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Episode 62

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Published on:

25th Oct 2025

062 : Supporting Graduate Nurses with Deanne Geddes

When new nurses enter the profession, they’re told to “toughen up” — but what they really need is support, balance, and space to be human.

In this week’s episode of The Happy Nurse Podcast, I’m joined by nurse educator and coach Deanne Geddes, who shares her powerful insights on helping graduate nurses transition into practice with confidence and care.

We talk about burnout, identity, boundaries, and why thriving as a nurse isn't about being the toughest — it's about being the most human.

Let this conversation remind you that self-care is not selfish — it’s essential to sustain your career and your compassion.

Episode Highlights

  • The critical challenges new graduate nurses face during their transition into professional practice.
  • Deanne’s personal nursing journey and how her experiences shaped her coaching focus.
  • The harsh realities of burnout affecting up to 25% of new nurses within their first year.
  • The conflict between nursing’s caring identity and the tough, “just push through” culture.
  • How different nursing specialties and workplace cultures impact nurse wellbeing and career satisfaction.
  • The importance of holistic support—beyond clinical skills—during the graduate year.
  • Why identity is a major factor in nurse burnout and career fulfillment.
  • The role of workplace support programs and the shortcomings in current hospital systems.
  • Practical advice for graduate nurses on setting boundaries, seeking mentorship, and valuing their own wellbeing.
  • The need for nurse-specific coaching and mentoring to support career longevity.
  • Reflections on how self-care, debriefing, peer support, and psychological safety contribute to thriving in nursing.
  • Calling for cultural shifts in nursing to value humanness alongside clinical competence.

Listener Takeaways

  • Being the “most human nurse” is more important than the “toughest nurse.”
  • Nurse identity should not be confined to a single role or ward—flexibility is key.
  • Self-care, boundaries, and holistic support are crucial to prevent burnout.
  • Graduate nurses deserve tailored coaching and a culturally supportive environment.
  • Debriefing and peer support are essential components of emotional processing and resilience.
  • Nurses can have rewarding, sustained careers aligned with their values and lifestyle needs.

About Deanne Geddes

Deanne Geddes, a nurse educator and coach with over 11 years of experience in clinical and non-clinical nursing roles. Deanne shares her passion for supporting new nurses transitioning into practice with confidence, balance, and care. Drawing from her own journey through burnout and recovery, she now empowers nurses to build sustainable careers using mindset, self-care, and holistic strategies.

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Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and experiences shared by guests on this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are seeking support for your mental health or wellbeing, we strongly encourage you to reach out to a qualified mental health professional. If you are in crisis, please contact your local emergency services or a crisis hotline in your area immediately.

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About the Podcast

The Happy Nurse
Winner — APAC Insider Australian Enterprise Awards 2024 | Most Empowering Self Care Provider for Nurses. Burnout, compassion fatigue, and stress are rising in healthcare. This podcast exists to change that — one practical, honest conversation at a time.
Nurses are the backbone of the health system — always there to care for a stranger as if they were one of their own, forsaking precious moments with their own families to ensure others' loved ones are in good hands.
Compassion fatigue, stress, and burnout are rising across healthcare. Self care has never been more important — or more overlooked.
Elaina Mullery McDonald RN has 25 years of clinical nursing experience, a Postgraduate Certificate in Psychology, and a Master of Business Psychology in progress. She is a certified NLP Practitioner, hypnotherapist, and mindfulness practitioner — and the founder and host of The Happy Nurse podcast. Having experienced burnout firsthand, she is passionate about equipping nurses with practical, evidence-informed strategies to protect their wellbeing and sustain the career they worked so hard for.

About your host

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Elaina Mullery


Elaina Mullery RN has spent 25 years working across some of nursing's most demanding clinical environments — orthopaedic trauma, operating theatre, endoscopy, recovery, and day surgery. She knows firsthand what it feels like to run on empty, and it's that lived experience of burnout that drives everything she does.
Elaina holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Psychology and is completing a Master of Business Psychology at Edith Cowan University. She is a certified NLP Practitioner, hypnotherapist, and mindfulness practitioner, and has developed the 3R Framework — an original evidence-based methodology for building sustainable human performance at individual, team, and organisational level.
Through The Happy Nurse podcast, her online courses, and her white paper No Margin for Error, Elaina is on a mission to change the way healthcare treats its most valuable resource — the people who show up every day to care for others.