Candyce Pirtle-Smalls On 5 Things We Must Do to Improve the US Healthcare System
An Interview With Jake Frankel
Improving Cultural Competence
Cultural competence in healthcare is essential. Training healthcare providers to understand and respect different cultural backgrounds can improve patient-provider communication, trust, and health outcomes.
As a part of our interview series called “5 Things We Must Do To Improve the US Healthcare System”, I had the pleasure to interview Candyce Pirtle-Smalls.
Candyce Pirtle-Smalls is a trailblazing nurse entrepreneur, author, and speaker. A teen mom turned Nurse CEO, Candyce is the founder and CEO of Empowered Health Academy, which provides organizational consulting, training, and development to healthcare professionals nationwide. With a passion for nurturing nurse practitioners, Nurse Candy is on a mission to
reverse the national nursing shortage and cultivate a community of nurses who lead with compassion, uphold integrity, and champion honesty and authenticity.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive
into our interview, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
For me, nursing is legacy. My grandmother was a home health nurse and my mom was a certified nursing assistant (CNA). Then when I was in high school, my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. My mother and aunt took care of her during her last days. I wasn’t able to help or save her, but I told myself that I would one day be able to take care of someone else’s grandmother. The other major influence was my father. My father was already disabled when I was born and with age, his muscles deteriorated to the point where he became a paraplegic. He and I were very close all while I was growing up and he was one of my biggest cheerleaders as I pursued nursing as a career. The last five years of his life, I ended up taking care of him. If I wasn’t a nurse, I don’t think I would have been able to do it. It was challenging for us as I transitioned from the role of “daughter” to primary caregiver. But I remember telling him, “Don’t worry, Daddy, this is why I’m a nurse.”
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you
began your career?
There are so many! The one I often share with my students is one day I was in my office, head down, eyes glossy with my hand over my head and one of my mentors, a Registered Nurse, walked in and said, “What’s the matter?” I looked at her with an uneasy look and said, “I failed my NCLEX.” She looked at me and said, “Okay, and where is the problem?” I looked confused and said “The problem is I’m a poor nursing student. I spent all my money and savings on the nursing tuition and my last went to the application process. I can' t affords to pay the $150.00.” Her response: “Hold that thought.” She returned with a check book, looked at me and clicked her pin and said, “Who do I write the check to? I said to her, “I will pay you back I promise– with my first check,” and she said, “No. YOU will pay it forward.” So, I share this story with my nursing students. People will believe in you, keep going and continue to pay it forward.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Well once I was working as a program director for a 12-bed residential mental health facility and one of our residents was diagnosed with pseudo-seizures! The seizures would occur during the group. The resident took a pillow, placed it on the ground and started convulsing hysterically and flipping on the floor. I calmly called the resident’s name, soothed them and calmed them. Five minutes later the resident popped up and said that’s not my name! From that lesson, I learned to make sure I’m calling them by the right name. But I also learned that what people care most about is whether or not you care about them.
Can you please give us your favorite "Life Lesson Quote"? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
Maya Angelou once said” People may not remember your name, but they will remember the experience you gave them. As a nurse, it has always been my goal to create a genuinely loving and compassionate experience with each patient. They may not remember my name, but they’ll always remember how I treated them. That’s my legacy.
How would you define an “excellent healthcare provider”?
An excellent healthcare provider is one who operates in the core principles of:
● Excellence
● Integrity
● Professionalism
● Compassion
What are your favorite books, podcasts, or resources that inspire you to be
a better healthcare leader? Can you explain why you like them?
My favorite book is the Bible. There’s an abundance of timeless wisdom and life principles in there! A few others include:
● Think and Grow Rich– I love delving into the growth mindset.
● The 5 Lessons a Millionaire Taught Me for Women, by Richard Paul Evans– is a great book for women and women entrepreneurs in particular.
● Sober on a Drunk Planet by Sean Alexander. Is insightful and reminds us of the beauty of mental clarity that results from living sober.
● Also on my radar is the book, Nursing Now: Today's Issues, Tomorrow's Trends, by Joseph T. Catalano, because it really breaks down nursing leadership.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that
will help people?
Yes, I am working on some exciting projects! In 2023 I launched Empowered Health Academy, LLC (EHA), which provides organizational consulting, training, and development to healthcare professionals nationwide. Through EHA, it’s my mission to cultivate a community of multifaceted professional nursing leaders who lead with compassion, uphold integrity, and champion honesty
and authenticity.
The frightening reality is that the United States is facing a projected shortage of nearly 1 million nurses by 2030, so at Empowered Health Academy we are doing our part to fill the nurse shortage by providing comprehensive nursing education and mentoring.
I understand the entire career spectrum of the nursing profession and what’s lacking within it. I’ve worked as a certified nurse assistant, licensed vocational nurse, and as a program director at an adult residential facility before transitioning into nurse education and entrepreneurship.
I developed a 7-step method to help future nurses overcome the overwhelming challenges of their journey, to ensure a smooth transition into nursing school and into a thriving career.
In 2023, we launched the EHA Pathway Program, a 12-module curriculum for young aspiring nurses that provides tutoring, mock interview sessions and covers the nursing college entrance
exam fee. With approximately 55% of U.S. high school students believing they will not be able to secure a stable job after graduation, we’re confident that we can create a path forward in the world’s #1 healthcare profession.
Last, but not least, I am the author of the book, “Nursing Aspirations Unveiled: A Comprehensive Guide for Future Nurses,” which helps to coach individuals through the journey to becoming a nurse.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the main focus of our interview.
According to this study cited by Newsweek, the US healthcare system is
ranked as the worst among high-income nations. This seems shocking.
Can you share with us a few reasons why you think the US is ranked so
poorly?
As a “healthcare insider”, if you had the power to make a change, can you
share 5 changes that need to be made to improve the overall US healthcare
system? Please share a story or example for each.
Allow me to begin by saying that from my experience as a nurse and as a nurse educator, within the healthcare system there is an epidemic of toxic work environments that negatively impact the mental and physical health of physicians and nurses.
It is imperative that we pay greater attention to professionals providing the care within the healthcare industry. If physicians and nurses are burned out, the quality of care suffers.
In the current environment, particularly since COVID, health professionals are suffering greatly in the area of mental health. A 2023 study by the National Library of Medicine revealed that post-pandemic, nurses had an increased experience of burnout, reduced job dedication and poorer self‐rated health.
Thus, it is within the context of the decrease in the mental health of healthcare professionals, combined with critical nursing shortages, that I believe the 5 changes that need to be made to improve the overall U.S. healthcare system include:
- Efforts to Address Nurse Burnout and Shortages
The US healthcare system is facing a physician shortage and a critical shortage of nurses, compounded by high burnout rates. To combat this, we need to invest in nursing education, provide better support and resources, and create more sustainable working conditions. This includes reasonable nurse-to-patient ratios, mental health support, and
recognition of the essential role nurses play in patient care. - Improving Cultural Competence
Cultural competence in healthcare is essential. Training healthcare providers to understand and respect different cultural backgrounds can improve patient-provider communication, trust, and health outcomes. - Improving Employee Morale
Many healthcare workers feel unappreciated, unmotivated, and unsupported–particularly as they see colleagues rise to managerial positions and become less approachable. To improve morale, it’s essential to foster a culture of appreciation and recognition.
4. Personal and Professional Development Training
Healthcare professionals need ongoing training and development to stay current and up to-date with best practices. Providing training and development opportunities can also
help employees feel more engaged and motivated.
5. Universal Health Coverage
In an ideal world, ensuring all Americans have access to affordable healthcare, could help address the significant disparities in health outcomes and access to care. Budget- allowing, such coverage could come from expanding existing programs like Medicare and Medicaid or implementing a single-payer system.
What concrete steps would have to be done to actually manifest these
changes? What can a) individuals, b) corporations, c) communities and d)
leaders do to help?
The community can do its part by encouraging young people to pursue nursing if it’s something they’re interested in. My organization has created a pathway to nursing for high school students–as well as a support system for current nurses. That’s the type of thing that’s needed to help reduce the nursing shortage and help prevent burnout. Physicians, nurses and leadership staff must commit to creating a supportive, collaborative
workplace environment, as opposed to a competitive one. That can be done by:
a. Promoting approachable and personable leadership at all levels.
b. Encouraging managers to maintain connections with their teams, regardless of their position.
c. Ensuring equitable pay and regular raises.
Healthcare institutions can increase the cultural competence of its staff by:
a. Providing regular cultural competence training.
b. Incorporating diverse perspectives in care planning.
c. Ensuring that language services are available for non-English speaking patients.
Healthcare providers must also insist on personal and professional development training for their staff. I believe this includes:
a. Support for further education and certifications.
b. Mentorship programs to guide career advancement.
c. Regular workshops and courses.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put intense pressure on the American
healthcare system, leaving some hospital systems at a complete loss as to
how to handle this crisis. Can you share with us examples of where we’ve
seen the U.S. healthcare system struggle? How do you think we can
correct these issues moving forward?
I think we all saw across our television screens and devices the tremendous
pressure the American healthcare system experienced as a result of the COVID- 19 pandemic. One of the biggest challenges the system faces is the shortage of nurses and physicians. We are currently experiencing a nursing shortage crisis. If we don’t train and hire more nurses (and retain them) we will not be prepared for future crises should they ever occur. This is why Empowered Health Academy exists– to help train, mentor and support nurses so that we can retain the great nurses we have while welcoming new ones.
How do you think we can address the problem of nurse and physician
shortages?
I believe proper training combined with coaching and strengthening the professional networks that contribute to a more supportive work environment. Within the Empowered Health Academy, we’re helping to address the nursing shortage in the following ways:
● EHA offers a Pathway Program, which consists of a 12-module curriculum for young aspiring nurses matriculating out of high school, creating a pipeline to help fill the nursing shortage.
● Only about 2% of nurses pursue entrepreneurship. It is a very viable but little-known option for aspiring nurses. Thus, EHA aims to educate nurses about the full array of career opportunities beyond the bedside and prepare them for those opportunities.
How do you think we can address the issue of physician and nurse
burnout?
We know that nurses typically burnout and sometimes leave the profession because of an unsupportive workplace environment and because of the emotional, mental and physical toll the job can take. So, EHA addresses these topics in our training and mentorship programs so that nursing students are not only equipped with healthcare skills, but also prepared mentally and emotionally for their career.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that
would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what
would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
I’ve already started! We’re blazing a trail for young aspiring nurses! I started our 1st annual Back to School Brunch for Aspiring Nurses! Nurses and nursing colleges speak and expose students to nursing, mentorship and scholarship opportunities.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
I’d love to connect! Readers can connect with me online:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nursecandy_speaks/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candyce-pirtle-smalls-9b1984284/
Website: https://empoweredhealthacademy.us/
Thank you so much for these insights! This was very inspirational and we
wish you continued success in your great work.
