I hit seven years of sobriety on February 10, 2025. When I got sober, one of the first things I…
Browsing: YOU’VE BEEN SELECTED
YOU’VE BEEN SELECTED: Kate Vitela has been an RN in the Pacific Northwest for over two decades. She has been sober since 2018. You’ve Been Selected is a column that describes her journey through sobriety coaching, addiction, eating disorders, and what is now known as Drunkorexia. The title comes from years of mandatory drug testing Kate endured after nearly ruining her nursing career due to alcohol. Kate recalls seeing these words appear on her phone each day she was chosen to randomly drug test to prove her sobriety to the nursing board.
Kate chronicles her struggle with body image, perfectionism, stigma, shame, and burnout throughout her career. She also turns this twisted narrative into triumph as she internalizes it as a sign from the universe to speak up and tell her story. Kate continues to work as a leader in the mental health nursing field and is studying to become a board-certified nurse coach.
Follow along with Kate on IG @katevitela or email her directly at vitela.kate@gmail.com
I’ll never forget the first time I met Sarah Morgando. We were two nurses, walking parallel paths. Both starting our…
In Episode 9 of You’ve Been Selected, I sit down with Alysse Bryson, founder of The Sober Curator, a BuzzFeed-style…
I read “Soberful” by Veronica Valli on a flight to NYC once, and I underlined page after page like I…
“Why do I still feel like crap even though I quit drinking?” If you’ve ever asked yourself that question in…
“Recovery isn’t about fitting into someone else’s mold — it’s about finding what sets you free.” In Episode 6 of…
“Recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s a messy, beautiful, deeply personal journey.” When I first got sober, I needed structure. I needed…
Finding Strength When Life Falls Apart I had no intention of naming this podcast episode Resilience: Embracing the Suck, but…
Episode 2 of You’ve Been Selected is deeply personal for obvious reasons. The phrase “You’ve Been Selected” is burned into…
When I launched You’ve Been Selected, I knew I was putting my story out there. I hoped people would listen—but,…
Jessica and I first bonded over missing teeth—a not-so-glamorous side effect of blackout drinking. When I met her in 2021,…
The Quiet Struggle I often write about my messy bottom as a nurse—those long, dark nights that ended with me…
As a sobriety coach, I often receive questions from my clients regarding the challenges of living an alcohol-free life. In…
I could talk for hours about this, I thought to myself. I am surprised more people in recovery or seeking…
In this special episode of Leaving CrazyTown, hosts Finn and Dr. Sarah are joined by Kate Vitela, a recovery coach…
Missing The Point Scrolling through Instagram recently I saw a notification for another new and improved sobriety coaching membership. I…
In this episode of the “Eternally Amy” podcast, Amy Liz Harrison and Kate Vitela delve into the often-overlooked connection between…
When I re-entered the workplace as a nurse after getting in trouble with the state board of nursing, I was…
When the Tables Turn I’ve worked in a variety of settings in healthcare during my twenty-two years as an RN:…
I never thought this would happen. The milk sloshed in the Yeti mug in the cup holder in my car.…