Mike and Mary Taccona are both registered nurses. Mike works in the Post Surgical Unit, and Mary is in the Emergency Department. Outside of nursing, Mike and Mary are avid travelers. They have traveled throughout the United States and have time abroad while balancing Nursing school and jobs. In this conversation, we look at adapting to their roles as nurses, pulling back the curtain to the type of stress the situation puts on them. From there, we transition to travel. Next, we break down how and why they travel. Finally, we close on an impactful trip to a Field Station in Costa Rica.

In this episode, we are joined by Marybeth Piltaver. Mary is a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department with a background in Hematology and Oncology with a chemotherapy certification. She received her BSN from the University of Chicago and is currently working on a Doctorate of Nursing Practice at UIC.

We discuss what led her to choose Nursing as her profession and in general health. Here the conversation leads to a more general discussion of the health care system and how it operates. This conversation barely scratches what we could have discussed in this space.

In this podcast episode, we bring on our good friend Mike Taccona. Mike studies nursing, works as a patient care technician at our community hospital, and serves burgers at a heavy metal bar! Mike has a gift of communication and uses it to spread a passion for health and wellness to those in need. He can reform bad experiences and tense people into pleasant and comfortable ones. Mike has a deep curiosity that few people possess. Mike loves craft beer, cooking, traveling, and trying anything.