Welcome to The Bossy Nurse Podcast, a show about nurse creators, innovators, risk-takers, and the ideas that shape their success. In this episode, Shenell Thompkins, MSN, RN, shares how her nursing journey, faith, and heart for mentorship led her to create All One Nurse, a space supporting new and aspiring nurses as they grow in confidence, care for themselves, and stay connected to the human side of healthcare.
Today, Marsha Battee speaks with Shenell Thompkins, nurse educator, mentor, and host of the All One Nurse Podcast.
Key takeaways
- Shenell’s nursing journey began with family, caregiving, and the words of her grandmother, who believed she would become a nurse.
- She talks about being a teenage mom in nursing school and how focus, support, and sacrifice helped her finish her BSN.
- All One Nurse grew out of Shenell’s desire to support nurses during COVID, especially those navigating stress, uncertainty, and the emotional weight of the profession.
- Shenell encourages new nurses to communicate clearly, ask questions, and avoid taking every correction personally.
- Her work centers on mentorship, faith, community, and getting back to the human side of healthcare.
Show notes / what you’ll hear
- Meet Shenell Thompkins. She opens up about the roots, personality, and early experiences that shaped who she is today.
- Hear the moment nursing became personal. Shenell shares a family story that helped point her toward healthcare.
- Learn what pushed her to stay focused. She reflects on a nursing school moment that changed how seriously she approached the journey.
- Follow her path through nursing and education. Shenell talks about the experiences that moved her from bedside care into supporting other nurses.
- Discover what sparked All One Nurse. She shares the season that made her realize nurses needed a different kind of support.
- Explore how faith, care, and community connect. Shenell explains how these pieces show up in the work she’s building.
- Get advice every new nurse should hear. She offers perspective on communication, confidence, and finding your footing early in practice.
- Hear why mentorship matters. Shenell talks about what new nurses often carry quietly — and how support can make the transition feel less lonely.
Resources mentioned
- All One Nurse mentorship / community links — Linktree includes All One Nurse mentorship, community, podcast, and support links.
- Rapid Response RN episode with Shenell — In the episode, Marsha mentions linking Shenell’s interview with Sarah Lorenzini, where Shenell shared more about her ectopic pregnancy experience. The episode is listed as “134: Ruptured Ectopic Pregnancy With Guest Shenell RN.”
- Nurse Converse — Shenell talks about applying to host on Nurse Converse after seeing an opportunity from Nurse.org.
Where to find Shenell online
- The All One Nurse Website
- Find the All One Nurse Podcast in your favorite podcast app
- Shenell’s Offers & Programs are linked here
- You can also find Shenell on her social media pages:
Guest Bio
Shenell Thompkins, MSN, RN, is a faith‑rooted nurse educator and founder of All One Nurse, Blog & Podcast, where she blends spiritual encouragement with practical support for new and aspiring nurses within 18 months of their nursing career.
With a background in nursing education, critical care, and community leadership, she is passionate about helping nurses step into their professional roles and personal growth. Through her podcast, writing, and mentorship, Shenell creates spaces where nurses feel seen, supported, and strengthened — both in their practice and in their purpose.
Timestamps
- 00:00 — Shenell introduces herself as the baby girl of four daughters and an extroverted introvert.
- 00:47 — She shares how her step-grandmother’s pancreatic cancer diagnosis introduced her to healthcare.
- 05:13 — Shenell talks about becoming a mom as a teenager and starting college courses early.
- 07:34 — She reflects on nursing school, almost missing the mark by a decimal point, and deciding to go all in.
- 17:41 — Shenell explains how she moved from wanting oncology to choosing progressive care and later CVICU.
- 23:34 — She connects her rainbow baby, COVID, and the beginning of All One Nurse.
- 31:15 — Marsha and Shenell discuss mentorship, social media, and support for new nurses.
- 45:10 — Shenell answers whether she sees herself as a creator, innovator, or risk-taker.
