If your college declared your pre-major incorrectly, would you see it as a horrendous mistake or an act of fate? If it’s the latter, you have something in common with Christian Franz, BSN, RN. 

Franz initially planned to have a pre-medical major, but the school was piloting a new academic planning tracking system. He had a similar name to another student who was in the pre-nursing track and the rest is history. 

Learn how that one small mishap changed Franz’s career trajectory to becoming a cardiac nurse, podcaster, model, and health influencer.

“The Filipino Nursing God Chose Me”

Franz realized something might have been entered into the computer system incorrectly when his college started sending him nursing program orientation invitations. Shortly after, a guidance counselor confirmed the error. 

Although Franz’s mother worked as a nurse throughout his New York City upbringing, he never saw himself as one. He thought about becoming a doctor, maybe even a marine biologist. “I’d hear her stories about patients and experiences, but never really thought I’d want to do that.” 

But he didn’t backtrack after the nursing program orientation mix-up. “I always saw nursing as a serendipitous mistake,” Franz recounts. “It's a running joke that my mom is Filipina and we know there's a lot of Filipino nurses. I say ‘I didn't choose nursing, the Filipino nursing god chose me.’”

Franz currently works in ambulatory care, in addition to content creation, modeling, influencing, and podcasting. He felt the pivot away from traditional bedside nursing was welcome after working in New York City COVID ICUs as a new graduate nurse during the height of the pandemic.

The Unique Beauty of Nursing 

Franz thinks one of the best parts about nursing is that there's always something to learn. "This profession has been here for centuries, but there's always something new. Every day, we don't know how much we can handle until something new happens.

The beauty of the profession is how it's so unique and we are so good at adapting to new situations."

However, Franz recognizes this adaptability is a double-edged sword. Because nurses are so adaptable, we sometimes forget when our cup gets too empty, which can lead to burnout, he explains. "And who's the nurse for the nurses?"

Working in ambulatory care, Franz feels like a new grad all over again. His job is spent mostly behind a computer, relaying patient test results, educating them on their plan of care, or triaging their symptoms. He spends a few minutes each day with patients, but this is significantly less than what he was used to on the hospital floor. "Sometimes I'm like, 'Am I a nurse still?' But then you realize when a patient calls in with chest pain, you still can be their saving grace. It's probably not the worst moment of their lives like it was when I worked cardiac surgery recovery, but even for five seconds, I get to contribute to their day."

He hopes that nursing schools in the future will embrace the diversity of the profession and offer a greater variety of clinical experiences. “The discourse is often bedside, bedside, bedside,” he says, “but there are lots of other opportunities out there where you can truly make a difference.”

Making an Impact as a Nurse Influencer

Franz believes he still makes a significant impact, even as a nurse influencer.

Growing up, he had severe clinical acne that required frequent visits to the dermatologist's office. “Beyond the physical toll, there was a psychosocial aspect of this, as well. Especially to my self-confidence,” he recalls. Because of his passion for skincare, Franz has several podcast episodes where he discusses skincare practices and tips with cosmetic nurses and dermatology providers. 

After one podcast episode, a 17-year-old boy messaged him and said he also struggled with severe acne, but hid his skincare products from his parents, because he was afraid they would see his skincare regimen as “too feminine.” The boy said that the podcast taught him that skin care is part of overall health and wellness and that there’s no need to feel shy about having a skincare routine, no matter your gender identity. 

Friends of Franz Podcast

Franz’s podcast started as an Instagram Live Stream series during the pandemic. “My eyes were open to how much misinformation was being disseminated across every platform. Not just about COVID, but in every domain of science and healthcare. He decided to invite experts in their field to talk about their professional journeys and common misinformation in their fields. 

He also wanted to highlight minorities and certain demographics audiences might not see as often. He even decided to forgo earning revenue in the podcast’s third season so he could partner with Asian-owned small businesses and give back to his community.

Even though he was a newer nurse, he felt confident with podcasting because he was able to lean into the expertise of his guests, who often had years or decades of experience.

Franz loves having fun on social media, but then digging into the hard science, evidence-based practice, and clinical trials on his podcast episodes. 

Final Thoughts

Despite the many twists and turns of Franz’s path, he has a rewarding and diverse career today where he can make a difference for his patients and with the general public.

Franz’s parting words to you? “Subscribe to The Nursing Beat! I get the newsletter the moment I step on the subway every morning. I love it.” 

Don’t forget to also follow Christian Franz on Youtube, TikTok, and Instagram, and don’t miss out on season four of the Friends of Franz podcast, coming soon!