the Reawakened Nurse

​​​From Breakdown to Reawakening:

With over 17 years of experience in nursing and 20 years in healthcare, my journey didn’t begin with a passion or calling—it started after achieving sobriety in 2004. Young, lost, broke, and searching for my place in the world, I decided to pursue nursing. While juggling two jobs—one as a patient care tech and the other as a server at a well-known New Mexican restaurant—I attended the University of New Mexico College of Nursing, graduating in 2007. Shortly after, I began my career as a nurse at a Level I Trauma Center.

 

Nursing became my entire identity—until I lost myself in it.

 

Breaking Point:

By October 2023, postpartum depression, anxiety, and burnout pushed me into a complete emotional and mental collapse. Forced to choose between my career and my infant son, I neglected my own well-being until I hit rock bottom. Navigating the healthcare system as a patient was eye-opening and, honestly, devastating. I felt betrayed by the very system I had dedicated my life to. I struggled to find real help. I spiraled into a dark place I would not wish on anyone.

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But in that dark night of my soul, I asked myself three questions:

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1. What do I truly love about nursing?
    

2. Are other nurses (and caregivers, moms, people in general) struggling like me?
    

3. Do I want to be part of a movement that redefines healing?

 

The answers were loud and clear. And that sparked my reawakening.

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In February 2024, I left my hospital administration role, completely stepped away from traditional nursing, and The Reawakened Nurse was born.

 

But this isn't just a blog.

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This space is for anyone who has been burned out, traumatized, or disconnected from themselves. Souls who have given so much to others that they have forgotten themselves.

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While my roots are in nursing and healthcare, my branches reach anyone ready to rise and reclaim their power. 

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Here, we go deeper than surface-level "self-care":​

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• We talk about nervous system healing, trauma recovery, and emerging therapies like mindfulness and psilocybin—while still discovering simple ways to nourish and heal a body that is so wracked with inflammation and pain from chronic stress.
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• We dig into practical strategies for improving our health from the inside out — like fiber, proper nutrition, and managing insulin dependence, as I navigate through it in real time. This way, you never feel alone, and you know I’m right alongside you, working through these challenges as an ongoing series of real-life experiences.
   

• We blend self-compassion, empowerment, and loving accountability — because I believe in nurturing your wounds and stoking your fire.
   

• We hold space for your pain and gently sprinkle some tough love on you — just enough to remind you of your strength and get your spark burning again.

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And let's be clear: I believe in medicine. Western medicine saves lives every day, and it absolutely has its place. But I also believe healing is bigger than prescriptions and procedures.

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Here, we make space for both: evidence-based care and the deeper work of tending to your whole self. 

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Also, while I share insights on healing and empowerment, I am not a health coach or lifestyle guru. I’m here to provide authentic support and evidence-based knowledge to help you reclaim your own power — no coaching package required.

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My mission now: 

I’m here to provide:

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• Relatable, authentic, and supportive content that empowers you to make informed choices about your health and healing.
   

• Real tools, real talk, and real healing strategies to help you come back home to your body, mind, and spirit.
   

• A sanctuary where your pain is valid, your burnout is not your fault, and your healing is possible.
   

Because you are not broken. The system is. And your healing is sacred.

 

Let's Rise Together:
This breakdown was not just a crisis- it was my turning point. In the midst of my struggles, I stood at a crossroads where everything I thought I knew about myself, and my purpose, began to unravel. In that deep, raw vulnerability, I rediscovered my true calling—one rooted in healing, connection, and helping others reawaken their own light. It became the catalyst that led me to embrace my purpose with newfound clarity and strength.​
 

To the nurses, moms, caregivers, women, and ANYONE ready to stop playing small and start rising: 
 

Let’s have those tough talks. Let's ask those tough questions. Let's reshape what healing looks like. 

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Be Informed and Reclaim your Power.

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The Reawakened Nurse

❤

(Crystal, RN, MSN, CIC, CLNC)