Anita Vita, RN of South Bay, Los Angeles on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Anita Vita, RN. Check out our conversation below.

Anita , really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: When was the last time you felt true joy?
Recently I traveled to, London.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Anita Vita — a Registered Nurse and Qigong Meditation Coach devoted to helping nurses rise from burnout and return home to themselves. After more than 15 years in nursing, I hit a wall — the kind of exhaustion that no amount of rest could fix. I loved caring for others, but I had lost connection to my own energy, joy, and purpose. That experience became the beginning of my healing journey — one that led me to discover the importance of Self-care, energy medicine, and the ancient practice of Qigong. Through those practices, I began to rebuild — not just my strength, but my spirit. Now, through my brand Nurses Rise, I guide other nurses through that same transformation. My work blends the science of nursing with the soul of holistic wellness — creating spaces where women can breathe again, reconnect to who they are, and remember why they began this work in the first place. I also host The Rise with Anita Vita Show, a podcast where I have real, soulful conversations about women rising and overcoming struggle in their personal and professional life. It’s truly my love letter to all nurses— and to every woman who’s ever given her all and forgotten herself in the process. Right now, I’m especially excited about my Qigong Meditation for Nurses course — a heart-led program designed to bring calm, clarity, and vitality back into the lives of busy nurses everywhere. As a continuing education provider, these programs also support state licensure requirements for registered nurses. At the core of everything I do is one simple belief: when nurses heal, the whole world heals.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed I had to achieve, accomplish, and prove myself to be enough. I thought that my worth was measured by gold stars, perfect grades, or how much I could do for others. Over time — especially through my own healing journey — I’ve learned that none of that defines me. I am enough simply because I exist. My value isn’t tied to productivity, perfection, or performance. It’s found in knowing yourself— in the harmony of allowing yourself to soften. That realization has been one of the greatest gifts of my adult life, and it’s what I now teach other women and nurses: you don’t have to earn your enoughness. You already are.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be this: You are enough and you are exactly where you need to be. All the striving, the searching, the self-doubt — it was never about becoming someone different. It was always about remembering who you already are and believing in yourself. Every moment, even the hard ones, was leading you toward your path. I would tell her to breathe, to trust the unfolding, and to know that everything she’s walking through will one day become part of her medicine — the very wisdom she’ll use to help others heal.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies my industry tells itself is that to care deeply, we must also sacrifice ourselves.
Nurses are taught — implicitly and explicitly — that our value is measured by how much we can give, how long we can endure, and how well we can keep going even when we’re exhausted. There’s this unspoken belief that martyrdom is part of the profession, and that burnout is simply “the way it is.” We’re encouraged to put everyone else first and to wear our exhaustion like a badge of honor. The culture of overwork and constant hustle has become normalized — and somewhere along the way, balance stopped being part of the conversation. What’s missing is the understanding that we cannot pour from an empty cup. We’re not taught how to tend to our own well-being — physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually — in the same way we’re taught to care for our patients. Instead, we’re often offered quick fixes or pharmaceuticals as the first response, rather than being guided to reconnect with our bodies, our breath, and our own inner wisdom. The truth is this: healing is not just for our patients — it is meant for us, too. And begins with us.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
What I understand deeply — and what I wish more people knew — is that meditation is the pathway to freedom. Not the kind of freedom that comes from escaping life, but the kind that helps you return home to yourself. Meditation softens the noise, quiets the chaos, and creates space for clarity, healing, and truth. For me, and for so many of the nurses I work with, meditation isn’t just a wellness practice — it’s a lifeline. It’s how we reclaim our energy, our peace, and our power. We remain centered and ourselves in this space.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nacionvita.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anitavitarise
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anita-vita-rn-ba2b497/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nursesrise
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdKGV-o3b6CIEYt0q-FAJLA
• Other: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nursesrise

Image Credits
Jun Tagai Photography, Liz Morris Photography, Living Grizzle Photos.