We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Christina Shifflett a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Christina, appreciate you joining us today. How’s you first get into your field – what was your first job in this field?

Nursing offers a diverse range of specialties, each with unique opportunities for practice. With over 11 years of experience as a registered nurse, primarily in hospital settings, I took a new path after completing my master’s in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics. I was eager to join the cannabis industry as a nurse, though at that time, cannabis nursing wasn’t yet recognized as a healthcare specialty.

Navigating the cannabis landscape in Oklahoma, where most dispensaries served as the primary access point and many doctors were hesitant to recommend medical marijuana, was challenging. I engaged in discussions with anyone willing to explore how cannabis nurses could fit into the existing model, enhance cannabis education, and promote safe, effective use for those new to this form of medicine.

Although cannabis nursing is still emerging, its recognition as a specialty by the American Nurses Association in 2023 marks a significant milestone. As the field evolves, I anticipate that recruiting for cannabis nurses will resemble other established nursing specialties. In this pioneering phase, I created my role as The Green Nurse Educator, dedicated to providing high-quality education on cannabis as a medicine to the public.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Christina Shifflett, and I am the founder of The Green Nurse Educator LLC. With 11 years of experience as a registered nurse in various settings, I’ve always gravitated toward education—those roles have been the highlight of my career. When Oklahoma’s medical marijuana program launched, and dispensaries began to flourish, I recognized a pressing need for nurses to be trained in cannabis science.

In Oklahoma, obtaining a medical marijuana card is relatively easy due to the state’s laws. However, the providers who issue these recommendations are not required to offer extensive cannabis education. This, combined with a lack of standardized education and readily available research, can put patients at risk. They are left to navigate dosing and selecting the right cultivar on their own, without proper guidance from healthcare professionals.

I created The Green Nurse Educator to address the many questions that arise when trying cannabis as a medicine. I regularly share general cannabis education through my blog and have written a booklet titled Medical Marijuana: Preparing for Oklahoma’s Dispensaries, set to be released this September. Alongside the booklet, I’ve developed a medical marijuana journal to help patients track their experiences with different cannabis products.

In addition to these educational tools, I offer in-person or phone consultations, typically in 30-minute sessions, on any topic related to cannabis as medicine. Most often, I assist with obtaining a medical marijuana card, selecting the right cultivars for specific conditions, and navigating the dispensary experience.

The primary issue I aim to resolve is the general lack of education surrounding cannabis as a medicine. A first visit to a dispensary can be overwhelming, with numerous products and dosages to choose from. Selecting the right cannabis product can be challenging—certain health conditions may rule out specific methods, such as edibles or vaping. As a cannabis nurse, I can help guide you through these decisions. I’m incredibly proud of the book I’ve written and feel blessed to provide cannabis education. I’d love to help answer your questions!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The lesson I had to unlearn was the misconception that cannabis is solely for recreational use and has no medical benefits. In nursing school, we were taught that people who consume cannabis do so only to get high, with no valid medical reasons. Given the federal status of cannabis at the time, it’s understandable why that perspective was taught, but it was eye-opening to discover the wealth of research supporting its medicinal benefits. This bias can create a significant gap in patient care, one that has no place in healthcare. Recognizing the therapeutic potential of cannabis has transformed my approach to nursing and patient education.

Have you ever had to pivot?

The most transformative moment in my life came when I had to pivot unexpectedly after my husband passed away suddenly. We were both in our mid-thirties and hadn’t given much thought to our future. Unfortunately, my late husband didn’t like doctors and ignored the signs his body was giving him, and within a week, he was gone. For those who have experienced this, you understand how losing a spouse changes everything, and for those who haven’t, I hope you never have to go through it. The emotional and physical effort required to keep moving forward after such a loss is overwhelming. I was incredibly fortunate to have a strong family support system that helped me stand on my feet while I was still reeling. Though it took time, and I still have tough days, this challenging period allowed me to find a new direction in life, leading me to cannabis nursing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thegreennurseeducator.com/
• Instagram: the_green_nurse_educator
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenNurseEducator
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-shifflett-1742b017a/

Image Credits

Credit to Christina Shifflett and Bram Wilens