In this episode of New to Nursing, we sit down with Nurse Practitioner, Crystal Grymaloski, whose career has taken her through every stage of the nursing profession—from Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to Registered Nurse (RN) and now Nurse Practitioner (NP).

She reflects on the lessons, challenges, and opportunities that shaped her journey, sharing how each role helped build the knowledge, confidence, and compassion she brings to her practice today. Through her stories and practical advice, she reminds us that there is no single path to a fulfilling nursing career.

Whether you're a new graduate finding your footing, considering your next career step, or simply curious about advanced practice nursing, this conversation offers encouragement to embrace every learning opportunity, trust your growth, and remember that every experience has the power to shape the nurse you become.

*Disclaimer: The views and opinions shared in this episode are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or positions of Interior Health. The experiences discussed are personal and intended for reflection and learning purposes only.

Show Notes:

For more information on Interior Health's New Graduate Nurse Transition Program and their Nurse Practitioner Program, check out the InsideNet that is linked below.

Referenced Guidelines and Resources:

• New Graduate Nurse Transition Program (NGNTP)
• Urgent Verbal Communication - SBAR
• Specialty Education
• Advanced Nursing Practice
• Nurse Practitioner Program
• Registered Nurse to Nurse Practitioner Pathway
• nurse practitioner competencies.pdf

In this episode of New to Nursing, we sit down with Interior Health's Regional Educator, Kali Holton, to explore the vital role Clinical Practice Educators play in supporting new graduate nurses. She reflects on her own transition into nursing, sharing the challenges she faced along with the lessons she's learned. Drawing from both her personal and professional experiences, she offers practical advice, reassurance, and encouragement for nurses navigating the early stages of their careers.

Whether you're a new graduate building confidence in practice or an experienced nurse mentoring the next generation, this episode is filled with relatable stories, valuable insights, and thoughtful reminders that no one succeeds alone—and that growth is a lifelong part of the nursing journey.

*Disclaimer: The views and opinions shared in this episode are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or positions of Interior Health. The experiences discussed are personal and intended for reflection and learning purposes only.

Show Notes:

For more information on Clinical Education at Interior Health, check out the Clinical Education page on the InsideNet that is linked below.

Referenced Guidelines and Resources:

• Interior Health - Clinical Education

The New to Nursing Podcast is taking a short pause while we work behind the scenes on Season 3.

We’re spending the next few weeks creating new episodes, practical tools, honest conversations, and more support for new nurses navigating the transition from student to practice.

We’ll be back in June 2026 with new content designed to help you move from surviving to thriving.

In the meantime, this is a great chance to catch up on previous episodes and Gimme 5s—whether you need support with confidence, communication, difficult shifts, or just a reminder that what you’re feeling is normal.

Thanks for listening and being part of our New to Nursing community. We’ll see you in June!

In this episode, New To Nursing welcomes four 4th-year UBC Okanagan nursing students (Esther, Luna, Bernice, Claudia) where they explore mindfulness and strategies for building resilience during the transition to practice as new graduate nurses

They unpack common challenges such as stress, compassion fatigue, emotional burnout, and moral distress. They also discuss practical mindfulness activities/strategies to help ground you before, during, and after a shift. 

This episode pairs well with the New Graduate Nurse Transition Program's (NGNTP) education session, Nurturing Resiliency: Responding to Compassion Fatigue and Burnout that is on the Interior Health (IH) New Grad Community Compass Page - (IH employees only).Responding to Compassion Fatigue and Burnout

Resources:

1. To find the summary poster of this episode, please refer to 👉 Summary Poster
2. Fill out the evaluation survey created by the students 👉 here
3. For the full transcript of this episode 👉 click here
4. For more information about the IH New Graduate Transition Program, refer to 👉  Interior Health's NGNTP or e-mail [email protected] 

References: 

1. Loyd, L. A., Stamler, L. L., & Culross, B. (2023). Early career nurses and moral distress: An integrative review. Nurse Education in Practice, 73, 103844. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103844 
2. Neff, K. (2024, February 20). Exercise 4: Supportive touch. Self-Compassion Institute with Dr. Kristin Neff. https://self-compassion.org/exercises/exercise-4-supportive-touch/ 
3. Provincial Health Services Authority. (2025). Moral distress A strategy-building guide. https://www.phsa.ca/our-services-site/Documents/Moral%20Distress_A%20strategy%20building%20guide.pdf 
4. TEDx Talks. (2017). 30 seconds to mindfulness | Phil Boissiere | TEDxNaperville [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad7HqXEc2Sc  
5. World Health Organization. (2023). Stress. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/stress 

In this episode, Kelsey discusses how to start your shifts off in a good way. She reviews what you can try in your morning routine, how to engage in morning report and what you can do in the first hour of your shift to get organized. She sprinkles in tips and advice specific for new nurses throughout, so listen in to fine tune your start of shift routine!

In this brief 5 minute episode, Regional Educator Robyn discusses Transition Shock, a term coined by nursing researcher Dr. Judy Boychuk Duchscher. This episode highlights the common challenges new graduate nurses may experience as they move from the academic environment into professional practice. Robyn shares practical strategies to help ease this transition and points listeners toward further learning opportunities. Whether you’re a new nurse or someone who supports them, this episode offers insights to navigate Transition Shock with greater confidence and clarity.

Check out:

Home - Nursing the Future to learn more about transition theory, find resources and more!

From surviving to thriving. navigating the first year of professional nursi...: Library OneSearch

Events

Not knowing the answer in front of a patient can feel uncomfortable - especially in your first year of practice. But safe nursing isn’t about having every answer memorized. It’s about knowing how to respond with honesty, professionalism, and clinical judgment.

In this 5-minute episode, we walk through a simple four-step framework you can use when a patient asks something you don’t know - plus how to recognize when a question moves from simple clarification to a clinical safety concern.

You’ll learn:

• Why honesty builds trust more than guessing
• A simple bedside response you can use immediately
• How to differentiate between informational questions and clinical concerns
• When and how to escalate safely using structured communication tools like SBAR

Because you don’t need to know everything — you need to know how to respond safely and confidently.

1. Acknowledge the question (“That’s a great question. I’m glad you asked.”)
2. Be honest (“I don’t have the exact answer right now.”)
3. Commit to action (“I’m going to check your chart and confirm with the team.”)
4. Close the loop (“I’ll come back in about 10 minutes with an update.”)

Not all questions are equal. Some require clarification and follow-up. Others require assessment and possible escalation.

When clinical interpretation or patient deterioration may be involved, structured tools like SBAR help ensure safe, clear communication with the team.

Therapeutic Communication in Nursing Practice

Foundations for Success in Nursing – Communicating with Patients

Communication Strategies in Nursing (including non-therapeutic responses and avoiding false reassurance)

AHRQ TeamSTEPPS – SBAR Communication Tool

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

In this episode, Regional Educator Robyn interviews David and Jordan, Clinical Practice Educators at RIH, for a practical and engaging conversation all about documentation.

Join us as we break down essential documentation processes, explore the ins and outs of electronic health records, and discuss the standards that guide high‑quality nursing documentation. David and Jordan also recommend resources, along with tried‑and‑true tips and tricks to help new nurses chart clearly, confidently, and efficiently.

Whether you’re just starting your practice or looking to strengthen your documentation skills, this episode offers insight and guidance you can put to use on your very next shift.

Documentation

CLINICIAN LIBRARY

Training & Education

In this quick 5‑minute episode, Regional Educator Robyn highlights key considerations when caring for patients who are pregnant. Designed especially for new graduate nurses working in areas outside of perinatal services, this episode focuses on recognizing early signs of concern and understanding when to involve the Most Responsible Provider (MRP) or a perinatal‑trained nurse. This episode offers practical guidance to help ensure timely assessment, safe care, and confident clinical decision‑making when pregnant patients present in non‑perinatal settings.

In this Gimme 5 episode Kelsey shares details on the IH fleet vehicle resource. Did you know there are fleet vehicles for your use? Are you planning on travelling outside your community for work or education? (maybe coming to one of the New Grad Program Skills days?) Listen in to learn more about how to book a fleet vehicle with IH- and what you should and shouldn't do with it.

Resources:

Fleet Vehicles [IH] - Home