How A Critical Care PA Learns To Think And Speak Under Pressure | Jordan Kestler, PA-C

Not knowing is not the problem. Hiding it is.Jordan Kessler works as a critical care PA in a neuro ICU, where the alarms are loud, the decisions are fast, and uncertainty is constant. We talk about the skill nobody grades you on in PA school or pre-med tracks: how to communicate clearly when you are not sure yet. That single habit shapes patient safety, team trust, and how quickly you grow from “new grad” to steady clinician.We also take a look at the real ICU ecosystem, including the clinicians people forget to mention, and how Jordan’s early career in trauma shifted into intensive care during COVID. From pressors and procedures to three-hour rounds, we break down what an ICU day actually looks like and why the best teams rely on repeatable frameworks like a strong one-liner and SBAR style communication. Jordan shares why mentorship can be excellent in critical care and still feel inconsistent day to day, plus how she is building practical tools through ICU Clinician’s Compass to close the gap between knowing the medicine and fitting into ICU culture with confidence.If you are a pre-health student, PA student, or new clinician considering critical care, we also talk through what post-graduate critical care fellowships typically include and who they can help most. Listen, share this with a friend who is stepping into a new clinical role, and then subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what do you say when you do not know yet?Connect with the guest: LinkedIn | WebsiteSupport the showPlease connect and say hello >>> Email me!              Support shadow me next >>> Thank you!Want to be a guest? >>>  Click here!Virtual shadowing is an important tool to use when planning your medical career. Whether as a doctor, a physician assistant, a therapist or nurse, here Shadow Me Next! we want to provide you with the resources you need to find your role in healthcare and understand your place in medicine.