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Pulse Check with Dr. Kimberly Long
Join nurse and healthcare leader Kimberly C. Long as she sits down with top nursing executives to uncover the defining moments that shaped their careers. In each 10-minute episode, guests share the challenges, breakthroughs, and insights that helped them grow as leaders. From inspiring team culture to improving patient care and navigating complex healthcare systems, Kimberly brings out practical lessons and actionable strategies that nursing leaders can apply every day. Whether you’re a seasoned CNO or an emerging leader, these conversations offer a front-row seat to the wisdom and experiences that drive success in nursing leadership.
Pulse Check with Dr. Kimberly Long
Sharon Howe - Leading Through Crisis: Self-Care, Courage, and the Realities of Modern Nursing
In this episode of Pulse Check with Dr. Kimberly Long, Chief Nursing Officer Sharon Howe shares her powerful journey from ICU bedside nurse to senior nurse leader - and the pivotal moments that shaped who she is today.
Sharon opens up about the unexpected push that launched her leadership career, the profound impact of managing a COVID ICU during the height of the pandemic, and the emotional toll leaders often carry in silence.
She discusses the isolation many new leaders face, the importance of building community, and the practical steps she took to stay grounded while supporting teams through unimaginable challenges.
Sharon also delivers one of the most important reminders for every nurse and nurse leader: taking care of yourself isn’t optional. It’s foundational to caring for others.
If you're in nursing or leadership - or on the path to becoming either—this episode offers wisdom you’ll return to again and again.
00:00 – Introduction
Kimberly Long: To everybody that's listening, this is Sharon Howe. She is the Chief Nursing Officer at Stockton Rehabilitation Center.
Sharon Howe: I appreciate that.
Kimberly Long: I have a few.
Sharon Howe: Thank you so much.
Kimberly Long: Yes, I'm so glad that you decided to take some time to spend with us this morning.
00:09 – Sharon’s Leadership Journey
Kimberly Long: Every leader has a journey that brings them where they are. Can you share yours and what experiences or challenges shaped your path?
Sharon Howe: So I was an ICU nurse at the bedside for about 15 years…
She explains how a physician overheard nurses struggling with infection-prevention guidance and challenged her to step into leadership.
She applied for a role at his organization, earned her MBA, and now begins her doctorate in January.
Her focus: helping bedside nurses understand how they can contribute to patient safety.
01:41 – A Pivotal Moment: COVID
Kimberly Long: As you look back, what was the pivotal moment in your career that truly defined the leader you are becoming?
Sharon Howe: COVID was definitely a turning point…
She moved from Texas to California in early 2020, waited months for her license, and then jumped into managing a COVID ICU.
The emotional weight, staff trauma, and relentless demand reshaped her understanding of leadership.
02:59 – The Isolation of Leadership
Kimberly Long: Leadership can be isolating. What strategies do you use to stay connected, grounded, and supported?
Sharon Howe: We don’t realize how isolating leadership can be until we're in it…
She shares how joining her local ACNL chapter helped her build community, get comfortable being uncomfortable, and find peers who shared the same struggles.
She now teaches rising leaders—especially those transitioning from the bedside—how to navigate that loneliness.
05:09 – Advice for New Nurses & New Leaders
Kimberly Long: What advice would you give to someone starting their nursing career or stepping into leadership?
Sharon Howe: Whether you're a nurse or a nurse leader, the core message is the same: take care of yourself first…
She describes years of long shifts, no breaks, poor self-care, and total devotion to patients—without realizing the personal cost.
In leadership, the exhaustion shifts from physical to emotional and mental.
Her message: fill your cup first. It’s foundational.
06:52 – Closing
Kimberly Long: Sharon, thank you so much for spending time with us today. I know our listeners will gain so much from what you shared.
Sharon Howe: You are more than welcome. Of course, Dr. Long. I'll see you soon, hopefully.
Kimberly Long: Absolutely. Bye bye now.
