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SLP Full Disclosure

SLP Full Disclosure

By: AMN Healthcare
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Welcome to the SLP Full Disclosure Podcast, the show for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) seeking to enrich their skills and build connections within the supportive speech therapy community. With our inclusive platform that fosters exploration and growth, we delve into a variety of topics, from practical therapy techniques and technologies to early-intervention, travel therapy, teletherapy, clinical fellowship, and more. Join us as we navigate the diverse field of speech-language pathology, embracing full disclosure each episode.2024 AMN Healthcare Alternative & Complementary Medicine Career Success Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living
Episodes
  • What Really Happens Behind the Scenes at AMN Schools with Patrick O'Connor

    What Really Happens Behind the Scenes at AMN Schools with Patrick O'Connor
    Jul 21 2026

    Ever wonder how your dream school assignment actually comes together? What does it take for a staffing agency to land a contract with a school district, and what does that mean for your career?

    In this episode of SLP Full Disclosure, host Michelle sits down with Patrick O'Connor, President of AMN's Schools Division, for an inside look at the school staffing world. With more than 15 years of experience at AMN, Pat pulls back the curtain on the RFP process, the technology transforming teletherapy, and why choosing the right agency makes all the difference for your career.

    Key Topics Discussed:

    • The Evolution of Travel: How the staffing industry shifted from transactional to consultative over the past decade.
    • Behind the RFP: What it really takes for AMN to secure school district contracts.
    • Technology and Access: How teletherapy and AI bring services to students in underserved areas.
    • Choosing Your Agency: Why researching benefits, values, and reputation matters more than the highest pay.

    Chapters:

    • 00:00 - Introduction and meeting Pat
    • 02:15 - From nursing to allied health: AMN's growth story
    • 04:02 - How the travel industry has changed in the last 10 years
    • 06:35 - Why staffing shortages happen
    • 07:32 - The future of travel and teletherapy technology
    • 11:36 - Inside the RFP and school contract process
    • 18:23 - Balancing vendors and job openings
    • 24:38 - Expanding into teachers and international staffing
    • 28:09 - Why researching your agency matters

    Guest Spotlight

    Meet Patrick O'Connor, President of AMN Healthcare's K-12 Schools Division. Since joining AMN in 2011, Pat has led sales, recruitment, and operational teams while championing student-centered care and school safety. His deep industry knowledge offers SLPs and new grads a rare look at how the right partner can shape a fulfilling career.

    Browse School Therapy Jobs & Careers

    Learn more about the show: SLP Full Disclosure Podcast


    Level up your career today! Connect with a recruiter!

    Support for every step. Learn more about AMN Healthcare's EAP Program.

    Share the opportunity and refer a friend today!

    Episode Sponsor:

    We're proudly sponsored by AMN Healthcare, the leader in healthcare staffing and workforce solutions. Explore their services at AMN Healthcare.

    Discover job opportunities and manage your assignments with ease using AMN Passport. Download the AMN Passport App today!


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    32 mins
  • Feeding Therapy and Life in the NICU with Kailey Harmon

    Feeding Therapy and Life in the NICU with Kailey Harmon
    Jun 23 2026
    Kailey Harmon has spent nearly a decade working in acute care and the NICU, building expertise in neonatal feeding, myofunctional therapy, and outpatient feeding intervention. In this conversation, she and Michelle explore the realities of NICU speech pathology, from earning the trust of nursing staff to navigating the emotional weight of supporting families through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. They also tackle the gap in care that exists when babies leave the hospital, the role of sensory regulation in feeding therapy, and practical advice for graduate students who want to break into the medical setting. Key Takeaways The NICU Is Not for Everyone, and That's Okay: Working with medically fragile infants requires the ability to stay calm when a baby turns gray or purple during a feed. Knowing your limits is just as important as knowing your strengths.Trust Is Earned, Not Given: Kailey had to prove her value to the nursing team over time. Listening to the nurses who spend the most time with these babies is essential to effective, collaborative care.Certifications That Matter: While no single certification is universally required, Kailey recommends training through the Neonatal Therapy Association (NAT), SOS Feeding (Sequential Oral Stimulation), and myofunctional therapy as foundational knowledge for anyone working in this space.The Gap After Discharge Is Real: Many families leave the NICU without an outpatient speech therapy referral, and when developmental regressions occur, often around three to eight months, they are left without support. Kailey advocates for routine outpatient referrals for all premature infants.Sensory Regulation Before Expectation: For children with food aversions or limited food repertoires, regulation must come before intervention. Occupational therapists are invaluable partners in building the sensory protocols that make feeding therapy possible.Not Every Picky Eater Needs Therapy: Some children, particularly neurodiverse individuals, may always have a limited food repertoire. The real red flag is when preferred foods start disappearing and nutritional variety drops to a critical low.Graduate Students: Get in the Door Early: Hospital settings rarely allow shadowing after graduation. Students should pursue medical placements while still in school and take full advantage of every opportunity to observe. Chapters 00:00:00 – Introduction: Michelle welcomes Kailey Harmon, NICU SLP and fellow Southerner00:01:15 – Kailey's background: nearly ten years with the same hospital system, part-time and PRN work, and a focus on feeding00:02:54 – How Kailey became an SLP: a family of educators, a shadowing experience, and a calling toward the medical side00:05:56 – The dual role of NICU SLPs: supporting babies and the families around them00:07:16 – The hardest parts of the job: earning trust, having hard conversations, and knowing when feeding has to wait00:09:47 – Certifications and training: NAT, SOS Feeding, and myofunctional therapy00:11:35 – What happens after discharge: the gap in care and the case for outpatient referrals00:15:19 – Rural access challenges and the ongoing fight to bridge the gap00:16:11 – Food aversions and limited food repertoires: when to intervene and when to step back00:17:28 – Sensory regulation and the critical role of occupational therapists00:19:14 – Play therapy, behavioral approaches, and knowing when a child's food preferences are actually typical00:22:05 – Being an SLP mom: navigating milestones, diagnoses, and a third baby born with bilateral clubbed feet00:26:08 – Why Kailey started posting on social media and what she hopes to accomplish00:27:41 – The number one question in her inbox: how to get into the NICU00:29:33 – Advice for graduate students: shadow early, pursue medical placements, and be honest with yourself about the environment00:30:38 – Closing thoughts and an invitation for Kailey to return for a deeper dive Browse School Therapy Jobs & CareersLearn more about the show: SLP Full Disclosure PodcastLevel up your career today! Connect with a recruiter!Support for every step. Learn more about AMN Healthcare's EAP Program. Share the opportunity and refer a friend today! Episode Sponsor:We're proudly sponsored by AMN Healthcare, the leader in healthcare staffing and workforce solutions. Explore their services at AMN Healthcare. Discover job opportunities and manage your assignments with ease using AMN Passport. Download the AMN Passport App today! WebsiteTikTokInstagramYouTubeApple PodcastsSpotifyPowered by AMN Healthcare Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    32 mins
  • Experience as a Travel SLP and Clinical Fellow with Claudia Berger

    Experience as a Travel SLP and Clinical Fellow with Claudia Berger
    Jun 9 2026
    Claudia and Michelle first connected at ASHA in Washington, D.C., where Claudia, a Travel SLP fielded a steady stream of questions from curious graduate students. This episode captures all of that and more. Claudia walks listeners through how she discovered AMN Healthcare, what her first recruiter call felt like, her clinical fellowship year, how she chose Vermont as her first destination, and how AMN's support system helped her thrive during her clinical fellowship year (CFY). She also gets candid about the logistics of travel life: housing, storage, road trips across the country, and what to do with your summers between contracts. Key Takeaways You Don't Need to Be Hired to Use the AMN Passport App: Anyone can download the app, search available positions, filter by location and contract length, and explore pay rates before ever speaking to a recruiter.Your Recruiter is a Great Resource: Claudia's recruiter, Paige, walked her through licensing requirements, health insurance options, and contract details from day one—and became a genuine professional ally.State Licensing Complexity Matters: Not all states are equally straightforward to get licensed in. Claudia originally wanted Maine, but her recruiter flagged the complicated licensing process and suggested Vermont instead for her first assignment.AMN Handles CFY Supervisor Placement: New grads don't have to scramble to find a qualified supervisor. AMN vets and places supervisors for clinical fellows, providing structure and mentorship from the start.Furnished Finders Makes Housing Easy: This app, built for travel healthcare workers, connects travelers with fully furnished short-term rentals—no need to haul furniture across the country.Traveling Builds Your Resume and Skill Set: Variety is one of travel therapy's biggest professional benefits. Each contract can expose you to different populations, settings, and clinical approaches. Timestamps 00:00:00 – Introduction: Michelle welcomes Claudia Berger and sets the stage for the conversation00:01:25 – Why Claudia became an SLP: her mom's influence and a love for special education populations00:02:19 – How Claudia discovered AMN Healthcare through social media and a Google search00:03:14 – What the AMN Passport app is, how it works, and who can use it00:04:22 – What Claudia was looking for in a travel company as a new grad00:05:06 – The clinical fellowship year: traveling as a brand-new SLP00:05:46 – That first recruiter call with Paige: what it felt like and what she learned00:06:46 – Questions new grads should ask their recruiter before signing a contract00:07:53 – Why Claudia chose Vermont and how travelers pick their destinations00:08:43 – Contract history: two years in Vermont, next stop Washington State00:09:20 – Why Claudia extended her Vermont contract for a second year00:10:03 – The logistics of travel life: storage units, furnished apartments, and road trips00:12:12 – The social side of traveling: making friends, building community, and settling in00:13:10 – Claudia's favorite thing about being a travel SLP00:14:06 – Alaska, adventure, and how far travelers are willing to go00:14:39 – AMN's Clinical Fellowship mentor program: how supervisor placement works and why it matters00:16:09 – Summer contracts and extended school year: options for travelers between school years00:17:45 – Advice for graduate students considering travel therapy00:18:49 – Why Claudia recommends AMN Healthcare to other SLPs00:19:36 – Closing thoughts, TikTok shoutout, and how to connect with Claudia Browse School Therapy Jobs & CareersLearn more about the show: SLP Full Disclosure PodcastLevel up your career today! Connect with a recruiter!Support for every step. Learn more about AMN Healthcare's EAP Program. Share the opportunity and refer a friend today! Episode Sponsor:We're proudly sponsored by AMN Healthcare, the leader in healthcare staffing and workforce solutions. Explore their services at AMN Healthcare. Discover job opportunities and manage your assignments with ease using AMN Passport. Download the AMN Passport App today! WebsiteTikTokInstagramYouTubeApple PodcastsSpotifyPowered by AMN Healthcare Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    21 mins
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