DNP Ep. 31: The Journey of the “LWES” Latrina Walden Exam Solutions

Sandra Pagenta: [00:00:00] Latrina Walden is the founder and CEO of Latrina Walden exams solutions, which is a seven figure nursing business. Okay. Latrina. Two master’s degrees.

Both as a family, nurse practitioner and health administration degree. She has over 20 years of nursing experience as a home administrator dialysis nurse, She’s an emergency room nurse and she works as a family nurse practitioner, I believe at a free clinic.

Correct? Yeah. Yeah. She is dedicated her last decade to bringing her passion of family and nursing into the university and online setting classrooms. As a dedicated nursing professor, she’s bridging the gaps by teaching easy to digress strategies through prerecorded videos and live interactive tutoring sessions, and these courses that are not only fun, but [00:01:00] concise have supported graduate candidates across.

Us and Canada, and I believe you’re international? 

Latrina Walden: We’ve had people in Guam too, which has been really nice 

Sandra Pagenta: and she’s helping people pass their nurse practitioner exams. And she has been expanding her business to not just help people with the exams, but also helping them throughout their degree.

What I also find the most special and the sweetest is that her most important roles are mom and wife and doing things that she loves, like running half iron man triathlons . And I just absolutely. So apt to talk to you today. That’s all I got to say.

Welcome. Welcome, welcome. 

Latrina Walden: Thank you felt like that was pretty awesome. I mean, I found amazing, but thank you. 

Sandra Pagenta: So let’s dive right in. Explain to me what you do for a living. How do you see yourself and what does a day look like for you?

I want [00:02:00] to walk a day in your shoes. 

Latrina Walden: I see myself, well, I’ll explain what I do first. So again, I’m the train of Walden and retrain and Walden exam solutions. I’m an education company and that’s basically what I formed and what I do primarily is I help nurse practitioners pass their board exams.

That is what I’m known for the test prep and I’m different and I’m fun. I am different because. I like to take these big concepts that we are dealing with basically saving people’s lives and just make it really relatable and easy to digest. And I’m going to tell you the truth. Like you’re going to kill him if you do that.

You know what I mean? He’s like, we’re going to have fun with this because we’re going to be doing this for the rest of our lives. And we’ve worked really hard for this license. The parts that I do is I have, the private NP group, which we’ll talk about later. And I’m also pivoting a little bit because.

I see my nurses and my nurse practitioners in need of help. I’m aiming and talking to these hospital [00:03:00] organizations and these systems and trying to figure out what can we do to help them around, to help keep nurses to make you guys happy so that you stay where you’re at. Because again, having that backup.

I see things that can be done. It’s just, are they willing to be done? I do a lot. I’m kind of a day in the life of me is waking up and believe it or not. First thing I usually do is exercise. That is my time. I’m usually popping up around 5 30, 6 o’clock and. Most likely a run or a bike that is going on.

I am a Peloton fanatic, I don’t talk about it a lot, but I do enjoy their equipment. So I do use. And then it’s time to be mom. I am a mommy get up till about 10 and 11 o’clock making sure the kids are out because what I also do is I also homeschool. We do that. I do have help. I want people to know that.

 I am able to have a help, which is it hasn’t always been that way, but now. I am making sure they are up and [00:04:00] ready to get to school. And after that, it is because we are in a panini. I am on my computer and I am usually in meetings with my team because when you. Lys, which we affectionately call ourselves.

We are a full fledged organization. I have a full team that helps me with pieces of this as we continue to grow. It is a. A lot of organizing a lot of what I’ve used to running things getting things together and hopefully talking to people like you throughout my day and things like that. 

Sandra Pagenta: When you said homeschooling, that is something on my heart as well, and that is not. Easy on top of running a seven figure business. You’re just saying credible. 

Latrina Walden: Trust me there, there, again. I’m sure we’ll talk about it. There’s definitely some tears and it is not easy and there are some frustration. I don’t want everyone to think that it is very easy, cause it’s not, but as you know, better, you do better. So when you are able, you get help[00:05:00] and you start to acknowledge that you need the help and you can’t do it all. So you just start to do 

Sandra Pagenta: so for my listener, who’s like astounded.

Like I am. And then thinking, how did she get here? How did she cause you didn’t wake up and all of a sudden, somebody be like, here is a seven figure business though. Like you started somewhere, you were in your basement from what I been listening, I started this thing. And so I think it’s beautiful because I record my podcasts in the closet.

So I’m like if I can record podcasts in the closet, 

Latrina Walden: the fictions that I have, and I’m going to show you guys probably later on this year with the pictures that I have, it’s hilarious. Like the ceiling is missing out my basement. Cause it’s a trot. It was a drop ceiling installation. Again, if you have the answer to a solution and you know that you’re truly walking in your purpose, you just kind of keep going and you [00:06:00] can’t let anything recording in the closet or kids knocking at the door.

You can’t let anything stop you. Cause I am terrified that my kids are about to walk through my office because I forgot to close the door. But if it happens, we’ll take it. It was the sign. So I. And amongst, you know, working on the floor and becoming a nurse practitioner. I was also a professor and I did that at a start at a two year, went to a four year and stayed there for like eight, nine years and really loved teaching.

 It’s just something that I’ve done as I’ve worked clinically. what I did was when I was becoming a nurse practitioner, I realized there’s some gaps here. Like I there’s something missing between the application of the material for the. And then being able to like transition from school to thinking like the test is going to think.

So I literally just kind of put my services out there and was just like, guys, I think I [00:07:00] can do this. Anyone want to study with me? And I have one or two people say yes, and they would pass. And then I had that one person, cause all it takes is one. And that one person that went back and told her entire graduating class and was like, you need to pay attention to this person.

I don’t know if you know who she is and what she’s doing, but she’s so much fun. She’s able to get you to remember those kinds of. And then it just exploded. 

Sandra Pagenta: When did you decide to become a nurse? Take me back all the way back there. 

Latrina Walden: Cause I want to know, because like I said, like you said, I started as an administrator, so I was a nursing home administrator first and was doing that for 10 years.

So I had an 88 bed and a 59 bed facility and I’d walk between the two and that was my life. And then I moved to Georgia because that was in California, became a dialysis. Everybody, who was a dialysis administrator in my region was a nurse. I was the only like [00:08:00] non-nurse and my VP at the time who became a very good mentor, took a chance on me.

And she was like, I’m going to hire you because you seem really smart. It’s like, cool. So I, we were in the car one day and I looked at her and I said, I think I want to be another. And she looked at me dead in my face. I’ll never forget. Cause we were like at McDonald’s or something, me dead in my face and was like, I think you should do it.

And that was all she wrote. And when I tell you those people were so supportive, I work full time while going to school, except for the last semester I took a leave of absence. I didn’t have like survey walk into my dialysis clinic and other administrators would come and take over until I could get there.

Like they were amazing and I could never repay my team. I just could never repay them. 

Sandra Pagenta: That was when you became a nurse and then you worked at the different mere out of nursing jobs. You always in leadership roles where you’re coming from running a dialysis clinic, like it’d be hard to step onto like a med surge floor nurse [00:09:00] job.

It 

Latrina Walden: definitely was. It was not easy because you see them doing things and talking to people and being. I wouldn’t do it that way. Cause that’s not. If you want someone to work for you, you don’t talk to them like that. I came from dialysis and then I went to greedy. Ha. So you know, if you know anything about the Southeast, it’s the largest teaching hospital in the Southeast, everybody who’s, everybody goes to Grady and I became an.

I wanted to learn fast and that’s what you do it. Yeah. And it was amazing and 

Sandra Pagenta: thrown in the trenches quick, like you’re in it. Yeah. 

Latrina Walden: Like your first day, you’re like looking at someone’s open chest and you’re like,

Sandra Pagenta: I can’t be normal. 

 You’re working as you do the RN job, you’ve worked through all the different spots. You then become a nurse practitioner. And what was your first nurse practitioner job? 

Latrina Walden: I worked in private practice. I worked in private practice for a oh, and I have stories, but we’re not going to go there for a husband and [00:10:00] wife team.

And that was difficult within itself, but I lasted and at the time, Lys was growing. So I was still teaching on the side and doing my little side hustle and it became so much that I was like, I don’t think I can do this. And I was only working part-time because I was fortunate. I did not have to. I started my kids.

My kids are little, you know what I mean? I couldn’t work full time and do that at the same time. It just wasn’t going to work. And like I said, you know, my first jobs, mom and wife. So if it didn’t work for my family schedule wise and full-time did not work for us schedule wise, we were going to figure out the budget.

We was going to figure it out because. 

Sandra Pagenta: Yeah. I love that because I felt the same way when I had my son and I went back full time. When I was on maternity leave, I asked to go part-time and they told me no, which I don’t think I’ve ever shared before they tell you now. So I took the, no, I was like, okay, [00:11:00] well I just gotta come back.

And I said, I’ll do four days. Four tens, which didn’t realize that means you have to be up really early and you’re still there late. So it’s still your time, even though it’s condensed. I feel that same thing and I don’t know why more nurses don’t grab that and just hold onto it and just be like, this doesn’t work.

Latrina Walden: So, and I’m telling you, that’s how I make all my decisions. If it does not work for my family, it will not work for you. At all period. And I have no, no, as a complete sentence and I have no problem saying it because at the end of the day, They’re more important to me than anything. And I tell my son all the time he’s 10, but I used to tell him when he was like five and he had no idea, but I’d be like, I’ll throw all of this away.

I 

Sandra Pagenta: cry. You cry, girl. 

Latrina Walden: True. I, they aren’t me. I do all of this for them. And if that means that I have to sit with them and teach them, I will, they mean that much to me. And my husband [00:12:00] means that much to me. I’m going to put in the work for my marriage. And if that means I can’t be here.

That’s what that means. You know what I mean? So sorry if you don’t see me on Instagram all the time, it’s probably because I’m with my family doing something 

Sandra Pagenta: a hundred percent. Oh girl. I agree with you. I think with that in mindset with that new mindset, I think that you would be happier.

You would look back on your life and feel more fulfilled, not drained because you’re putting first things first. It’s like that analogy. We’re in the picture where they, you have like a jar and you pour all the big balls in first, right? So those big balls in our lives are just our family or husband or children taking care of this place first and then pouring in all the other little things.

And they all end up fitting. And here you are this beautiful shining example of how you built that little thing. You’re not being lazy. You’re being very intentional, working very hard. But also again, being very intentional with your family [00:13:00] and putting those as the big things. 

Latrina Walden: I need people to understand that every move that I’ve make has been so strategic.

And I don’t just move and I go to a different company. I didn’t just work jobs just because I was chasing the money. It was very strategic. I either wanted to learn something or there was a reason because it gave me some kind of flexibility or some growth or something. It was very strategic. I know a lot of us are out here. Like we can go make that dollar because we can, but at what toll. Is it a toll on you? Is it a toll on your family? Is it a toll, , w at what point are you going to stop and say, no, I’ve got to do it for me. And that’s, what’s important. 

Sandra Pagenta: Yeah. I love that. I love that.

Yeah. Tell us a little bit about what your training offers, because I really want people to understand what you’re bringing to the table because when I went and did my own research, I was like, [00:14:00] I wish I would’ve known about this like hundred percent like Fitzgerald. I did the Fitzgerald training, but this is going to help you for your whole nursing 

Latrina Walden: program, the whole nursing program. And that’s like, I mean, you’re exactly right, because we’re trying to grab you, like we’re in this period where we’re transitioning, we’re trying to grab you. And it’s second to last semester before you graduate. And what I do is I like to explain it as I created digital study guides, that’s the best way to explain it.

And so it is. MI PowerPoints and a lecture, because a lot of schools don’t lecture these days and I am literally walking you through these disease processes and what that looks like, what it looks like when a patient walks in, not just the book stuff that you can read, what it looks like when a patient walks in, what would they say to get you to clue in, to be like, this is the disease process.

And then I give you little tips and tricks as to. W how to match the [00:15:00] medicines to the disease process, how to figure out what treatment it is and all of that good stuff. It’s fun because I do say some crazy things, but we have a good time doing it after. 

Sandra Pagenta: Who are your your lessons and your courses for like What certifications are you covering?

Latrina Walden: That’s the word we do FNP. We do AGN P obviously if you want to take AMCC, that will cover that as well. We haven’t branched out to acute or site. I get a lot of requests to that. Don’t worry it’s on the radar, but this stuff takes a lot of research and a lot of constant updating, so it takes a while for those things to come out.

 Right now in PCP, If you are interested, that’s where you would go, you know? And there’s a plethora of things. There’s the crash course. There’s PowerPoints. Because again, it’s different when you are studying for boards. It’s not like you were studying in school. You know, it’s very, very different.

People are like, I got a 4.0 in school. I love it. But that means nothing. [00:16:00] Sometimes people sometimes learn the hard way. Gotcha. 

Sandra Pagenta: And you’ve got the MP collective. Tell me a 

Latrina Walden: little bit about that. So, and be collective. I got a lot of requests for all right. I pass now what professor Walden like helped me out.

 It was like, we need a place to go after we pass board. So in P collective is a private NP group and we help transition you from a novice NP to an expert NP. And so I have literally. All of this education and I do these masterminds and we have case studies and I have special guests. And we talk about everything in that group and you have access to everything.

Pre recorded recorded. If you missed it, don’t worry. You can go back and get it. We give constancy use. So if you need use, you can just go in there and cook your certificate. Boom. We keep track of it. So you don’t have to keep track of it. So I mean, Pretty amazing. Usually [00:17:00] people are super surprised once they get access.

And they’re just like, what? I mean, we talk about everything, taxes, different jobs, like how to get a job. So last thing we did was we had someone come in and teach us how to read. Oh, yeah. So, I mean, we’re literally doing, we are doing amazing things in there. Oh, 

Sandra Pagenta: what I liked, what I heard about the MP collective was that you had created a safe space for nurse practitioners because all these Facebook groups that you think like, well, I’m a part of this Facebook group and I’m hanging out with these people.

It’s not protected. So anybody can come in. 

Latrina Walden: Anybody can come in. Scary because I see it on Twitter. Because you know, there’s that whole beef with MPS and MDs, which is completely just silly. But they will take those screenshots and they will put them on Twitter and then you’ll have 50 million doctors like responding to how an NP doesn’t know how to do this, or how an NP [00:18:00] doesn’t know how to.

It’s ridiculous. So. Which is completely run by Lys. It is a safe, confidential space. You cannot get in if you do not have a license. So we are verifying you if you are not an RN or an NP, I’m sorry. You’re not allowed to come in and we want to see your number, your license number, and we want to see your face.

You need to know who you are before we lead into the. Have any worries about being screenshotted into the atmosphere? 

Sandra Pagenta: The other thing that I like that you offer is hashtag NP in five minutes, which I was like five minutes, but I did want to know what that was 

Latrina Walden: about. It’s so funny. It’s something that I started it’s in the Bronx clinical crash course.

And I guess I didn’t realize it when I’m teaching. Apparently, I’m very encouraging when I speak. And I say it a lot. I’ll be like, don’t worry about it. You know, you’re going to get this and we talk about a [00:19:00] disease process and I’ll go, and you too can be an MP in five minutes, come on, let’s get this.

And it just became this thing that people run with. And so they will tag us when they pass. It’s just really, really fun, but it’s just in the learning. It’s like, don’t worry about it. Don’t stress. You’ll be an MP in five minutes. Don’t worry. 

Sandra Pagenta: Whenever I interview people, I always ask them about a high and a low, because I always want to, I always want to acknowledge that, like, there’ve been moments that you’ve had to overcome something, but there’s also been huge wins.

Yeah. So could you give me an example of one of each? 

Latrina Walden: Yeah. So I think I’ll start with the low, because you know, we always do start that in hot. Yeah.

Has been building from me, has been building this team remotely. It has been really, really difficult and it is not an easy process to. Never meet someone, but then trust them with your baby. And we’ve had a couple of folks who have not worked out, [00:20:00] but at the end of the day, it just is what it is.

And I have to, I have to deal with that. at the end of the day, I am the CEO, everything falls on me. So if someone didn’t understand, I probably didn’t explain it. Right. And I apologize. Profusely, but that’s okay for them not to fit. And I don’t take that lightly. So I just want you guys to know that, like, I don’t take employing people lightly because people’s whole families rely on that.

So for me, it creates a lot of anxiety. It relates to that. So that’s a low for me and I’m still processing through that. But as far as the high, I think I I’ll share this. This is a new one. So L west just acquired their own buildings. So we have an office space and it’s about 5,000 square feet and we’re so excited.

We’re literally moving in as we speak and , I’m having my first team retreat there in a month. I [00:21:00] mean, it is, it’s really, really exciting. We are growing and all this money. We are reinvesting back into the company at a ridiculous rate, trying to make sure we give you guys what you need. You made 

Sandra Pagenta: me want to take my NP exam or whatever.

I just want to support you. Those are great answers to those questions. Thank you for sharing. And along the way, I think you described earlier, you had a really good mentor the dialysis administrator. The, she was super supportive, but I find that there is a lack of mentorship in nursing.

And I think you talked about this on another podcast episode that I was listening to, that you kind of feel like there’s this eat this young thing and the way you described it and how, like I could tell you were getting emotional and like passionate about it. I was like, oh, this is good right here. This is a sore spot for her that she’s definitely feels passionate about, which I thought was very interesting. I just wondered, like, have you ever gotten a piece of advice or, you know, any other [00:22:00] mentorship that you felt like was really beneficial to you? Because as you’ve been building this, I know there’s been huge gaps of things that you didn’t know.

So how did you bridge those gaps? Who helped you if anybody did? Because a lot of nurses get on here and say that they unfortunately did not get a lot of mentorship. 

Latrina Walden: Yeah, no, I absolutely have a mentor. I am not ashamed to admit it. She is in business. So I think one of the first things before I even mentioned who and all that good stuff is that I want to encourage nurses to not necessarily look for a nurse mentor.

Because business is business is business. And remember that as my background. So business principles and things like that. They maneuver across industries. So your mentor does not have to be a nurse. So my mentor is not a nurse. However, she is in business. She is Nicole Walters. So I’m Nicole Walters who I personally work with.

And we speak a lot and she helps to fill in those gaps. But again, I, and I am not one of those [00:23:00] people who went for a lot of coaches and vetted and all that good stuff, but I understand business. And I know when someone knows what they’re talking about and is very smart at what they do and can put me in places and rooms that I need to be in.

And that’s what a true mentor and coach should be doing. They should be guiding you into those situations. I know I have them and I get really upset with. Folks just want to start a mentorship business or starting a coaching business. And it’s like, you haven’t been through anything. Cause I get that request a lot.

Like, can you do something? I will do it. And I’m just like, no, you know what I mean? I absolutely. And I’m sure I have people come in. I I’m, I am still learning some things and processes in my business, the end being put in places where if I, I get to where I want to be, then I can pull Sandra with me and put her through, like, you need to talk to Sandra.[00:24:00] 

That’s what you want to happen when you are a coaching and mentoring with someone. Yeah, I agree. 

Sandra Pagenta: I do hear what you’re saying and I do, I have an issue with that as well, like mentoring, and yet you don’t really have much experience and you don’t really have these things mastered. I think there is something that you have to kind of recognize like where your knowledge is and where it’s not.

And I wonder sometimes if people are mentoring and yet. Really done that part. And so I agree with you. I think that you’ve got to really understand what you’re offering and working as a guide. And I had an earlier conversation today, and I think there are things that you can offer to someone who’s further behind you as.

A nurse practitioner or whatever, but being able to go, listen, I know how to do the nursing business and that whole thing, that might be something that you don’t feel comfortable with. And so you shouldn’t mentor until you feel ready.

Latrina Walden: It’s such a coaching world now, and everyone wants to coach. And so you really do have to be careful. I hate to be like that, but you do because [00:25:00] I don’t want. Let’s be real like our us as nurses and nurse practice, we’re already taken advantage of all the time by our organizations. And the way that some things like that, like, we don’t need someone else to do that to us, let alone really good.

Like, so when it comes from a peer, it is even more painful. It is more hurtful. And I hate to see that I don’t want to hear. That she took advantage of me and I didn’t get what I needed because at the end of the day, we’re all just looking for what we need, you know what I mean? And we’re trying to do these big things.

So you really just have to be careful and that your person, and even just, if you’re doing, you know, those discovery calls that they, you know, Ask those pertinent questions. What can you do for me? In order to just get to the next level. 

Sandra Pagenta: I would like to ask you is what are some questions that you can ask someone 

[00:26:00] is presenting themselves as this mentor, I will help you do this thing. What are some questions? Because I am talking to a lot of coaches and I’m like, what’s the difference between a coach and a mentor? And then, you know, these, there are all these new, like nuanced needs.

Latrina Walden: So one of the things that I love to ask, first of all, is I, do you have the time for me? Do you have the time? Because I don’t want the coach or the mentor who has 15 other people. How are you truly investing in me as a person? And you have like 25 other. People that you’re dealing with. Yeah. How, how sway are we all in the same room together?

Like, how is this working? So it’s like, do you have the time for me? Because you should be carving out time on a daily basis. Probably the other question is. So, where are you [00:27:00] at your business? Because they’re not going to like that. They’re not because are they getting rich off of you or are they getting rich off of their own thing that they’ve been doing?

And this is just something that they like to be fulfilled in. You know what I mean? So where are you at in your business? Why are you even doing this? Why are you choosing to mentor and to coach? Let me know. How long have you been in business? That’s an important question. You should be vetting them as much.

They’re vetting you. Okay. Because your dollar, you got to know that you’re going to get a return because we pay a lot of money for these folks. Like Xing and mentoring is not easy. And I am a big proponent of paying for sources of knowledge and all that good stuff, but it’s not cheap, you know? And so they’re kind of the difference between a mentor and a.

And this is just my opinion, but I’m going to coach you through the process, right? So they are going to give [00:28:00] you guidelines. What do you think about this? Now, if you do that, keep in mind, this is going to happen on this side, and this is going to happen on this side. Is that something that you truly want to move forward doing?

As long as you take in the pros and the cons? I understand that. So there it’s, I think of it like football, I’m a big football fan. So things that like football, the coach literally kind of makes the game plan and then stands there. I don’t think you want to ride, go that route. I think you want to make a left right here.

Let me tell you why the mentor they’re going to do the same things. Absolutely. But they are also going to take it up a notch and they’re going to start putting you in rooms where you can talk to those pertinent people. They 

Sandra Pagenta: they’re connecting. 

Latrina Walden: They have more of the connections. So they’re going to be. I need you to talk to so-and-so and they’re not going to be ashamed to be like, I don’t know but I got a really good friend.

And this is their wheelhouse. Like I don’t own my own [00:29:00] private practice, but I have a really good friend who does, let me put you in contact with that person and let them move you 

forward. 

Sandra Pagenta: I like how you described that, that they’re almost kind of like our Kog wheel and they’re able to put you in the direction of all the different connections and again, there’s a lot of nurse practitioners that I’ve spoken with that are that like, that I’ve spoken to one of them and they were like, Hey, let me have you talk to this one.

And I know this one. I know that one. Tourists, but they’ve done that for me. And that’s been really helpful. And I think because they’ve done 

Latrina Walden: that before you, then I’m just going to say that Sandra, then you know that you’re walking in your purpose because what I have figured out is that when you were doing things and it comes easy to you and it’s not, you don’t keep getting these roadblocks and things like that.

And the puzzle pieces. Fifth. And you’re walking in your purse, doing what you’re doing, because if you’re a continuously trying to fit in the puzzle, you’re not on the right path. And you may want to reevaluate what you’re doing. So like this business, [00:30:00] I’ve never like even getting this building.

 I walked in looking for a smaller space part of this and the landlord guy was. , I was like, what about this? He was like, well, I can give that to you. I said, well, show me upstairs. All right. I can give that to you. Everything came so easy. He’s giving me lots of things for a discount.

And it was just like, hello, Jesus, unicorn farts. Is that you, are you talking to me? If that is what is happening, just keep, keep walking through those doors because then, you know, This is where you’re supposed to be. 

Sandra Pagenta: That’s awesome. Guys, did you hear that move towards things that come to you that you are not fitting a, around peg and a square for, yes, 

Latrina Walden: exactly.

It’s not working. It’s fine for it. Not to work, but if it’s coming to you easy. You’re doing something right. The universe is telling you you’re doing it. Right. [00:31:00] 

Sandra Pagenta: Amen. Our last question of the interview is I feel like you’ve given so many nuggets. I just, I can’t even, I don’t even want to ask you this question because I’m like, if you didn’t get anything for what she just said, I don’t know how to help you.

I don’t know how to help you. But what advice would you give to a new nurse starting off that you wish you would’ve known? You know, Latrina, she’s just now graduated with an MP or her master’s or even her bachelor’s. I know you got your associates degree first, right. And then you had your bachelor’s paid.

And so what was a piece of advice you would give for. 

Latrina Walden: So as a new nurse practitioner I would definitely anyone as a new nurse, because I’m sure you have nurses as well, this, a new nurse and a new nurse practitioner. I would tell them that it’s okay to leave. And I think that we take a lot, we take a lot cause again, how they, how they treat us is not always [00:32:00] appropriate.

And it, at the end of the day, it is for the betterment of the organization. We can say it, it’s fine. But I am such at a place in my life where my happy. Is everything to me and I will be broke as my, like my husband says, as long as the lights stay on, we’ll be fine. You know, we’ll be fine. I’ve had this conversation with several nurse practitioners recently.

It’s okay to leave guys. If the position you are being talked to crazy, if a position is not fulfilling you, if you are not growing in that space, if you are not learning, because these are all things owed to you by an organization, if you are not feeling that it’s fine to find somewhere else to feel that yes.

Sandra Pagenta: Especially now. I think that’s a really good piece of advice to hold on to, what would you say is a piece of advice to toss that you heard that you were like, that’s garbage 

Latrina Walden: the first thing I [00:33:00] thought was you know, when you’re a new nurse, like in the new RN and they’re like, Go to med surge. That’s a bowl. Like you don’t have to go to med centers, girl, if you don’t want to go to somewhere else. But as far as even another piece of advice just to toss I, it kind of is along the same lines.

It’s just like, You need to stay at your job for a year? Like girl, no you don’t. I need us to understand that it is okay for us to leave and be happy and fulfilled and what we do, we deserve it just like any other industry does. And just because we choose to take care of people doesn’t mean that we have to be treated like crap and that’s what’s happening right now and it’s not okay.

And if that is affecting you. Girl, get in therapy and leave. All these things that have been taboo and the previous generations have whispered about. No, [00:34:00] we liked therapy. Getting girl, if you want to leave your job, go ahead. We’re not whispering anymore. 

Sandra Pagenta: I can talk to you like all debt. Like it’s not even, I just can’t even hide it. What are you saying? Every word last part of the interview is the rapid fire questions, questions. So ready to you. What is the best age to be? 

Latrina Walden: Oh, I think like 40 come into your own. You don’t care. It’s just going to say you come 

Sandra Pagenta: into your power at 40. Okay. What’s your favorite game of all time, but you said football, right?

Latrina Walden: Yeah. Well, like if you’re talking about sports, absolutely huge football fan in his house. 

Sandra Pagenta: What are you most grateful for in the whole world, which you kind of answered already know your answer, but I want to hear in any way, so 

Latrina Walden: say it again. Yeah, I know. I probably my support system, which includes all of my family., [00:35:00] it has not always been like this, but over time we have gone through some transitions. And when I tell y’all I have a partner in this marriage, it is not a joke. When I tell y’all that my children mean the world to me, it is not. There have been many a times where you don’t see me on the interwebs.

It is because my family needed me and I do not hesitate to step away and take that time. And it’s weird because sometimes I’ll leave back. 

Sandra Pagenta: You are so in tuned to the right things in my mind, I just look and I admire you. Huge admiration coming from me to you.

So guys, where can people find you? 

Latrina Walden: You can find me@latrinawaldenexamsolutions.com and it doesn’t matter if you were a student or if you are a practicing MP.

If you just need some words of encouragement, please feel free to email us. We will have CPU’s coming for you soon as well. So if you’re a practicing, please don’t leave us once you use our [00:36:00] products and you pass. But you can also find me on all of the social interwebs. So there I’m on iTunes. You’ll see me and my crazy family and how we do things.

And that’s what Trina underscore Walden underscore NP super fancy. Right? You’ll find us, but we’re on Twitter. We’re on YouTube. We’re on 

Sandra Pagenta: all the things. Perfect. Go and follow her everywhere guys. She is incredible. And you are building such a wonderful brand. So God. That’s it for today.

Remember to enjoy the journey of your nursing career. Thanks for listening guys.