Nurse Blake is a one-of-a-kind entertainer who uses his experience as a nurse for a fun filled comedy event that celebrates the hard work of healthcare providers. Blake tells candid and raw stories from his time in nursing school and from his shifts at the bedside. His upbeat attitude and hilarious spins on the obstacles nurses face day-to-day offer a fun and interactive experience for audience members. Blake’s comedy stands apart by using humor to advocate for nurses. By using masterful storytelling to captivate audiences, he provides an unforgettable night of laughs and inspiration. He is the ultimate solo performer using visuals, crowd participation and live sketches that have audiences engaged and laughing from start to finish.
With Nurse Blake’s Straz Center show quickly approaching, Caught in the Act asked him a few questions – some profound and some silly – to better get to know this intriguing personality.
Caught in the Act: What was the hardest part of this coronavirus experience for you?
Nurse Blake: Seeing nurses all over the world having to care for patients with limited supplies and resources.
CITA: How did you fill your time, both with work and otherwise?
NB: Sleeping! I love to sleep and nap.
CITA: How did you get started in health care?
NB: My dad, Wray, has been a respiratory therapist for 30 years on the night shift. So I would always see him going to/from work with his scrubs and stethoscope.
CITA: What is your worst quality?
NB: All I talk about is nursing, like seriously.
CITA: What music is on your playlist?
NB: Doja Cat, Machine Gun Kelly and Dua Lipa
CITA: What’s your sign and what does it say about you?
NB: I’m a Taurus, so I’m very stubborn.
CITA: Read any good books lately?
NB: I wish! Netflix and HBO Max keep me busy when I’m not working or sleeping.
CITA: What’s always in your refrigerator?
NB: High Brew Cold Brew Coffee for in the morning and Redd’s Apple Ale for the evening.
CITA: What’s the greatest thing since sliced bread?
NB: TikTok! I love that app!
CITA: What’s your “guilty pleasure” television show?
NB: Survivor and The Amazing Race, I’m ADDICTED to both! Oh, and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
CITA: In the movie version of your life, who would play you?
NB: Sarah Paulson … because she is incredible!!!
CITA: Who or what inspires you?
NB: A fellow nursing content creator, Ebi Porbeni. He created NurseLifeRN which was one of the first and largest nursing meme pages on Instagram. Along with his funny nursing memes, he’s also a huge advocate for nurses and has inspired me greatly. He recently passed away from leukemia but his legacy lives on!
CITA: What do you consider your greatest successes – personally and professionally?
NB: My greatest success would be when I created the Banned4Life project back in 2013 that ended the FDA’s permanent ban on gay males from donating blood.
CITA: If you hadn’t chosen a career as a nurse, what other career path do you think you’d have followed?
NB: OMG, such a difficult question to answer! Probably a meteorologist because that’s what I wanted to be for like one week back in middle school.
