On episode 4 of the 21st Century Nursing podcast from Aspen University, Keith is joined by Antra Boyd, BSN, MSN, iRNPA and Karen DiMarco, RN, BSN, iRNPA, founders of RNegade.com.

In the course of their conversation, Keith, Antra, and Karen have a provocative and inspiring conversation about breaking down barriers, coloring outside the lines, and completely ignoring the boxes that anyone tries to put you in as a nursing professional.  

Nursing is wide open with possibility, and Karen, Antra, and their RNegade platform demonstrate that thinking for yourself and approaching your nursing career on your own terms is entirely possible, not to mention empowering yourself to take your career by the horns and  make it your own.

About Karen DiMarco: 

Karen DiMarco is a bit of a wild card. She believes that authenticity is the laxative for connection, communication, and inspiration. 

Karen finds that “Registered Nurse/transformational coach/published health researcher,  educator, and foul-mouthed humorist to be a slashie, self-indulging mouthful that doesn’t quite cover it,” so she just goes by: “RNegade”. Curiosity is her superpower, and creativity is the machete she uses to cut through the antiquated bullschizzle of how the world says things ‘ought to be.’ 

The thing that makes Karen leap out of bed in the morning is helping others to achieve their greatest level of health, happiness, and human potential — preferably with lots of snort-laughing along the way.

About Antra Boyd, RN, MSN, BSN, IRNPA:
Antra Boyd is a United States Veteran having served six years active duty in Southern California. While in the Navy, she learned to shore up a sinking ship, and put on a gas mask and gear during a simulated gas attack. It was the Navy that taught Antra how to be a nurse, and was truly one of the biggest honors of her life to have served her country and our men and women service members.

Antra is curious, resourceful, quick-witted, and a little bit sensitive. She see sensitivity in the operating room as having its pitfalls, but she loves that she's tender-hearted and deeply cares for people. She believes that connection is at the heart of health and wellness, and that when we hear each other and help each other, we do better. Period.

Antra is passionate about marriage, motherhood, and family. She's been happily married for seventeen years and has two lovely teenagers, two furry labradors, and Miles (a Russian tortoise) who belongs to her son. She's the eldest of ten siblings, and an aunt to three nieces and six nephews. Her family reunions are always fun, surprising, and very interesting (think wedding ceremonies in which the groomsmen are dressed as ninjas and the bridesmaids are dressed as fairies)! 

Nurse Keith is a holistic career coach for nurses, professional podcaster, published author, award-winning blogger, inspiring keynote speaker, and successful nurse entrepreneur.
You can find him at NurseKeith.com.