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 as the community leaders they truly are. Change is HERE.

Sonographers have feelings too! Beyond the Screen & Compassionate Conversations with Expert Ultrasound Jessi Dressler

Jan 29, 2026

What happens when high-stakes clinical expertise meets a heart for patient advocacy? Join us as we sit down with Jessi Dressler, a veteran registered OB-GYN sonographer and the founder of New Life Imaging Ultrasound.

After years of navigating the high-pressure environment of emergency rooms and hospitals,...

Why Everything You Know About Food Allergies is Changing: Early Introduction, Testing Myths, and Health Equity with Pediatric Allergist & Immunolgist Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman

Jan 22, 2026

Are we diagnosing allergies all wrong? Join pediatric allergist and clinical immunologist Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman as we debunk common myths in allergy management. We dive deep into why patient history matters more than testing, the danger of using Benadryl, and the life-changing impact of early food introduction.

Dr....

Finlay’s Voice: A Mother’s Fight to Fix Canada’s ER Crisis with Hazel van der Werken

Jan 15, 2026

How long is too long to wait in an emergency room? For 16-year-old Finlay van der Werken, an eight-hour wait for a doctor proved fatal.

In this powerful episode of The Gritty Nurse Podcast, host Amie Archibald-Varley sits down with Hazel van der Werken to share the heartbreaking story of her son, Finlay. After being...

96% Vote to Strike: Seattle Children’s Nurses Fight for Safety w/ Kara Yates & Therese Hill

Jan 8, 2026

In this critical episode of The Gritty Nurse Podcast, Amie Archibald-Varley hosts Kara Yates, RN (WSNA Union Co-Chair) and Therese Hill, BSN, RN(Membership Officer) to discuss a historic turning point for nursing in Washington.

This conversation goes beyond the headlines, exploring the dire conditions that led nurses to...

Dying to be Seen: The Gritty Truth Is We ALL Need To Fight for Canadian Medicare

Jan 1, 2026

As we kick off 2026, the stakes for Canadian healthcare have never been higher.

In this powerful season premiere (SEASON 7 baby!) of The Gritty Nurse Podcast, host Amie Archibald-Varley sits down with nurse, advocate, and author Cathy MacNeil to discuss her provocative and timely book, Dying to be Seen: The race to...