Sunny-RN

Hello Everyone: I am a brand new graduate and need some advice in dealing with harsh criticism. Specifically, criticism from my former coworker, a Med Surg RN. During nursing school, I worked as a CNA on a Med-Surg floor with this nurse. My goal was and still is to become an ICU nurse. Throughout my experience working on the unit, this nurse, in particular, has told me I would never be able to do critical care; that I wasn't cut out for the ICU. Now that I have graduated from school, she has become more harsh, stating that she hopes I can "just find a place" in nursing, implying that I'm not even good enough to be a nurse. She always says these things with a smile, and states she is "just being honest." She has called me "slow" and that I have "difficulty catching on." This is was her only basis for her opinion. My preceptor told me that Med-Surg would be a good place for me to start and that I have my "book knowledge down" and that I just needed experience. My grades in school were decent and not one of professors ever told me that I wasn't good enough to be a nurse. Rationally, I know that this is just one person's opinion, but it still hurts, especially since she has known me since before I was even accepted into nursing school. I worked hard during school and am proud of my achievement. I know that I have a place in nursing and I am going to pursue my dream of becoming an ICU nurse regardless of what she says. It's just that I can't shake this dirty feeling every time I interact with her. What do you think? How have you learned to handle hurtful RNs? I appreciate any and all advice/anecdotes.