The Gritty Nurse

The Gritty Nurse is back, and NO TOPIC is off-limits! Launching in September 2025 with host Amie Archibald Varley, this podcast is dedicated to amplifying the voices of nurses and others who work in healthcare to explore the most pressing issues they face.Join Amie as she continues to take a deep dive into powerful and often uncomfortable topics. Though shared experriences, storytelling and the discussions surrounding the intersection of power, we will navigate the challenges facing healthcare nationally and internationally--as of course--challenge the status quo. The show's core belief remains unwavering: that compassion is the through understanding diverse narratives and perspectives is KEY.Amie will continue to explore hot-button issues like mental health, social justice, women's health, and the daily challenges within the nursing profession. The Gritty Nurse is more than just a podcast—it's a community where nurses and healthcare workers can feel heard, empowered, and recognized

The Gritty Nurse is a health podcast hosted by Amie Archibald-Varley, with 100 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 82. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Amie Archibald-Varley hosts The Gritty Nurse, a health show with 100 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #31

  Good Grief & How Healthcare Teaches Us To Bury It

  Aug 27, 202638 minS7

  This week, grief was impossible to avoid — Hayden Panettiere, Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, and Peter Cullen all left us within days of each other, and the collective mourning was loud, public, and completely normal. But what happens when the person who dies isn't a celebrity — it's your patient, your coworker, or someone in your own family, and you're the healthcare provider who's supposed to hold it together anyway? In this episode on The Gritty Nurse with Amie Archibald-Varley, I get personal about my own experience with grief, then break down exactly how nurses and healthcare providers are trained — from nursing school through clinicals to the bedside — to suppress it. I dig into why that training is maladaptive (with the research to back it up: burnout, complicated grief, even mortality risk), how it complicates our ability to grieve our own losses, and what "good grief" could actually look like if we stopped bottling it up — for our own health, and for our patients' care too. It's time we stop teaching healthcare providers that big girls and big boys don't cry. This episode explores the often overlooked topic of grief among healthcare providers, emphasizing how the current training and workplace culture suppress emotional expression and the profound impact this has on mental health and patient care. keywords healthcare, grief, burnout, emotional health, nursing, death, compassion, Schwartz rounds, mental health, professional culture Listen on Apple Podcasts – : The Gritty Nurse Podcast on Apple Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-gritty-nurse/id1493290782 * Watch on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@thegrittynursepodcast Stay Connected: Website: grittynurse.com Instagram: @grittynursepod TikTok: @thegrittynursepodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064212216482 X (Twitter): @GrittyNurse Collaborations & Inquiries: For sponsorship opportunities or to book Amie for speaking engagements, visit: grittynurse.com/contact Please LIKE, COMMENT and SUBSCRIBE! Stay Gritty!

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  Episode #30

  Silence Isn't Safety, It's Strategy: Inside St. Joe's Fight Against Workplace Violence

  Aug 13, 202649 minS7

  Would your hospital admit that staff get assaulted on the job — in public, with real numbers? St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton just did. And it's exposing a crisis most hospitals would rather not talk about. In this episode, I sit down with St. Joe's CEO Mike Heenan to unpack the numbers behind their decision to go public: at least 4 staff members verbally or physically assaulted every day — roughly 1,400 incidents a year, and that's just what gets reported. We dig into what it took to make transparency the policy, not the exception, and what other health systems are still avoiding. We also look at what this means nationally, using the CFNU's 2025 National Nurses Survey: 9 in 10 Canadian nurses experienced verbal abuse from a patient in the past year Workers' comp claims for violence against nurses have nearly tripled in Ontario since 2012 Healthcare workers are 5x more likely to be attacked on the job than workers in any other sector Between 2006–2021, only 12 Canadian court cases involving a nurse victim resulted in a sentencing decision Mike shares what it actually takes to build a safer hospital — leadership buy-in, community engagement, and the willingness to say "yes, this happens here." We also break down why I'm supporting Bill S-233, which would require courts to treat an assault against a healthcare worker as an aggravating factor at sentencing — meaning judges would have to weigh it as a more serious offence, not just business as usual. If you're a nurse, a healthcare worker, or someone who's ever wondered why hospitals stay quiet about this — this episode is for you. Fun fact I stumbled on while researching this: St. Joe's traces back to a group of Sisters of St. Joseph caring for cholera victims in railway sheds in the 1850s — that origin story alone would make a killer future episode. About Mike Heenan Dr. Mike Heenan is President and CEO of St. Joseph's Health System and President of St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. He joined St. Joe's in November 2023 and was named permanent President and CEO of the health system in June 2025. Before St. Joe's, he served as Ontario's Assistant Deputy Minister, Hospitals and Capital, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has held executive leadership roles across various hospital settings. He holds a PhD in Business Administration/Health Policy Management from McMaster University. Connect with Mike: LinkedIn Careers at St. Joe's Interested in joining the team fighting for safer, more transparent healthcare workplaces? St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton is hiring. Browse open positions: joinstjoes.ca

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  Episode #29

  A Battle Cry for Change: Postpartum Psychosis, Systemic Failure, and the Case of Lindsay Clancy

  Aug 7, 202624 minS7

  In this new episode on The Gritty Nurse Podcast with Amie Archibald-Varley, we examine the case of Lindsay Clancy through the lens of postpartum psychosis and the catastrophic gaps in mental health care that allowed it to go unrecognized and untreated. I start with the question that should be asked before every postpartum antidepressant prescription: has this patient been screened for bipolar disorder? It's now considered the gold standard of care — and it only became standard practice because of this case. From there, we talk about what early screening should look like more broadly, what coordinated care between obstetric and psychiatric providers actually requires, and why compassion — not judgment — has to be the starting point if we want to prevent the next tragedy instead of just mourning it. If you're here for sensationalism, this isn't the episode for you. These are real people, a real family, and real suffering. Our purpose is not to relitigate what happened, but to ask why it happened, and what needs to change so it doesn't happen again. This is the conversation healthcare needs to be having — about postpartum psychosis, about the mothers falling through the cracks, and about the systemic changes required to catch them before it's too late. keywords postpartum psychosis, mental health, systemic failure, screening, care coordination, maternal health, psychiatric emergency, postpartum depression, bipolar disorder, healthcare gaps key topics Postpartum psychosis and its symptoms System failures in mental health care and prescription practices Importance of early screening for bipolar disorder and depression Systematic gaps in postpartum care and follow-up The Lindsay Clancy case and systemic accountability Role of healthcare providers in recognizing red flags Need for coordinated care among multiple prescribers Impact of medication polypharmacy and withdrawal Advocacy for improved postpartum mental health protocols Community and systemic responsibility in preventing tragedies * Listen on Apple Podcasts – : The Gritty Nurse Podcast on Apple Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-gritty-nurse/id1493290782 * Watch on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@thegrittynursepodcast Stay Connected: Website: grittynurse.com Instagram: @grittynursepod TikTok: @thegrittynursepodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064212216482 X (Twitter): @GrittyNurse Collaborations & Inquiries: For sponsorship opportunities or to book Amie for speaking engagements, visit: grittynurse.com/contact

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  Episode #28

  Why Thousands of Nurses Are Walking Out Across North America? (And Who's Replacing Them)

  Jul 30, 20261h 1mS7

  Frontline pressures have reached a boiling point. In this swapcast episode, nurses Erica and Amie tackle the wave of nursing strikes across Massachusetts (MNA) and British Columbia (BCNU), exploring what these recent labor actions reveal about the true state of healthcare. Together, they dive into the harsh realities nurses are standing up against—from unsafe staffing ratios and lack of workplace respect to burnout and corporate greed. Erica and Amie also address the elephant in the room: "scab nurses." They break down the ethical, emotional, and financial strain traveling replacement nurses place on striking staff, how hospital systems use high-paid temporary labor to undercut union power, and the complex reality of nursing ethics vs. corporate greed. More importantly, they share actionable insights on how nurses can build genuine solidarity, mobilize for patient safety, and use their collective voice to drive real structural change. Whether you're on the floor or on the picket line, this is a conversation about standing tall for the profession. Connect with Nurse Erica: Podcast: Nurses Uncorked on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Instagram & TikTok: @the.nurse.erica Web: nurseerica.com Listen on Apple Podcasts – : The Gritty Nurse Podcast on Apple Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-gritty-nurse/id1493290782 * Watch on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@thegrittynursepodcast Stay Connected: Website: grittynurse.com Instagram: @grittynursepod TikTok: @thegrittynursepodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064212216482 X (Twitter): @GrittyNurse Collaborations & Inquiries: For sponsorship opportunities or to book Amie for speaking engagements, visit: grittynurse.com/contact

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  Episode #27

  The Handover: What a 40-Year Gap of Experience Can Teach the Nursing Profession

  Jul 16, 202642 minS7

  How do we reclaim the narrative of modern nursing across generations? In this episode of The Gritty Nurse Podcast , host Amie Archibald-Varley sits down with extraordinary nurses, advocates, and authors Tilda Shalof and Lisa Mochrie to discuss their powerful new book, The Handover: A Nurse's Last Shift . Separated by a 40-year career gap, Tilda Shalof and Lisa Mochrie share their inspiring personal journeys through nursing to show that despite a lifetime of different experiences, we have far more in common than what divides us. At its heart, this episode is about the vital importance of nurses sharing their own stories—because when we write our own narratives, we reclaim our power. Together, they deliver a masterclass in perseverance, nurse mentorship, and finding your voice. They dive deep into why authentic storytelling is the ultimate tool for bridging generational divides, healing the healer, and driving systemic advocacy in healthcare. What We Discuss in This Episode: Why Nurses Must Share Their Stories: The critical importance of taking back our narrative, sharing our lived experiences, and refusing to let others define what it means to be a nurse. Bridging the 40-Year Gap: How a veteran nurse and a newer generation nurse found common ground, proving that the core of the nursing experience transcends time. The Power of Storytelling: Why sharing our raw, unfiltered experiences is crucial to changing the public perception of the nursing profession. Navigating Systemic Challenges: Honest strategies for tackling burnout, staffing shortages, and institutional hurdles in healthcare today. The Importance of Mentorship: How experienced chapters can uplift the next generation, and how new nurses can find the guidance they deserve. The Handover Book: The inspiration behind their book and how it serves as a love letter—and a wake-up call—to the nursing world. Career Longevity: Practical advice for protecting your mental health and thriving at every stage of your nursing career. Meet the Guests: Tilda Shalof was a staff nurse in the Medical-Surgical Intensive Care Unit at Toronto General Hospital for thirty years. She is the best-selling author of several memoirs, including A Nurse's Story , and was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025 for her profound contributions to nursing education. Lisa Mochrie is a Registered Nurse, Team Lead, and Nursing Educator based in Burlington, Ontario. Recognized for her compassionate clinical practice and dedication to mentoring, she was honored by her students with the Most Valuable Professor Award in 2025. Where to Find the Guests & Buy the Book: Grab your copy of The Handover: A Nurse's Last Shift : Available now through University of Toronto Press or your favorite local bookstore! Connect with Tilda Shalof: IG- @nurse.tilda Connect with Lisa Mochrie: IG- @lisa_mochrie Connect with The Gritty Nurse: Website: www.grittynurse.com Instagram: @GrittyNursePod Twitter/X: @GrittyNurse Facebook: The Gritty Nurse With Amie Archibald Varley Support the Show: If you loved this episode, please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts —it helps other nurses find our community!

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