Summer House's Ciara Miller Reflects on Nursing Career

The reality star opens up about the emotional toll of bedside nursing and her decision to step back from the profession.

Feb. 26, 2026 at 11:55am

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Ciara Miller, a cast member on the Bravo reality show Summer House, has opened up about her nursing background and the experiences that led her to take a step back from the profession. Miller, who worked in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for nearly a decade, discussed the burnout she faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and the emotional toll of witnessing a "gruesome death" during her orientation at a hospital in Atlanta. While she still loves nursing education, Miller felt she needed to distance herself from bedside care, acknowledging the difficulty in completely detaching from a career that she found so fulfilling.

Why it matters

Miller's story sheds light on the challenges and emotional strain that many nurses have faced, especially during the pandemic. Her decision to step back from bedside nursing highlights the importance of mental health and work-life balance in a high-stress profession. As a public figure, Miller's openness about her experiences can help destigmatize discussions around burnout and the need for self-care in the healthcare industry.

The details

Ciara Miller, a 30-year-old nurse and reality TV star, opened up about her nursing career on the podcast "The Squeeze" hosted by Taylor Lautner and his wife Tay. Miller, who started in the ICU despite her teachers' doubts, said she was drawn to the fast-paced environment and wanted to make a difference. However, by the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was "so burnt out" even though she was travel nursing. Miller decided to take a break from nursing to film her first season of Summer House in 2020, returning to the profession when she finished wrapping up season 5. But shortly after, she took two years off. When she went back to her home hospital in Atlanta in 2024, she was shocked by the emotional toll, particularly after witnessing a "gruesome death" during her orientation. This experience made her feel "done with bedside" care, though she still loves nursing education and wants to find a purpose outside of direct patient care.

  • Miller has been a nurse for nearly 10 years, starting in the ICU.
  • In 2020, Miller took a break from nursing to film her first season of Summer House.
  • Miller returned to nursing when she finished wrapping up season 5 of Summer House, but shortly after took two years off.
  • At the top of 2024, Miller went back to her home hospital in Atlanta.
  • During her orientation in Atlanta in 2024, Miller witnessed a "gruesome death" that made her feel "done with bedside" care.

The players

Ciara Miller

A 30-year-old nurse and cast member on the Bravo reality show Summer House, who has worked in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for nearly a decade.

Tay Lautner

The host of the podcast "The Squeeze" where Ciara Miller opened up about her nursing career.

Taylor Lautner

The host of the podcast "The Squeeze" where Ciara Miller opened up about her nursing career, and the husband of Tay Lautner.

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What they’re saying

“Even though I was travel nursing, like, I worked at this one hospital in New York and we were brought in as relief nurses because the staff nurses hadn't had a break. It was an awful scenario but also, to an extent, we're conditioned to deal with death. COVID took it up like, 10 notches.”

— Ciara Miller, Nurse and Reality TV Star

“Stepping back into the unit after being away, I was like, 'This is not what I remember.' Seeing people die … wow, so emotionally taxing.”

— Ciara Miller, Nurse and Reality TV Star

“I was like, 'This is so nuts.' And now I'm gonna go fly back to New York and go film this show as if nothing happened.”

— Ciara Miller, Nurse and Reality TV Star

What’s next

Miller plans to continue exploring opportunities within the nursing field that allow her to utilize her expertise and passion for the profession, while maintaining a healthier work-life balance.

The takeaway

Ciara Miller's story highlights the immense emotional toll that bedside nursing can take, especially during times of crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. Her decision to step back from direct patient care, while still remaining connected to the nursing field, underscores the importance of prioritizing mental health and work-life balance in high-stress professions.