethics, leadership and public policy. Dr. Finn-Romero is an inaugural member of the National League of Nursing’s SDOH Leadership Academy.

As an active advocate of health equity in all levels of nursing and nursing education, she has been a contributor to the American Nurses Association\California’s Racism in Nursing Education Taskforce and serves as an ANA mentor. Dr. Finn-Romero has published and presented on interprofessional community partnerships focused on improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations, addressing racism in nursing education, integrating implicit bias training into nursing curriculum, and other topics. She is an author in the newly released book, Nurse Leaders Driving Health Equity – Tackling Social and Structural Determinants, published in cooperation with the National League of Nursing.

ANA\C 2026 Media Policy Fellow: Nichole Jones, MSN, RN, CAPA, CPAN

Nichole Jones is a Nursing Professional Development Specialist for the PeriAnesthesia Department at Stanford Health Care, bringing over 13 years of diverse nursing experience to her role. With a career spanning critical care medicine, including pediatrics, emergency, and post-anesthesia care unit, as well as nursing leadership, Nichole holds a master’s degree in nursing education and is passionate about advancing the profession through education, mentorship, advocacy, and a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Currently pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at Purdue University Global, she is building expertise in advanced clinical practice, leadership, healthcare policy, information systems, and global healthcare delivery. Guided by compassion and a commitment to patient safety, she works to bring nurses to the forefront of healthcare decision-making, utilizing evidence-based practice and interdisciplinary collaboration to improve outcomes and transform care.

Dr. Richard Ricciardi PhD, CRNP

Dr Riccardi is a Professor and Executive Director, Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement at George Washington University.

Haley Stepp, MPH

Haley is the Research Program Manager at the George Washington University School of Nursing. For seven years, she has been a driving force with the Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement, where she works to amplify the visibility of nurses and their essential perspectives in media, policy, and research. Her academic and professional focus is the advancement of LGBT health and health policy.

Catherine Rhodes- Editor and Publisher with Working Nurse-

Catherine Rhodes is the founding editor & publisher of Working Nurse. Launched in 2004, Working Nurse is a media platform serving California RNs through our website, weekly Friday Newsletter, robust social media platforms, and a print magazine published nine times a year and distributed to nurses via direct mail. Our editorial focus is on the career of nursing. We cover nursing and healthcare news, job search advice, profiles of historical nurses, and feature articles on topics ranging from workplace bullying to professional conferences to leadership insights to ideas for hosting a memorable holiday potluck. Most issues spotlight a local Southern California nurse on the cover, accompanied by an interview with that nurse about his or her specialty.

So, you want to be a writer. What now?

Do you have a great idea for a magazine or newspaper story but aren’t sure how to get it published? In this seminar, I’ll cover the basic how-to’s, from writing an effective query to working with editors to negotiating payment terms.

I am the founding editor and publisher of Working Nurse, a media platform for nurses in California. Our publication includes a website with a job board and career events section, a weekly newsletter, robust social media channels, and a print magazine published nine times per year. 

Since launching in 2004, I’ve worked with many dozens of nurse writers and helped bring their ideas to life in print and pixels. Now it’s your turn!

Dr. James Q Simmons (he/him/his)

Dr Simmons is a Board-Certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, a frontline healthcare provider during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, and a passionate on-air medical contributor. Dr. James continues to emerge as one of the most sought-after voices at the intersection of the LGBTQIA+ and Black communities. He is also the brains and heart behind the vibrant online community “Ask The NP, everything you’re too scared to ask your MD!”  As seen and heard on NBC, FOX, CBS, ABC, KTLA, Sirius XM, Yahoo!, Loveline, Channel Q, DASH Radio, and many more, his combination of extensive multimedia experience and nearly 12 years of hospital-based critical care practice makes Dr. James a go-to, trusted source for real, relatable, and reliable health information. 

Dr. James holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications from Drake University, a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Illinois-Chicago, and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he is also a frequent guest lecturer and research consultant. Dr. James is honored to be a founding and continuing Clinical Ambassador for the CDC’s “Let’s Stop HIV Together” campaign.

Alice Benjamin, MSN, ACNS-BC, FNP-C

Alice Benjamin, widely known as “Nurse Alice,” is a Family Nurse Practitioner, national media health expert, and the CEO and Publisher of Nurse Approved®, a nurse-founded, nurse-led news platform delivering current, credible, clinically relevant health journalism and education.

With more than 25 years of experience in cardiovascular, critical care, and emergency medicine, she has built a career caring for high-acuity patients and advancing clinical standards. In 2025, she received the ANA\C Clinical Excellence Award in recognition of her clinical advancement on behalf of nursing and healthcare.

She is an official spokesperson for the American Heart Association, an AARP Ambassador, and a medical correspondent for NBC4 Los Angeles, with more than 15 years of national television and media presence. She is also the founder of AskNurseAlice.com, a consumer health platform, and MediaRX, a media training and strategy agency for healthcare professionals and brands.

Dr. Natasha Weems, DNP, AGPCNP-BC- Dr. Natasha Weems (previously known as Dr. Brown)

Dr. Natasha Weems, DNP, AGPCNP-BC, is a board-certified Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, wellness entrepreneur, and media personality with over 20 years in health and wellness. She is the CEO of Care First Wellness Med Spa in Temecula, California, and founder of the Pearl Health Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to mental health awareness, autism advocacy, and health equity.

A 2024 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and 2025 California State Senate Woman of Achievement honoree, Dr. Weems bridges clinical expertise with compelling storytelling as host of the Unboxed and Fearless Podcast and Health Correspondent for The Hype Magazine. She is also the author of The Unbreakable Woman: Embracing Resilience in Every Season.