Cultivating Growth and Purpose With New Co-Host Nicole Neveau

Show Notes

In this episode of Acute Conversations, we welcome Dr. Nicole Neveau, PT, DPT, NCS — Director of Rehabilitation Services at SSM Health St. Louis University Hospital and our newest co-host.

Nicole shares her path into acute care, from unfolding paper charts as a new grad to leading a team of more than 100 therapists. She reflects on lessons learned in trauma and neuro ICUs, the importance of mentorship, and why she sees therapists as consultants who guide recovery through evidence, collaboration, and patient stories.

Alongside host Dr. Leo Arguelles, Nicole also previews the upcoming 2026 Bridge the Gap Conference in Chicago and what it means for connecting research with practice.

Today’s Guests:

Nicole Neveau, PT, DPT, NCS

📧 ngunder1@gmail.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Nicole Neveau

Guest Quotes:

14:35 “ In acute care, it’s about the story. Of where that patient is right now and about that risk adjustment of what? As a physical therapist, I need to dose intervention to maximize their recovery without increasing their risk of harm at the point where they are the most critically ill.”

28:28 “ We have to be more precise about how we apply our services and, and be a consulting service… it also means that as clinicians we’re making decisions that frontline are making decisions with their caseload every day. Yeah. It’s not a simple, here’s your list of six people that you’re gonna go see. Don’t stop until you see all of ’em. Mm-hmm. It’s much more like, what do your people on this list need to maximize their recovery to help with their discharge planning and how are you going to let your day unfold?”

Rapid Responses:

What snack best represents you?

“Oh, just all the time. I don’t even know that there needs to be one. I am a snacker. I love Chips or cookies or you know what, I, I love coffee, so I drink a lot of coffee, so that might be, I, if I had to pick one snack forever, it would be Coffee with a lot of cream and sugar in it.”

You know you work in acute care when…

“ when you have scratched your patient’s back for the first time and they just start melting and saying, oh my gosh, no one’s done. You know, I’ve been on my back in this bed. So that’s, it’s it. The little things, it build thing. You build a relationship.”

Links:

https://www.aptaacutecare.org/page/bridgethegap

🎧 Connect with Our Hosts

Leo Arguelles (pronounced LEE-O R-GWELL-IS)

📧 largue2@uic.edu

🐦 Twitter: @LeoArguellesPT

Nicole Neveau, PT, DPT, NCS

📧 ngunder1@gmail.com

🔗 LinkedIn: Nicole Neveau

Danny Young, PT, DPT, PhD

📧 daniel.young@unlv.edu

🐦 X: @DLYoungDPTPhD