How 30+ Years in the Trenches Taught Me More Than Any Textbook Could

By Saint Dirty Face (aka Robert, RN)

You’ve got questions—about health, about the system, about survival when life starts coughing blood (literally or metaphorically).

And I’ve got answers. Not the kind you get from a script. The kind you earn after 30+ years deep in the guts of the beast.

I’m not here to dazzle you with degrees or hospital buzzwords. I’ve run acute care units, supervised emergency public health programs on the Texas-Mexico border, and spent years making sure treatment didn’t stop at the Rio Grande. I’ve held the hands of the dying, led teams through system overhauls, and been handed awards I never asked for. Why?

Because I showed up when it counted—and I still do.

💬 So what’s this blog series about?

It’s a space for real talk. No fluff. No fear. Just raw, honest insight from someone who’s been in the rooms most people avoid.

You want to know…

What it’s really like to manage cross-border disease outbreaks? How to talk to a nurse when you feel unheard in a clinic? What your doctor didn’t explain about your diagnosis—but should’ve? What to do when your body’s falling apart and Google’s feeding your panic?

Ask me. I’ve seen it. I’ve handled it.

Hell, I’ve probably trained someone who’s handling it right now.

🩻 Who is this for?

Anyone who’s ever:

Sat in a waiting room and thought, “What the hell is going on back there?” Wanted a second opinion but didn’t know how to ask. Been scared, overwhelmed, or straight-up pissed at how healthcare works (or doesn’t).

This blog is for the patients, the burned-out nurses, the worried parents, the silent fighters.

And if you’re just curious about how healthcare actually functions behind the curtain—or you’re training to be part of the system—stick around.

I’ve got stories you won’t find in your textbooks.

⚡ Coming Soon:

🎥 Q&A video reels 📖 Real case reflections (names changed, lessons real) 🧠 Tips from the field: what works, what fails, and what we do when the protocol hits the fan

Got a question?

Want to stay anonymous?

No problem. Just drop it in the inbox.

No judgment. No sugarcoating. Just the truth.

You don’t have to face the system alone.

Not while I’m still breathing.

Stay dirty. Stay dangerous. Stay human.

— Saint Dirty Face

Public Health RN | Survivor | Bullshit Filter | Borderline Prophet