The Functional Nurse Podcast - Nursing in Functional Medicine

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at www.fxnursing.com. The Functional Nurse Podcast is celebrating its 100th episode! In this milestone episode, Dr. Brigitte Sager reflects on the evolution of functional nursing—from the early conversations that inspired this podcast to a growing movement of nurses and nurse practitioners bringing root-cause, holistic, and personalized care into healthcare. With that foundation established, Brigitte looks ahead to an important next chapter: strengthening the evidence for functional nursing through research, quality improvement, evidence-based practice, and meaningful patient outcomes. Brigitte explores how nurses and nurse practitioners can help shape the future of functional medicine by asking better clinical questions and studying what actually improves patient care. She shares ideas for DNP projects, PhD research, capstones, quality improvement initiatives, patient-reported outcomes, and practice-based research—including nutrition assessments, functional medicine screening tools, group visits, nurse coaching, access to care, patient satisfaction, and clinician outcomes. She also discusses the Institute for Functional Medicine's approach to studying the complete functional medicine care model and why systems thinking, antecedents, triggers and mediators, modifiable lifestyle factors, and personalization matter when evaluating functional care. Whether you're currently in nursing school, considering an advanced degree, or simply want to help transform healthcare, this episode invites nurses to help build the evidence that can move functional nursing forward. IFM's research page 🔗 https://www.ifm.org/about/research

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at www.fxnursing.com. In this episode of the Functional Nurse Podcast, Samantha Hamilton sits down with Jessica Spradley, RN, a former Navy corpsman, emergency department nurse, and Functional Nursing Program student who recently began working in a functional medicine clinic. Jessica shares how a simple curiosity about nutrition sparked a journey into functional medicine and ultimately transformed both her personal health and nursing career. Jessica discusses how she integrates functional nursing principles into the fast-paced emergency department by meeting patients where they are, providing practical nutrition education, recognizing root-cause patterns, and empowering patients with small, meaningful lifestyle changes. She also shares her personal experience with functional lab testing, the GI-MAP, and the elimination diet, along with how these tools changed her own health perspective. Whether you're an RN, nurse practitioner, military veteran, or healthcare professional wondering how functional nursing fits into traditional healthcare, this episode offers practical examples, career inspiration, and hope for a more fulfilling future in nursing.

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing (IFN) www.fxnursing.com In this episode, Brigitte interviews Ryan Obermeier of Evexia Diagnostics to show nurses exactly how to streamline functional lab testing inside a holistic or functional nursing practice. We break down how Evexia centralizes thousands of functional and specialty tests, simplifies ordering, integrates with systems like Practice Better, and reduces the administrative burden that often slows down new and growing practices. Ryan explains Evexia’s Internal Physician Network, which supports nurses who need physician authorization for specialty testing, as well as the Ask the Doctor program for clinical interpretation of advanced labs. We also cover Evexia’s Functional Health Report, supply management, troubleshooting support, white-label marketing tools, and how nursing using the link below can access exclusive perks, waived fees, and discounted resources. Whether you're launching a functional nursing practice or scaling an established clinic, this episode gives you a clear roadmap for improving efficiency, patient outcomes, and clinical confidence through better lab workflows. What We Cover in This Conversation: • How Evexia centralizes thousands of functional & specialty lab tests• Streamlined ordering, processing, and automated reporting• EHR integration with Practice Better and other platforms• Functional Health Report for blood chemistry interpretation• Internal Physician Network for non-licensed or collaborating providers• Ask the Doctor program for specialty lab interpretation• Reducing hidden costs, operational friction, and admin overwhelm• White-label and marketing tools available through the link below• How nurses can register and access waived fees + bonus support Functional Nurses Offer: Register With Evexia Diagnostics Evexia is extending exclusive benefits for our functional nursing community of RNs and NPs, including waived fees and access to additional support tools. Create your account here: https://www.evexiadiagnostics.com/lp/brigitte-sager-landing-registration-page

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing (IFN) www.fxnursing.com In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, host Brigitte Sager, DNP, IFMCP speaks with Megan Kroeker, MSN, NP, IFMCP about her journey into functional medicine, the importance of prioritizing personal health, and the value of functional nursing in today's healthcare landscape. They discuss the challenges and rewards of starting a private practice in Canada, the significance of using timelines in patient care, and the role of intuition in functional nursing. Megan shares insights on building a supportive community among nurses and the future of functional nursing as a vital part of healthcare. Connect with Megan: Visit her website: https://functionalnp.ca/ Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megankroeker_functionalnp/# Find her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/functionalnpmegankroeker 💻 Want to stay up to date on the latest in Functional Medicine and nursing? Sign up for the newsletter at: https://learn.brigittesager.com/the-functional-nurse-newsletter to never miss an update. Hosted by Brigitte Sager, DNP, a functional nurse practitioner and holistic nurse educator. https://www.brigittesager.com/ ✔️ Consider sharing this podcast with other nurses on your social media platforms, in a text, or listen together on this page. We also now have video episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fxnursing This episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast is proudly sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing (IFN). At IFN, we equip RNs and NPs with the knowledge, confidence, and community to lead the future of healthcare through root-cause, patient-centered practice. We offer membership programs, continuing education, and a comprehensive, evidence informed education in functional nursing, all grounded in systems biology, clinical relevance, and the nursing process. Learn more about our offerings, upcoming courses, and how to join the movement at: https://www.fxnursing.com

With the foundational Functional Medicine for Nurses course coming to an end, many nurses are asking, what now? Brigitte Sager, DNP answers that question and maps out the next steps for nurses who want to bring functional approaches into practice. She explains why functional nursing is more than a rebrand, how it reclaims nursing roles as healers, teachers, and leaders, and why nurses need clear scope, community, and clinical support to apply these concepts safely. Brigitte also shares details about the Institute for Functional Nursing, current CE courses, the membership community with live case reviews, and the full functional nursing program launching in early 2026. If you want practical training that is built by nurses for nurses, or if you are wondering how to integrate functional care into your setting, this episode explains how to get started and where to find mentorship and resources. Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing, the premier functional medicine program for nursing professionals. Learn more and join the waitlist at fxnursing.com/learn. Register for the free Redefining the Future of Nursing summit at fxnursing.com/summit. 💻 Want to stay up to date on the latest in Functional Medicine and nursing? Sign up for the newsletter at: https://learn.brigittesager.com/the-functional-nurse-newsletter to never miss an update. Hosted by Brigitte Sager, DNP, a functional nurse practitioner and holistic nurse educator. https://www.brigittesager.com/ ✔️ Consider sharing this podcast with other nurses on your social media platforms, in a text, or listen together on this page. We also now have video episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrigitteSagerNP This episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast is proudly sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing (IFN). At IFN, we equip RNs and NPs with the knowledge, confidence, and community to lead the future of healthcare through root-cause, patient-centered practice. We offer membership programs, continuing education, and a comprehensive, evidence informed education in functional nursing, all grounded in systems biology, clinical relevance, and the nursing process. Learn more about our offerings, upcoming courses, and how to join the movement at: https://www.fxnursing.com Be well!