New to Nursing

In this episode of Career Compass we chat with Leah Chesney who works with BC Transplant. She'll give you the ins and outs of working with patients and families involved with organ donation and transplants. Her passion for this work is clear and she'll give you the inside scoop on this unique area of nursing. She also finishes the episode with really wonderful words of wisdom for ANY new grad nurs...

Learn the essentials of Adult CVAD removal in just 5 minutes. We’ll cover safety checks, walk through the removal process, and highlight key differences between CVCs and PICCs so you can approach this skill with confidence. IH Resources & Policy: CVAD: Site Selection, Insertion, Repair & Removal Disclaimer: This episode is a review tool only , not a first-time learning resource. Always fol...

In this 5-minute episode we review how to safely and effectively draw blood specimens from a Central Venous Access Device (CVAD) . From preparation to flush sequences, you’ll get a quick refresher on best practices to keep your samples accurate and your patients safe. Show Notes: Venous Blood Collection Tube and Test Job Aid IH Clinical Skills - IH Practice - CVC: Blood Sampling - CE Blood Specime...

Join Regional Educator Rachel and in just five minutes, learn how to quickly and safely assess a central venous access device (CVAD) site. We’ll cover what to look for, how assess each type of CVAD correctly with your eyes and hands, and red flags you can’t ignore. Perfect for new nurses or anyone who wants a fast, systematic refresher on basic CVAD care. Links: CVAD Site Assessment - Quick Refere...

In this Gimme 5 episode, Rachel walks you through the essentials of checking central venous access device (CVAD) patency—step by step. Learn the right flush technique, how to spot early signs of trouble, when to escalate, and special considerations for clamps, heparin locks, and IVADs. This quick and practical guide will help you keep your patients safe and your lines flowing 💦 Links: VAD Care an...

Have you struggled with caring for older adults living with dementia? Do you find it challenging or confusing to work around some behaviors they display? We are back with expert Dalyce Gouin (RPN with Interior Health) who will start the episode with a powerful exercise to get you into the mindset of a person living with a neurocognitive disease-who maybe is resistant or having a hard time with a p...

Have you struggled with caring for older adults living with dementia? Do you find it challenging or confusing to work around some behaviors they display? We are back for the final part of Dementia Decoded with expert Dalyce Gouin (RPN with Interior Health). In this episode Dalyce will talk about the 'hygiene crisis' (can personal care really wait?) and will give you real world strategies to help d...

Have you struggled with caring for older adults living with dementia? Do you find it challenging or confusing to work around some behaviors they display? In this episode, we dive deep into understanding dementia through the lens of the 8A’s. Dalyce Gouin, RPN, expertly breaks down the key behaviors and challenges often seen in patients with dementia. We explore the WHY behind these behaviors to he...

In this Gimme 5 episode, we’re breaking down the essentials of Central Venous Access Devices (CVADs) —what they are, why they’re used, and how to tell the different types apart. From non-tunneled CVCs to fully implanted ports, you’ll learn the key differences in use, duration, insertion sites, and tip placement . This quick guide will help you recognize what you’re looking at—and what to do next....

Gimme 5 is your new go-to series for quick, no-fluff deep dives into the essentials. Each episode delivers the back-to-basics info you need—in just 5 minutes. No fillers, no distractions, just fast facts and key insights to get you up to speed, fast. Perfect for busy minds who want to learn efficiently. Ready? Let’s Gimme 5! This episode gives you answers to the top 5 questions we get from nursing...

You've just experienced something on shift that isn't sitting well...maybe it was a medication error, or a patient fall or a code blue....all you know is that you're questioning your worth, your knowledge, your capabilities. That sucked....now what? Traumatic experiences are 'part of the job' but there are resources to help you. We want you to have a long and successful career so you NEED to know...

Gimme 5  is your new go-to series for quick, no-fluff deep dives into the essentials. Each episode delivers the back-to-basics info you need—in just 5 minutes. No fillers, no distractions, just fast facts and key insights to get you up to speed, fast. Perfect for busy minds who want to learn efficiently. Ready? Let’s Gimme 5! This episode covers the concept of pain assessments. It gives a qui...

Gimme 5 is your new go-to series for quick, no-fluff deep dives into the essentials. Each episode delivers the back-to-basics info you need—in just 5 minutes. No fillers, no distractions, just fast facts and key insights to get you up to speed, fast. Perfect for busy minds who want to learn efficiently. Ready? Let’s Gimme 5! In this episode we cover the 'need to knows' about managing seizures. Dis...

Losing a patient for the first time is something nursing school can’t truly prepare you for. In this heartfelt episode, Rachel shares honest reflections and personal stories about navigating grief as a new graduate nurse. From emotional overwhelm to the physical toll of unprocessed loss, she explores what it really means to care — and to mourn — in a profession that often expects you to “stay stro...

Gimme 5 is your new go-to series for quick,no-fluff deep dives into the essentials. Each episode delivers the back-to-basics info you need—in just 5 minutes. No fillers, no distractions, just fast facts and key insights to get you up to speed, fast. Perfect for busy minds who want to learn efficiently. Ready? Let’s Gimme 5! This episode covers how to get an accurate SpO2 reading every time...and h...

Gimme 5 is your new go-to series for quick, no-fluff deep dives into the essentials. Each episode delivers the back-to-basics info you need—in just 5 minutes. No fillers, no distractions, just fast facts and key insights to get you up to speed, fast. Perfect for busy minds who want to learn efficiently. Ready? Let’s Gimme 5! This episode covers the need-to-knows about Arterial Blood Gases. What ar...

In this episode, we sit down with a newly graduated nurse as she shares her honest and inspiring journey to conquering the NCLEX. From the emotional rollercoaster of graduation to the pressure of preparing for one of the biggest exams of her career, she opens up about what worked, what didn’t, and the mindset shifts that made all the difference. Whether you're a nursing student, recent grad, or ju...

Gimme 5 is your new go-to series for quick,no-fluff deep dives into the essentials. Each episode delivers theback-to-basics info you need—in just 5 minutes. No fillers, no distractions, just fast facts and key insights to get you up to speed, fast. Perfect for busy minds who want to learn efficiently. Ready? Let’s Gimme 5! This episode covers IV fluids you may see on any med-surg floor. Why would...

Gimme 5 is your new go-to series for quick, no-fluff deep dives into the essentials. Each episode delivers the back-to-basics info you need—in just 5 minutes. No fillers, no distractions, just fast facts and key insights to get you up to speed, fast. Perfect for busy minds who want to learn efficiently. Ready? Let’s Gimme 5! This week we do a quick review of manual blood pressures. This is maybe a...

In this enlightening episode, we dive into the question, “What is spiritual care?” with special guest Zach Hair. Zach, a passionate advocate for holistic approaches, sheds light on this often misunderstood and overlooked area in healthcare. Tune in to learn how spiritual care fits into the broader healthcare system, what services are offered within Interior Health, and whether spiritual care is ju...

New Nurses, Real Voices  is a series that highlights authentic experiences from the frontlines of healthcare. We dive into the real, raw experiences of new nurses stepping into their professional roles as independent practitioners. From the first day on the job to navigating the challenges of patient care, our guests—New Grad LPNs, RNs, and RPNs—share their personal journeys through the trans...

Join in for another engaging presentation with Jill Boerstler from the IH Ethics Team. In this session she is going to deep dive into Imposter Syndrome-loosely defined as doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud- sound familiar to any new grad nurses out there? How do ethics play a role? Well....Are you truly undeserving of your role as a new grad nurse? Have you tricked everyone? or.....a...

In this episode, Clinical Specialists Jennifer Ellis and Jennifer Kalman from Access and Flow discuss Structured Team Rounds— a task that many new graduate nurses may initially find daunting. How do you know what information to share and what to focus on? Jenn and Jenn break it down and offer some helpful tips to make it easier for you in this episode.  If you would like an STR lanyard card o...

In this episode, guests Jennifer Ellis & Jennifer Kalman (Clinical Specialists with Access and Flow) dive into the critical concepts of access and flow within Interior Health, focusing on the new graduate nurse (NGN) role in this process. Along with RKC Kelsey, they explore the idea that "home is best" when it comes to patient care, and how nurses can help facilitate smooth discharges. We...

In this episode of Career Compass, we explore the world of Home Health Nursing to help you determine if it's the right path for your career. Home Health is perhaps a 'misunderstood' area of nursing and after listening to this episode, you may discover a new trail to explore in your career! We'll talk to Katie McLellan (RN), who originally thought she was destined for a career in Public Health. Lis...