Growing Thick Skin in the ICU as a new graduate nurse 

Growing thick skin aka learning to tolerate abuse in the ICU.

I’m a former resident and I have been physically and mentally broken. I believe resiliency and “thick skin” are overrated and unreal. I am really wanting the nursing community and the medial community overall to wake up and stand up to the reality.

I am a new grad who accepted the ICU position about 7 weeks in.. I had 2 preceptors who passed me and the third preceptor felt like I was not meeting "her expectations". Mind you as a new grad only thing I cared about was patient's safety... I had a sit down with the preceptor and educator.. and they said that I too was "behind" my colleages.. and they had a criteria of pushing out new ICU nurses in a few months.. I was kicked out of the residency program and offered a position elsewhere in the hospital. All I can say is be careful of what you share with your preceptor... yes its important to build a trusting relationship.. but at the end of the day.. they are the ones talking about you.. until this day I still dont know how I was "behind" in progress compared to my colleages.. Nursing is no longer just a are you competent to provide safe care... its also who clicks with who and if you are socially accepted within other nurses. I personally have a introvert personality but I was always respectful and asked questions about patient safety when needed... but my educator claims that I kept asking the same questions.. and that there was no progress in being assertive to try new things..mind you I am still learning everyday going to work.. I guess a nurse residency program is not much different from nursing school.. you can be mediocre in knowledge as long as you fit in with the group that will socially accept you.

Its beyond sad how nurses treat each other. They quickly forget what it feels like to be new nurse. They once upon a time were in same position but choose to be toxic, demeaning and intense. Human resources and senior nurse management really needs to get involved if the want to keep good staff.

A new Grad on a ward is like a 17yo being taught to drive by Dad. Dad can drive (?) but can he competently instruct another? Im 2 days in & if I hear 'time management' again I'll cry in front of everyone. It's a fucking shitshow.

These two nurses are giving great life advice for any career.

This video was verbatim what I was feeling as a new grad nurse in IMU. I didn’t have the vocabulary to articulate it. I have watched so many nursing “sucks” videos, but this was the first that spoke to real issue and strategies to overcome. Because you can’t just quit, because I’m learning you can’t skip over the learning process and being new. You’ve got to learn how to walk through it. Thanks again, i just subscribed and will be joining everything you have to offer to get me through this period ❤

Senior nursing student here planning on going into the ICU. Wow. SUCH a powerful video that called out all the bad habits I'm currently working on replacing with good ones. I really appreciated the solutions you both offered to the negative thought patterns. Definitely a video I will watch a million times again!

This is so darn sad! 3rd night alone and I cried way too much and just want to quit! I should be caring for people while constantly feeling depressed. The ironing of nursing.

You reported your mistake...makes you a good nurse!

After working as a tech for the past 4 years and having ICU experience, I I'm going to work in the ICU as a new grad in just a few days. I'm really excited because that's where I've always wanted to be but a little nervous at the same time

I started in a level-1 critical-care float pool (5 units) in 2021 as a new grad. I was a truck driver before a nurse lol. I was beat down pretty good. I had enough life experience, but I did not have the emotional and social skills to manage much of that intensity in that short of a time. I think I was literally the first nurse to accept that position with no experience. And it was nights of course. I ended up leaving and doing step-down per diem where I made $4000/wk with less than a year experience and later moved on to an ED, but I want to be a CRNA so I went back. After a few years in the ED I conquered the ICU. I would regularly receive ICU patients in a 6-patient ED assignment. The 5 others were psych, dementia, detox, stemi...

You have no idea just how beneficial you both are in steeling up future nurses! Thank you so much...this is like medicine to my soul...we all needed to hear this and the confirmation that it offers!!! Thank you!!!

So glad I found this

Phenomenal suggestions! Thank you so much and keep up the awesome work!

I am about to start the nursing program and I am hearing stories and it scares me. But you make me feel like I can handle what comes my way.

I walked out of my placement yesterday as a 3rd year Nursing student. I am over the toxic, passive aggressive attitude of nurses. My university is an extension of ignorance. I'm 56 years old and lost 4 years of my life I'll never get back. But, I have trade qualifications and I drive trucks which I am valued highly. Nursing is a dysfunctional profession

Discovered your channel by accident. New subscriber here. 😃 Patricia Benner is my favorite nurse theorist.

Don’t know how I missed this channel but I am going to watch your episodes and subscribed right away. I have been a LVN for 15 years and was bridging over to advanced placement BSN and had a hiccup with the financial portion so I am taking a year off a bit. Nursing is so hardcore now from when I went to LVN school 15 plus years ago. I know once back on track and putting extra money away this year to head back in I will do it but damn I am wondering if a career change instead may be a better option. Either way I look forward to watching your episodes thank you for sharing ❤

This is such a great video. As a new grad in ICU, I relate so much.

Omg the beginning of this episode is totally meeeeeee. I am to know it gets better.

Loved all of this - being that I am about to be a new grad nurse, I definitely benefited from hearing all of this. Thank you!

Currently , an RRT student. I have 4 months to graduate but lately, I have so much anxiety about my ability. I will shut down and overthink everything. Thank you for this topic of thick skin but also for giving yourself grace. That's all. Thank you again

This is such a good video. I m an experienced nurse and I can still resonate to this so much like everyday in my practice

Thank-you for sharing your insights and experiences! I’m in the very beginning stages of my Nursing Academic career; I just became an STNA and I’m starting classes for LPN in a week and a half.

Totally unrelated but both of your makeup jobs look so natural and radiant.

LOL’d at Ego Death ☠️ So just to be clear: there’s no Rx bowling bumpers in the OR? TRUTH: compartmentalization is key on rough days. I tell new nurses “it’s about your patient tonight, not your feelings” PROACTIVE COMMUNICATION!! Be OK with not being “you focused” Thank you Ladies!

Smh I felt that setting up for failure. Some of the people in my cohort had the 1-2 diff preceptors. For my 16 weeks I had a different one everyday just about

I am so happy that I was not alone in having imposter syndrome when it comes to entering the medical field.

Hello ladies! Thank you so much for the valuable content. I’ve been binge watching every single one of your videos ever since I came across your channel a couple days ago. This is going to be one of the best resources for those who wants to become a CRNA. I’m so thankful for both of you!! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with all of us. Is it possible for you guys to talk about how to approach ICU Interview as a new grad who wants to become a CRNA eventually? Is that even worth mentioning during the interview? Will that lower my chances of getting accepted? What were you guys’ experience with this? Also if I were not to share, how would I bring it up later and have them support the idea because I would need to put them down for reference when applying for CRNA school

What made you guys decide to be a nurse? Did any of you start nursing school without even knowing for certain that you wanted to be or were cut out to be a nurse? Were any of you afraid the subject material would be too difficult? What event in your life was the most profound in your decision to become a nurse?

“His wife left him… or a flat tire this morning” 😂 lmfao! The attitude people have sometimes it seems more like the first one on the daily 😭

The dual vocal fry isn't too bad 😂😂😂

What’s the difference from having thick skin and being human??

I’m surprised this video didn’t mention anything about ethical violations .

Just offered to count DDs at Shift change but no, at 57 yo, I'm obviously not capable of simple mathematics? *Edit* when I know my way around the stock in the safe, then I can. Fair enough, I misinterpreted that one.

Does this apply to new grad ed nurses? 😂❤I’m freaking out

Both these girls are true beauties. The lady to the right, however, is a dead ringer of a well known actress. Which one?

Can you make your videos less than 15 minutes?????

Anna literally just rephrases everything Chrissy says in a less articulate way. In every video 💀