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Nurse, creator, advocate, and viral comic sensation Nurse Blake has been hailed as “a genuine phenomenon” and “an outspoken crusader” by The New York Times.
Blake aspired to work in nursing since he was a kid and started working as a patient transporter at 17. Nurse Blake graduated with a BSN in 2014 from UCF in Orlando, Florida. Following nursing school, Nurse Blake worked in level 1 trauma centers nationwide in various nursing roles. However, while in nursing school, Nurse Blake began creating Facebook videos to de-stress and share his nursing experience in a comedic way.
His videos went viral and connected nurses and nursing students worldwide. He now takes his comedy to stages around the world bringing nurses together through his humor and inspiration.
In addition, Nurse Blake is a gay advocate. In 2013, he started Banned4Life to end the permanent FDA gay blood ban, which ultimately contributed to the lifetime ban being lifted in 2015. He is currently on his 100-city Shock Advised Comedy Tour through December.
He also just released a new children’s book for the holidays, Santa Sent to the ER, which is the follow-up to his Amazon best-seller, I Want to Be a Nurse When I Grow Up. He also hosts an annual nursing conference that unites 3,000 nurses from around the world, NurseCon at Sea, which features performers from RuPaul’s Drag Race and will be sailing to Mexico in 2024.
We had a chance to chat with Nurse Blake about his passion for healing – through medicine and laughter – and lots more in our exclusive interview.
Did you always want to be a nurse?
Yes, I’d say so. Both of my parents work in healthcare – one is a respiratory therapist and the other is a medical device sales rep. – so, being a gay man from Orlando, becoming a nurse is just destiny!
What drew you into the nursing profession?
Growing up, I was always helping others, so it was a natural pull of gravity that led me to nursing. And after being forced into gay conversion therapy from ages 15-18, I definitely knew I wanted to be a nurse so that I could help others, especially those who are underserved.
How did you start doing comedy?
One night driving home after a long shift in the ICU at work, I had my very first panic attack. I was freaking out and didn’t realize that the stress of nursing was causing burnout. It was negatively impacting my mental health in such a severe way. I needed an outlet to connect with others and share my stories; so, I started creating short comedy videos on Facebook back in 2017 and it just grew from there. Initially it started with videos, but I quickly realized that nurses also wanted to engage with each other in person. So, I started doing small comedy shows back in 2019 and that quickly grew into doing over 104 comedy shows this year alone.
How did you find the time to work while writing comedy material?
Oh my gosh, as nurses, we have the most ridiculous stories just from working a 12-hour shift. I have stories for months…years… decades to come. Whenever I’ve encountered something funny or worth talking about, I would write notes into my iPhone to keep track. I refer to those notes often when I’m creating new content or writing new jokes.
What is your writing process like?
The first question I ask myself when I’m writing a new comedy show is: “How do I want my audience to feel?” The Shock Advised Tour, which I’m currently doing through the end of December, is my third official tour with all new content. My first tour, I wanted people to feel like they knew me. My second tour, I wanted nurses to feel empowered. And this current comedy tour, I wanted nurses to feel SHOCKED! Shocked from the stories I told and jokes I delivered. After determining the feel and vibe, I begin laying out the stories. All my shows have a natural flow, so I figure out how I want to begin and end my show, then I outline my stories and start connecting the dots.
Do you feel like your act is relatable for people who aren’t in the medical field?
Yes! Even though someone might not be in healthcare, they either know someone in healthcare (probably an ex) or have been a patient. I love when there is a non-healthcare person in the front row because then I can use them as an example to break down everything.
What can people expect when they come see you live?
They should expect an hour and 45 minutes of non-stop laughter surrounded by feral nurses, gays, and straight men who were dragged out by their nurse wives. My comedy is a mix of storytelling and stand up, with lots of audio and visual elements to keep audience members engaged.
What’s harder…being a nurse or dealing with the pressure of a live audience?
Being a nurse is definitely way harder! Ha! I’d rather have 2,000 nurses boo me, than Mrs. Smith asking me for ice chips when I’m in the next room performing CPR.
Have you ever bombed on stage? If so, how did you deal with it and bounce back?
Hell no! As a nurse, I’ve learned how to minimize errors and always be prepared so that nobody dies…so in comedy, my risks are a lot less harmful.
What’s your best piece of advice for people aspiring to get into comedy?
Do it! There is plenty of room for you in this industry. Comedy has evolved over the past few years with the rise of social media. Even people with niches like healthcare can get a big break and reach millions of others without having to release a comedy special to get noticed or seen.
I know you give back to nurses in many ways (besides making them laugh). Can you tell me a little more about that?
Nurses all over the world struggle with short staffing which leads to burnout, nurses leaving the profession, and patients being put at risk. Whenever I get the chance to talk about a topic I care most about, it’s about helping to fix the staffing crisis. We’re seeing nurses strike in historic numbers, and I try to shine a light on this issue, while also putting pressure on hospitals to do better. If I can attend a strike, I try my best to go and support those nurses. I also love sharing stories of nurses doing incredible things through the Nurse Blake magazine, which is a free magazine distributed internationally every quarter. This magazine celebrates nurses, shares our stories, and even brings the laughs!
Tell us about Nurse Con at Sea! What is the purpose and what can people expect from your next event?
NurseCon at Sea is like the Atlantis of gay cruises, but for nurses, plus quality education. It’s a multi-day event where we take over the whole ship with approx. 3,500 nurses and set sail on the Ultimate Nursing Conference. We bring over 25 nursing educators, drag queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race, activities teams, dancers, and custom entertainment, on top of what the cruise lines already offer. Nurses from all over the world attend from different specialties, backgrounds, and ages. It’s definitely the project I’m most proud of.
Nurse Blake Answers the Socialite Seven
Who inspires you?
RuPaul
What are three things you can’t live without?
A book, Chap Stick, and laughter
What’s your biggest pet peeve?
People who chew with their mouth open. So gross!
If you could wake up tomorrow with a talent you don’t already possess or a superpower, what would you want?
I’d love to be able to play the guitar! It’s just so hot and sexy.
If they made a movie of your life, who would you want to play you?
Joan Rivers! Come back, queen, I miss you so much!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
My grandmother, aka my nan, always says, “what’s meant to be, is meant to be.” I used to get so caught up on the past or the future that I was never really present. So, this mantra has definitely helped keep me center and in the moment.
What are you most grateful for?
My family! I couldn’t do what I do without the support of my younger brother Grant, and my biggest fan – my grandma (aka nan). And of course, my lesbian cousin, Mandi, who helps manage all my projects.
Get tickets for Nurse Blake’s Shock Advised tour, books, merch and more on his website. You can also check him out on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Facebook.
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