Better Every Shift for Nurses

Text us here. We'd love to hear from youIt feels like there is something missing.  "How did they not see this patient was becoming more unwell?", "I can't trust anyone to do their job".We tend to think we think with logic at the forefront, but as this episode unpacks all of us have flawed, clouded with emotions and biases.  In this episode Tubi and Naomi unpack critical thinking and developing it in out nursing teams.  Thanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders.  The Clear Shift Consultation Diagnostic Tool will help you clearly articulate the gaps in language that connects the clinical experience with the executive impact."Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from you"Judgment is an emotion. Every time you articulate a clinical judgment to a colleague, you are delivering an emotional message, whether you like it or not."In this episode of Better Every Shift, Naomi and Tubi dive into a rich and provocative article by Margaret Bearman et al. titled "Feedback with feelings: the human complexity of expressing judgements about performance." We dismantle the myth that emotions in healthcare are merely "internal psychological states" to be managed in private; instead, we recognize them as the literal "elephant in the room" in every clinical learning environment.We explore why claiming to give feedback "without judgment" is actually a form of professional dishonesty that can make a situation worse. From the physiological impact of adrenaline and cortisol on our ability to hear properly to the "story" we create in our heads about our peers, this episode provides a roadmap for "naming the edge". Stick around to learn how to move beyond sterile clinical checklists and start having the pragmatic, transparent conversations that actually move the needle on performance.Key Discussion PointsThe Myth of the "Internal State": Why the literature is misleading when it suggests emotions are only the individual's problem to manage.Judgment as an Emotional Act: Understanding that expressing a judgment is an emotional event for both the supervisor and the trainee.The Honest Debrief: Why admitting you are upset about a poor outcome can actually lead to a more useful conversation than pretending there is no problem.Physiological Barriers: How high-stress triggers (like a pager going off) flood the body with chemicals that make it impossible to process complex conversations.The Pre-Mortem Strategy: How to forecast "icky" feelings on day one to normalize struggle and keep the lines of communication open.Gendered Judgments: Addressing harmful social hierarchies, such as the "angry mum" feedback trap, and how to keep feedback factual rather than personal.Pastoral Conversations: Why understanding the context of a student's life is often more powerful than any clinical performance checklist.Timestamps[00:00:00] Intro: The Bold Statement—"Judgment is an Emotion".[00:01:46] The Elephant in the Room: Why we ignore emotions in debrief.[00:03:00] The Dishonesty of "Feedback Without Judgment".[00:05:00] Adrenaline and Cortisol: Why you can’t think straight when the pager goes off.[00:07:00] The Pre-Mortem: Forecasting the "year of disaster" for students.[00:09:00] Why we value some feedback more than others: Impressing the "right" people.[00:12:00] Scenario 1: The "Long, Audible Sigh" and naming non-verbal cues.[00:15:00] Scenario 2: Dismantling gendered judgments and the "Angry Mum" comment.[00:18:00] Scenario 3: Legitimizing pastoral conversations over checklisThanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders.  The Clear Shift Consultation Diagnostic Tool will help you clearly articulate the gaps in language that connects the clinical experience with the executive impact."Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from you"Without relationship, that content is not going anywhere.".In this episode of Better Every Shift, we are joined by Nathan Oliver, a simulation expert and PhD candidate who has spent over a decade leading medical and nursing education in the UK and Australia. Nathan challenges the traditional "medical paradigm" by arguing that rapport, trust, and safety must be prioritized over clinical content if we want learning to actually land.We dive into the "spicy" world of simulation and debriefing, exploring how to manage disruptive "clinically strong" team members and how to support struggling new grads who feel like they are "underwater". Nathan shares his unique insights on "debriefing by eyebrows"—why your tone and cadence are more important than your specific questions—and the vital importance of mental rehearsal in high-stress emergencies.Key Discussion PointsThe Social Learning Shift: Moving beyond Kolb’s 1984 model to understand simulation as a social practice where we learn in community.Reading the Room: Identifying "micro-communication" leaks and body language in "muted" or "shut down" teams.The "Lizard Brain" in the Clinical Space: Why we don't rise to our aspirations under stress but instead lower to our level of training.Mental Rehearsal: Why athletics and aviation prioritize mental walkthroughs and why healthcare needs to make this practice explicit.Fake vs. Genuine Curiosity: Why your team "smells a rat" when you ask inauthentic, judgment-laden questions.The Burnt Memory: A powerful story of how one piece of negative feedback can stop a clinician from apologizing for a decade.ChaptersIntro: Nathan Oliver’s journey from "underwater" student to simulation expert.[04:00] The Social Practice of Learning: Watching and reflecting in community.[06:00] Scenario 1: Managing the highly disruptive but clinically strong team member.[09:00] Making the Implicit Explicit: Modeling transparency[17:00] Scenario 2: The struggling new grad—is it capability or stress overload?.[20:00] The Adrenaline Secretion: Why we can’t think clearly in the first five minutes of an emergency.[23:00] Debriefing by Eyebrows: The impact of tone, cadence, and genuine curiosity.[25:00] The Burnt Memory: [28:00] The Gold Tip for Educators: Why relationship always trumps content.[31:00] Debriefing the Debrief:  stay in the growth space.ResourcesFixing, Helping and Serving Rachel, Naomi RemenAuthor of Kitchen Table Wisdom  Daily Good Story Emotional Culture Deck - Riders and ElephantsWork Nathan is contributing to:Thanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders.  The Clear Shift Consultation Diagnostic Tool will help you clearly articulate the gaps in language that connects the clinical experience with the executive impact."Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from you“If the people aren't part of the agenda... how is that not an email?”In this episode of Better Every Shift, Naomi and Tubi tackle the "sterility trap"—the dangerous trend where nursing meetings become so focused on "efficiency" and data reporting that they lose the personal connection necessary for effective decision-making. We explore the "tyranny of silence," where a lack of relationship at the leadership level means no one feels safe enough to speak up as one voice when difficult directives are handed down.Stop wasting your team's time with verbal content downloads. We discuss how to "flip the script" so reporting happens beforehand, leaving your meeting time open for exploration, meaningful questions, and activating your team’s "brains trust". Whether you are a nurse manager or an executive leader, this episode provides a practical framework for moving past "sterile" spaces to create genuine collective responsibility.Key Discussion PointsThe Sterility Trap: How trying to be efficient by removing "peopleness" and levity actually makes teams less efficient and less capable of tough conversations.Flipping the Script: Moving reporting to pre-meeting updates so the live session can focus on exploration: "What risks lie here?" and "What are people worried about?".The Tyranny of Silence: Why silence in a meeting is rarely agreement—it’s often isolation and a lack of collective agreement to share the responsibility of speaking up.Hiding Behind Slides: Why many leaders rely on data and slides because they lack the facilitation skills to manage strong personalities and open conversations.The Social Contract: Setting a meeting agreement to focus on the challenge, not the person, and managing expectations for action over immediate solutions.What’s In It For You?You will gain a three-step strategy to "un-sterilize" your meetings and reclaim your team’s focus. You'll learn how to identify which agenda items should have been an email and how to facilitate a conversation that makes clinical data actionable and personal. By the end of this shift, you’ll have the tools to ensure your staff feels heard, reducing the risk of "whinge sessions" and increasing shared responsibility.Timestamps[00:00:00] Intro: The "How is that not an email?" [00:02:00] Defining the Sterility Trap: Why efficiency shouldn't kill connection.[00:05:00] The Tyranny of Silence and the isolation of leadership.[00:08:00] Flipping the Script: Exploration vs. Reporting.[00:11:00] Facilitation Mastery: Why you should stop downloading content.[00:14:00] The "Brains Trust" and shared responsibility.[00:17:00] Setting up the 3-Month Pilot to change your meeting culture.[00:22:00] Time limits and avoiding the "whinge session".[00:25:00] Making specialty experiences (like Periop) transferable to the whole group.The "Meeting Script" Analogy: Imagine your meeting is a clinical handover. If you spend the whole time reading the chart out loud, you aren't actually assessing the patient—you're just reciting data the team could havThanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders. "Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from you“When was the last time you told a peer the brutal truth about your workload?”In this episode of Better Every Shift, Naomi and Tubi pull back the curtain on the "tyranny of silence" that plagues healthcare management. We’ve normalised unrealistic workloads and a "mama bear" philosophy that tells us we just have to roll our sleeves up and cope. But what happens when that stress causes us to lose our capacity to think clearly and make critical decisions?We explore the challenge of distorted peer perceptions—the dangerous habit of looking at a colleague’s "wins" while wearing blindfolds to their private struggles. If you’ve ever felt the shame of "not coping" while everyone else seems fine, this episode is your permission to stop running the race alone. Stick around to learn how a 15-minute "intentional tap" can help you re-map your priorities and finally give you the professional leverage to say "no".Key Discussion PointsThe 30-Hour Overtime Trap: Real-world examples of managers doubling their workload without assistance and the silence that follows.The "Mama Bear" Downside: How our natural desire to care and "just get it done" becomes a barrier to seeking necessary support.Cognitive Burnout: Recognizing the moment you lose the capacity to assimilate information or make articulable decisions.Apples vs. Grapes: Why comparing your private struggle to a colleague’s public presentation is a distorted metric of success.The Flow-On Risk: Why failing to formalize your struggle isn't just a personal issue—it's a direct risk to patient care that amplifies as it flows down the chain.Choosing Brave: How one response to a corporate plan gave a whole team the permission to prioritize recruitment over deliverables.What’s In It For You?You will walk away with a strategy to formalise your experience before it reaches the point of despair. You’ll learn why regular, "unproductive-looking" meetings are actually the most valuable safety valves in your cohort. Most importantly, you’ll gain the scripts to move beyond saying "I'm busy" to being intentional about what you are struggling with, allowing your peers to help you re-allocate or stop ineffective work.Timestamps[00:00:00] Intro: The "Brutal Truth" and the Blindfolds of Peer Comparison.[00:02:00] The Mama Bear Philosophy: Why we feel we "just have to cope".[00:04:00] Shame and Despair: The emotional weight of the "apples and oranges" comparison.[00:06:00] Distorted Perceptions: Why a great presentation doesn't mean a manager is coping.[00:07:00] Burnout Metrics: When you lose the ability to think clearly.[00:09:00] The Normalization of Unrealism: How we set up the next person for failure.[00:11:00] Role and Goal Clarity: Ending the "Tyranny of Silence".[00:12:00] The 15-Minute Intentional Tap: How to ask for help.[00:14:00] Permission to Say No: Influencing your team by choosing brave.[00:15:00] The Ultimate Risk: How leadership silence flows to the patient bedside.About Better Every ShiftBetter Every Shift is the podcast for brilliant healthcare professionThanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders. "Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from you"One week from today, you will have forgotten 90% of everything you learned in your last training session."In this episode of Better Every Shift, Naomi and Tubi tackle the "Ebbinghaus forgetting curve" and the massive amount of energy wasted on professional development that never makes it back to the clinical floor. We explore the critical gap between becoming a clinical expert and achieving "adult development"—the level of maturity, professionalism, and team-player skills that mandatory training simply doesn't touch.From the thousands of dollars in untouched nursing scholarships to the power of non-formal learning—like standup comedy, oncology massage, and managing a cricket team—we discuss how to take charge of your own growth. Whether you are a manager trying to keep your head above water or a clinician waiting for "permission" to grow, this episode provides a roadmap for making learning stick through intentional coaching and small, daily actions.Key Discussion PointsThe Scholarship Imbalance: Why significant study funding and grants are sitting unutilized and how to bridge the gap between expectation and initiative.Adult Development vs. Clinical Expertise: Moving beyond "ticking boxes" to understand how to support your manager and your team with professional maturity.The Power of "Weird" Learning: How Tubi’s interest in food and Naomi’s presenter mastery course provide more clinical value than traditional postgraduate degrees.Finding Your Why: Exploring why healthcare clinicians are hitting burnout when their "North Star" for care conflicts with a rigid system.The 30-Day "Critical Move": Why the first 30 days after a workshop are the most important for embedding new behaviors.Facilitation vs. Presentation: Why ditching the PowerPoint for a "facilitated conversation" is the most powerful way to lead a team meeting.What’s In It For You?You will learn how to identify your own "pain points" as a starting point for development and how to leverage community roles to build professional skills. For managers, we share a novel coaching approach—the "angel on the shoulder"—that provides 30 days of daily prompts to ensure your team's training actually results in a "critical move".Timestamps[00:00:00] Intro: The 90% Forgetting Curve.[00:02:00] The mystery of the unapplied scholarships.[00:04:00] What "Adult Development" actually looks like in a clinical team.[00:07:00] Non-formal learning: From oncology massage to standup comedy.[00:12:00] Why clinicians lose sight of their "Why" and fall into burnout.[00:17:00] Managers: How to leverage your team's interests for collective growth.[00:20:00] Why PowerPoint kills responsibility in the room.[00:25:00] The Brisbane Workshop: 30 days of "Angel on your shoulder" coaching.Resources MentionedDavid JP Phillips: Presenter Mastery Course.Simon Sinek’s TThanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders.  The Clear Shift Consultation Diagnostic Tool will help you clearly articulate the gaps in language that connects the clinical experience with the executive impact."Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from you“This is a container ship. You are getting it to turn 180 degrees... that doesn't happen overnight; it’s little bits over time”.In Part B of our deep dive into civility with Renee Thompson, we move beyond identifying "near enemies" to the practical framework of sustaining culture change. We explore why "tattling" to a manager is a symptom of a weak culture and how to empower employees to have "healthy workforce conversations" directly with one another. Renee breaks down her "top-down, bottom-up" approach, emphasizing that while leaders are responsible for the department's culture, the entire team must be equipped with the language to protect it.From bypassing the "lizard brain" with pre-prepared scripts to understanding why psychological safety has nothing to do with comfort, this episode provides the evidence-based system needed to eliminate bullying and sustain a professional clinical environment.Turning the Container Ship: Understanding that culture change usually takes about six months to "turn the corner" and a full year to implement fully.The Top-Down, Bottom-Up Framework: Why you must strengthen the executive level while simultaneously empowering frontline teams with data and tools.Data Over Assumptions: Using organizational, leadership, and team quizzes to find exactly where your behavioral gaps are.The Curiosity Hat: How to respond to an eye-roll or a huffed sigh by simply "naming the behavior" and asking, "Are you okay?".Bypassing the Amygdala: Using scripts to give your prefrontal cortex a "ready-to-go" response so you don't freeze, clobber, or run away when faced with negativity.Honesty and Respect: The "willingness" script—how to set boundaries by saying, "I am willing to continue this conversation as long as you are willing to communicate with respect".Psychological Safety vs. Accountability: Why safety means being willing to speak up even when you are incredibly uncomfortable.The Interprofessional Challenge: Recognizing that incivility is a "human issue," not just a nursing one, and must include physicians and allied health to be successful. You will walk away with a toolkit of scripts and principles (like "Notice, Question") that allow you to confront disruptive behavior without losing your cool. You’ll learn how to stop "batting the ball across the fence" and start building a relationship-based culture of coaching and feedback.Timestamps[00:00:00] Intro: The Container Ship Analogy.[00:02:00] Data and Evidence: Why you can't make assumptions about your department.[00:05:00] The Framework: Top-down, bottom-up, and everything in between.[00:07:00] Using Quizzes to find your organizational weak spots.[00:08:00] Naming the Eye-Roll: How to wear the "Curiosity Hat".[00:10:00] The Science of Scripts: Bypassing your Amygdala.[00:13:00] Honesty and Respect: Stopping the "talk behind the back" cycle.[00:16:00] Why even the CEO needs a coach.[00:21:00] Psychological Safety: Speaking up when you're uncomfortable.[00:24:00] BreaThanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders.  The Clear Shift Consultation Diagnostic Tool will help you clearly articulate the gaps in language that connects the clinical experience with the executive impact."Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from youThis episode of Better Every Shift for Nurses focuses on the "long game" of nursing culture, featuring an in-depth conversation with Renee Thompson, the founder of the Healthy Workforce Institute. We dive into the hidden layers of workplace incivility, exploring the concept of the "near enemy"—those "squishy," covert behaviors like backstabbing and exclusion that are harder to define than overt bullying but just as damaging to a team.Outright bad behavior is easy to see and manage. It’s the ‘not quite right’ behaviors that are actually harder to pick up and realise how damaging they are.In Part A of our series on civility, Renee Thompson joins us to share her journey from the bedside to becoming a global advocate for healthy workforces. After a "worst-of-her-life" 14-month stint as a unit director, Renee realised that healthcare is hard enough without coworkers making it harder. We tackle the uncomfortable reality of staffing crises and the dangerous "math" managers do when they tolerate a behaviorally toxic nurse because they are afraid to lose a "clinically competent" body.The Near Enemy vs. The Far Enemy: Why love and hate are clear, but the "squishier" behaviors of exclusion and backstabbing are harder to hold people accountable for.Rules for Engagement: How to use the Talking Stick technique and established common ground to resolve clashing between different teams or departments,.The Compact of Professional Behaviors: A simple, one-page tool where every team member contributes to defining how they will—and will never—treat each other.Leading Your Own Groundswell: What to do when your own boss isn’t supportive of a better culture. Hint: You are the adult, and no one is coming to save you,,.Therapeutic Extraction: Why playing the "long game" by removing a toxic employee actually results in a waiting list of people who want to work in your department.Bridging the Gap with HR: Moving past the "brick wall" by using collaborative documentation and building a behavioral case based on evidence, not just feelings.Standing Agenda Items: A practical tip for un-normalizing bad behavior by making "Healthy Workforce" the first item on every meeting agenda.[00:00:00] Intro The "Near Enemy" concept[00:03:00] Renee Thompson’s journey: Bedside nursing to the Healthy Workforce Institute[00:06:00] Scenario: Managing clashing managers and "animosity between teams"[00:08:00] The Talking Stick and rules for engagement[00:10:00] Creating a Compact of Professional Behaviors[00:13:00] When your leader isn't on board: Creating your own groundswell[00:15:00] The Toxic Nurse Math: Why one toxic nurse is never better than no nurse[00:19:00] Partnering with HR: Collaborative documentation and building a case[00:23:00] The link between civility and patient safety[00:25:00] Making healthy workforce a standing agenda itemTo access Resources from Renee Thompson and Healthy WorkforThanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders.  The Clear Shift Consultation Diagnostic Tool will help you clearly articulate the gaps in language that connects the clinical experience with the executive impact."Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from you Stop the Reply All: Building a Compassionate Email Culture*"A 'Reply All' loop isn't just an annoyance—it's a symptom of a culture that lacks compassion."In this episode of Better Every Shift, we dive into the digital "human factors" that either build trust or make us want to "punch the screen". We often use email as proof that we’ve "done the work," but with 50% of emails being misinterpreted and 70% of mobile emails being deleted if they look like an essay, our habit of overproducing text is actually counter-productive. Naomi and Tubi explore how to move away from "batting the ball across the fence" for a quick dopamine hit of closure and toward communication that actually solves problems. From mastering the **Minto Pyramid** to knowing when to ditch the keyboard for a phone call, this shift is about reclaiming your time and treating your colleagues' inboxes with empathy.The Overproduction Trap: Why "bigger isn't better" when it comes to professional writing and why managers stop reading after the first two sentences.The Minto Pyramid: How to structure your emails so the most important information is at the top, followed by themes, and leaving the data for the attachments.Warmth vs. Competence: Applying Vanessa Van Edwards’ research to your inbox—balancing a friendly tone with a concise, clear structure that shows you can "get shit done".The "Preference Conversation": Why you must ask your manager how they want to receive information and what specifically "keeps them up at night".Stopping the "Rogue" Email Cycles: Using BCC transparently to kill "Reply All" loops before they start, and why "sneaky" CC-ing is a symptom of poor feedback culture.Visceral Responses to Digital Tags: Why red exclamation marks and "Important" tags can actually make people work slower—not faster.Email vs. Phone Call: The "one-back-and-forth" rule: if a resolution hasn't been reached after one reply, it’s time to pick up the phone.By the end of this shift, you will have a practical toolkit to transform your digital presence. You’ll learn how to write emails that get a "yes" on the first try, how to protect your manager from a clogged inbox, and how to use digital tools to build a warmer, more effective team culture.The Minto Pyramid Principle by Barbara Minto.Vanessa Van Edwards’ Ted Talk: On Warmth, Competence, and hand presence.HBDI (Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument): Understanding your communication preferences.The Better Every Shift Compassionate Email GEMThink of a great email like sex education for a five-year-old. You don't start with the full anatomy; you give a small amount of clear information, wait for a question, and then answer that question directly. In the same way, don't drown a senior leader in a "grand novel" of data—give them the key point and wait to see if they need the attachments.Thanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders.  The Clear Shift Consultation Diagnostic Tool will help you clearly articulate the gaps in language that connects the clinical experience with the executive impact."Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from youThe ROI of resilience: Why Staff Burnout is a Hospital Safety RiskFrom Storm Chaser to Global Change Agent: Prioritising Nurse Wellbeing with Mark Carter“If you can’t look after yourself first, you’re absolutely useless.”In this powerful episode of Better Every Shift, we sit down with Mark Carter, a nurse and health entrepreneur whose journey into the profession began with a near-fatal accident and a radical career pivot. Mark shares the raw reality of high-level nursing and business leadership, detailing a period of profound burnout during COVID where he survived on just two hours of sleep a night while working across global time zones. After being warned by his mother, also a nurse, that he was headed for an "early grave" or a stroke, Mark reset his life and founded MACH Health.Named after his family—Mark, Allison, Charlotte, and Henry—MACH Health is a digital platform designed to put wellbeing support into the hands of every nurse in the world. Mark explains how his platform uses "nudges" to remind clinicians of basic human needs—like drinking water and taking bathroom breaks—that are frequently neglected due to system-induced strain. We explore the "double standard" in nursing where we save others while neglecting ourselves, and why Mark believes that a nurse who is "firing on all cylinders" delivers better, safer care.Key Discussion PointsThe "Chinese Fire Engines" Incident: How a split-second decision and a traumatic leg injury led Mark to discover his passion for nursing while learning to walk again.The Reality of Global Burnout: Mark discusses the physical and emotional toll of scaling a dementia-care business while being a "stay-at-home dad" during the day and working UK hours at night.The Four Pillars of Health: We break down the Workplace Health Intervention Pathway, derived from 190 peer-reviewed journals, focusing on physical, nutritional, emotional, and sleep health.Digital Nudges as Clinical Tools: How daily reminders for hydration, nutrition, and "venting" journals can prevent brain fog and reduce clinical errors.Inclusive Leadership and Culture Change: Mark shares stories from his UK pilot program where senior leaders participate in live workplace stretching alongside their staff to grant "permission" for self-care.The Global Mission: Mark’s five-year goal to reach every nurse globally, including those in resource-poor areas, by leveraging community and common sense.The Power of Saying "Yes": Why being relentless and open to opportunities can lead to a career and impact you never imagined.Resources MentionedMACH Health App: A digital platform for nurse-specific wellbeing.Workplace Health Intervention Pathway: A sub-modality framework based on 190 peer-reviewed journals.People can reach Mark at [email protected]  https://www.linkedin.comThanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders.  The Clear Shift Consultation Diagnostic Tool will help you clearly articulate the gaps in language that connects the clinical experience with the executive impact."Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from youA childhood memory of a kidney dish and a "snake in the corner" reveals a profound truth about patient anxiety: taking one minute to build trust at the start can save thirty minutes of struggle at the end.Show Notes In this episode, Tubi shares a visceral childhood memory from a naval medical center in Papua New Guinea that fundamentally shaped her approach to patient care. After being left alone in a room for 30 minutes with a kidney dish full of needles, Tubi and her sister experienced a level of anticipation and fear that led to a chaotic vaccination experience.Key Takeaways:The "Snake in the Corner" Analogy: How visual triggers in a clinical space keep patients in a high-stress "anticipatory" state.The Trust Gap: Why patients in distress often cannot identify the "real issue" until they feel a sense of safety and trust with the clinician.The ROI of Connection: Why adding just one minute of curious conversation at the start of an interaction can save 20 to 30 minutes of struggle later on.Deciphering Reactions: Understanding how to pivot when a patient’s reaction doesn't seem to match the procedure or situation.Chapters (Timestamps)00:00 – Introduction: Moving to Port Moresby and the Naval Base clinic.01:00 – The Kidney Dish: 30 minutes with the "Snake in the Corner".02:30 – Peeling Her Off the Ceiling: The impact of anticipation on patient behavior.10:00 – The Stress State: Why patients can't always identify the real problem.15:00 – The "What Else?" Question: Digging deeper to find the source of fear.19:00 – Conclusion: Saving time through early connection.TagsNursing, Patient Experience, Healthcare Communication, Pediatric Care, Trauma-Informed Care, Better Every Shift, Clinical Leadership, Patient Anxiety, Quality Care.Thanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders. "Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from you"A timeout can look like a tick the box, or it can be a really valuable reset and circuit breaker for everybody."Have you ever walked away from a clinical procedure where the patient was technically "fine," but the room felt like a chaotic mess? Why is it that some high-pressure moments leave us feeling like a synchronized team, while others leave us drained, confused, and questioning our own competence? In this episode of Better Every Shift, we dive into a "tale of two intubations" to uncover the invisible forces that dictate clinical success: communication clarity, emotional regulation, and the power of the routine debrief.Welcome to Better Every Shift, the podcast for healthcare professionals who believe curiosity is a clinical superpower. I’m Naomi, a clinician who recently stepped back into the ICU trenches to see these theories in practice, and I’m joined by Tubi, an expert in reflective practice who isn't afraid to ask the hard questions about how we treat each other in the heat of the moment.The problem we are exploring today is clinical reactivity. When we treat debriefing as a "special event" reserved only for failures, we make it a source of anxiety rather than a tool for growth. This matters to you because carrying the "biochemistry of stress" home after a shift isn't just exhausting—it’s a recipe for burnout. If you stick around, you’ll learn how to move from "fixing today’s fire" to being two steps ahead of the next crisis by mastering self-regulation and inclusive leadership.Key Discussion PointsNormalising the Debrief: Tubi and Naomi discuss why debriefing must happen "all the time" to become a valuable part of a healthy team culture rather than a dreaded "special event."Emotional Contagion & Self-Regulation: How to recognize your own anxiety in the moment and use "internalized self-talk" to maintain your capacity for clear thinking.Completing the Stress Cycle: Practical tips for letting your body process a stressful shift—from running your hands under water to the insights of Emily and Amelia Nagoski.Appreciative Inquiry: Using curiosity as a tool to improve critical thinking and clinical reasoning in your team.What You’ll Learn in This ShiftHow to lead from the floor: Discover how a clear leader uses inclusive language to ensure medications and plans are understood by everyone, from the consultant to the student nurse.The importance of 'Familiarizing the Unfamiliar': Strategies for working effectively with a team you may not know well by relying on protocolized clarity rather than just "niceness."The traits of a critical thinker: Why curiosity and openness to new ideas are not just "soft skills" but essential traits for improving patient outcomes.Practical Regulation: How to name your feelings in the moment to downregulate the "messy" tension that hinders the prefrontal cortex.Resources MentionedJenny Rudolph’s Podcast: On Appreciative Inquiry and feedback rubrics.Burnout by Emily and Amelia Nagoski: A guide to completing the stress cycle and managing the physiological impacts of nursing. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe andThanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders. "Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from youThis episode of the Better Every Shift for Nurses dives deep into the high-stakes world of critical care, comparing two strikingly different intubation scenarios that occurred just one week apart. We explore how communication, clarity, and emotional regulation act as the "make or break" factors in clinical excellence.Episode SummaryIn this shift, Naomi reflects on a recent stint back on the clinical floor, where she witnessed the profound difference that inclusive leadership and role clarity can make. In the first scenario, a distressed patient in respiratory failure was met with a room full of "too many people," confusing medication orders, and a lack of clear plan A or B. The atmosphere was one of "messy" tension, where role creep led five different people to drop their tasks to perform the same secondary action.Contrast this with the second scenario: a different consultant walked in and called a 50-second timeout. This short pause allowed the team to check drugs, confirm dosages, assign roles, and ensure everyone was inclusive and ready. Even when equipment failed, the room remained "cool, calm, and collected" because the team had a shared mental model and clear closed-loop communication.Key Discussion Points• The Power of the 50-Second Timeout: Learn why a brief strategic pause is not a waste of time, but a strategic strength that prevents errors before they happen.• Role Creep and Muddying the Waters: We discuss how a lack of clear instructions causes teams to "swim out of their lanes," leading to unintended chaos in emergency situations.• Emotional Contagion in the Room: Understand how a leader's nervousness or calm can infect the entire team, and why self-regulation is as important as clinical skill.• Followership Responsibility: Leadership isn't just for the person at the head of the bed; discover how followers can improve the outcome by being clear about what they are responding to or confirming.• Familiarity with the Unfamiliar: How to work effectively in a team where you don't know everyone's name or capabilities by relying on protocolized communication rather than just "nice" interactions.What’s In It For You?If you stick around for this episode, you will gain practical strategies to lead from the floor, regardless of your official role. You’ll learn how to identify "pockets of chaos" before they escalate and how to use tools like closed-loop communication to ensure your instructions are heard, understood, and executed safely. Whether you are a student nurse or a veteran consultant, this episode provides a roadmap for turning a high-pressure shift into a masterclass in clinical coordinationThanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders.  The Clear Shift Consultation Diagnostic Tool will help you clearly articulate the gaps in language that connects the clinical experience with the executive impact."Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from youWhat happens when we stop treating “data” like a spreadsheet… and start treating it like a story?In this conversation with Emily and Fiona from the Health Roundtable, we explore how data can become a steady compass for safer care, healthier teams, and smarter decisions — without slipping into judgement, blame, or noise. We talk data literacy (why so many of us left uni without the “so what?”), the quiet power of benchmarking done well, and the small, practical moves that help leaders and clinicians stay anchored inside their circle of control.There’s also a tender, confronting story about what workforce strain can look like at the bedside — and why patient outcomes and staff wellbeing are never separate for long.In this episode, we unpack:Why data is only useful when it becomes actionBuilding data literacy in everyday clinical life (not just in research units)Benchmarking as learning, not punishment“Be the emotional scientist, not the judge” — curiosity that leads to better solutionsThe pebble in the shoe: small irritations that signal bigger system issuesA simple way to reset: circle of control thinking for overwhelmed teamsYour next-shift action (60 seconds)At handover, ask: “What’s one pebble we can remove this week — and what tiny change will we trial for 7 days?” Then check back in a week. Small experiments. Clear learning. Real movement.👉 Tea Room Notes: Here 📩 Share this episode: If it helped you name a pebble, send it to a colleague who’s carrying one too.Better Every Shift — less noise, more signal, and a little delight along the way.Join us for our Intention setting workshop this Friday - register hereThanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders.  The Clear Shift Consultation Diagnostic Tool will help you clearly articulate the gaps in language that connects the clinical experience with the executive impact."Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from youIn this episode of Better Every Shift for Nurses we speak with Fiona Fitzgerald and Emily Daley.  From their small gesture of connecting two people a new friendship, collaboration and podcast has grown.  Fiona and Emily celebrate the value of connection, collaborating and conversation about doing things better.  Their work is about helping leaders and teams explore what they do, what is working and what needs to change.  They sit outside of the daily grind and this perspective allows them to step back from the dustbin fires so many of us are trying to put out, to see the bigger picture - that many of the fires we are fighting will put themselves out, but we may be missing other activity that we should develop and grow.  In this episode we explore part A of our two part conversation.  We hope you are just as delighted as we are.Grab the Tea Room Notes HereThanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders.  The Clear Shift Consultation Diagnostic Tool will help you clearly articulate the gaps in language that connects the clinical experience with the executive impact."Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from youThis shift is a bit like that Early shift you arrive to only to find out you are actually rostered for the afternoon.  Some technical difficulties has delayed production of the next episode.  We had a lot of fun recording, this is some of our fun.  Thanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders. "Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from youThis episode uncovers the real cost of avoiding feedback, how “being nice” can sabotage growth, and why clear conversations—however uncomfortable—are the greatest kindness. This episode dives into the messy, human side of feedback in healthcare, exploring what happens when we sidestep tough conversations and the ripple effects on individuals and teams, and the care they provide Through candid stories and practical wisdom, we unpack why feedback often fails to land, how emotions shape our willingness to speak up, and the consequences of letting patterns persist. You’ll hear how clarity, curiosity, and a touch of light-heartedness can transform feedback from a dreaded task into a powerful tool for learning and trust.  We invite you to join us and review your approach, so you can build a culture where feedback is a gift, not a threat. Everyone who enters health care wants to do the best they can - for their patients, their colleagues, and themselves. But wanting to do your best is only the beginning. True excellence isn’t a fixed point; it’s a process of personal and professional growth, reflection, and transformation. At Better Every Shift, we dive into real stories that reveal how our “best” is something that evolves as we learn, stretch, and allow ourselves to mature. Together we explore the messy, inspiring, and sometimes uncomfortable moments that shape us into more effective clinicians and leaders. Connect with us further at our website www.bettereveryshift.com.au and collect the Tea Room Notes HereThanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders.  The Clear Shift Consultation Diagnostic Tool will help you clearly articulate the gaps in language that connects the clinical experience with the executive impact."Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from youSome patients leave our shift; others stay in our bodies for years. In this episode of Better Every Shift, Naomi and Tubi explore the legacies that nursing leaves in us – the patients we still carry, the smells and sounds that transport us back in an instant, and the way our bodies react long after the event is over. Naomi and Tubi unpack why certain patients stay with us, how “first times” and “people who look like our own” land differently, and what happens when we never quite process those moments.Together they explore:How nursing experiences are stored in the body as learned reactions and triggersWhy emotional granularity (finding the right word for what you feel) can calm both brain and bodyThe difference between hot debriefs, cold debriefs and reflective clinical supervision – and when each helpsThe role of nurses in crisis resource management and speaking up in ways others can actually hearPractical strategies to gently process “your people”: breathing, writing, naming emotions, and regular check-insThis conversation is for any nurse, midwife or health professional who has ever found themselves back in a resus bay while standing in a supermarket aisle, or who has wondered, “Why is this patient still with me?”🎧 By the end of this episode, you’ll have:Language for talking about the patients and moments that stay with youA simple writing practice you can use after tough shiftsIdeas for making debriefs safer, kinder and more usefulSmall, repeatable habits to protect your future self from today’s work🔗 Explore more from Better Every ShiftGrab the Tea Room Notes HereShare this episode with a colleague who “gets it” and start a conversation about the legacies you both carry.#BetterEveryShift #NursingLegacies #NurseWellbeing #Debriefing #ReflectivePractice #NurseLeadershipThanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders.  The Clear Shift Consultation Diagnostic Tool will help you clearly articulate the gaps in language that connects the clinical experience with the executive impact."Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from you“Interviews, Mindset and Missed Opportunities: What Panels Really Look For”You’ve done the acting stints. You’ve put in the extra hours. You’ve sat through interview after interview… and still missed out. In this episode of Better Every Shift, Naomi shares the story of applying twice for the same leadership role — and only getting it the second time. Together, Naomi and Tubi pull back the curtain on how interviews really work in health services, and what both panels and candidates often get wrong.We explore how to prepare beyond “Googling common questions”, how to stop assuming “they already know me”, and how to find the people who can help you translate feedback into real career movement.In this episode, we talk about:Why a “failed” interview can set you up for the next oneThe difference between knowing the job exists and understanding what the service is trying to fixPractical ways to prepare: conversations, mock interviews, and mindset ritualsThe trap of assuming your panel knows your history, budget responsibilities or leadership experienceWhy traditional interviews are biased and imperfect — and how good panels try to do it betterWhat to focus on if you’ve had serial acting roles or repeated knock-backsThe skills that are easy to teach vs the relational skills panels are really hunting forThis week’s action: Pick one role you’re curious about and book a 20–30 minute conversation with your manager, a mentor or someone currently in the job. Ask them:“What does great look like in this role?”“What gaps do you see for me over the next 6–12 months?”One honest conversation. One step closer.Grab the Tea Room Notes HereThanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders.  The Clear Shift Consultation Diagnostic Tool will help you clearly articulate the gaps in language that connects the clinical experience with the executive impact."Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from youEver felt technically confident, only to realize there’s a whole new level of understanding waiting for you? Wondered if excellence is a finish line or a journey? Or found yourself growing most in the messy, uncomfortable moments? This episode explores how our “best” is always evolving, and why that’s something to celebrate. Drawing on our own stories, we unpack the many shifts we had to make from technical competence to holistic care, and how growing mastery means seeing the whole person and the system. We talk about excellence as an ongoing process—one that’s shaped by reflection, learning, and transformation, not just ticking technical, clinical boxes. We share why discomfort is a sign you’re stretching and how lifelong learning keeps us resilient and adaptable, no matter your role or seniority. If you’re a nurse or healthcare leader who wants to keep growing, challenge your assumptions, and support your team’s development, this episode is for you. Tune in for practical insights, a few laughs, and a reminder that we’re all in this learning journey together.  Ready to reflect, grow, and lead with us? Listen now and join the conversation—your next shift in thinking could start here. Everyone who enters health care wants to do the best they can - for their patients, their colleagues, and themselves. But wanting to do your best is only the beginning. True excellence isn’t a fixed point; it’s a process of personal and professional growth, reflection, and transformation. At Better Every Shift, we dive into real stories that reveal how our “best” is something that evolves as we learn, stretch, and allow ourselves to mature. Together we explore the messy, inspiring, and sometimes uncomfortable moments that shape us into more effective clinicians and leaders. Collect the Tea Room Notes HereThanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders.  The Clear Shift Consultation Diagnostic Tool will help you clearly articulate the gaps in language that connects the clinical experience with the executive impact."Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from youCurious how feedback could feel less like a dreaded performance review and more like a daily act of support? Wondering what ballet studios can teach healthcare teams about trust, growth, and radical candor? Ready to rethink how feedback shapes your leadership and team culture? In this episode, we explore the surprising parallels between ballet and healthcare, revealing how feedback in ballet is public, frequent, and normalized—while in healthcare, it’s often private and high-stakes. We unpack why nurses and leaders sometimes fear critique, and how shifting feedback from criticism to “having your back” can transform team dynamics. You’ll hear practical strategies for normalising feedback, clarifying intent, and balancing honesty with kindness, plus real stories from nursing and management. Whether you’re a mid-career nurse, manager, senior clinician, or leader, you’ll find reflective prompts and actionable ideas to help you grow, develop, and lead with confidence. Tune in for a warm, explorative conversation that challenges you to make feedback a tool for continuous improvement – just like the ballet. Everyone who enters health care wants to do the best they can - for their patients, their colleagues, and themselves. But wanting to do your best is only the beginning. True excellence isn’t a fixed point; it’s a process of personal and professional growth, reflection, and transformation. At Better Every Shift, we dive into real stories that reveal how our “best” is something that evolves as we learn, stretch, and allow ourselves to mature. Together we explore the messy, inspiring, and sometimes uncomfortable moments that shape us into more effective clinicians and leaders.  Collect the Tea Room Notes HereThanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders.  The Clear Shift Consultation Diagnostic Tool will help you clearly articulate the gaps in language that connects the clinical experience with the executive impact."Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from youCollect the Tea Room Notes HereThanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders.  The Clear Shift Consultation Diagnostic Tool will help you clearly articulate the gaps in language that connects the clinical experience with the executive impact."Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from youNavigating remote clinics with limited resources, learning the hard way that authority doesn’t guarantee followership, and discovering the power of curiosity—this episode explores what really happens when you step into a leadership role in healthcare. What do you do when your team pushes back, your plans unravel, and you realize you don’t have all the answers? We share honest stories about the difference between being “the boss” and truly leading, the importance of humility and cultural awareness, and why asking questions can be more powerful than giving orders. If you’re a nurse, clinician, or leader who wants to grow, develop, and mature—both personally and professionally—this episode offers practical wisdom and gentle encouragement to rethink what leadership means in healthcare. Everyone who enters health care wants to do the best they can - for their patients, their colleagues, and themselves. But wanting to do your best is only the beginning. True excellence isn’t a fixed point; it’s a process of personal and professional growth, reflection, and transformation. At Better Every Shift, we dive into real stories that reveal how our “best” is something that evolves as we learn, stretch, and allow ourselves to mature. Together we explore the messy, inspiring, and sometimes uncomfortable moments that shape us into more effective clinicians and leaders. Grab the Tea Room Notes HereThanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders.  The Clear Shift Consultation Diagnostic Tool will help you clearly articulate the gaps in language that connects the clinical experience with the executive impact."Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from youWhen it's not about you – the impact staff relationships have on care provided. A patient’s sudden drop in blood pressure, a missing note about medication, and a tense silence between colleagues—this episode dives into the real-life moments where communication, emotion, and teamwork collide. What happens when relationships are strained, emotions run high, and the patient’s safety hangs in the balance? We unpack a story that’s all too familiar in healthcare: the challenge of working with someone you don’t click with, the hazards of poor communication, and the powerful role emotions play in how we show up for each other and our patients. Through honest reflection, we explore how self-awareness, kindness, and a willingness to reset can transform even the toughest dynamics. If you’re a nurse, clinician, or leader who wants to grow, develop, and mature—both personally and professionally—this episode offers practical wisdom and a gentle nudge to see things differently. Everyone who enters health care wants to do the best they can - for their patients, their colleagues, and themselves. But wanting to do your best is only the beginning. True excellence isn’t a fixed point; it’s a process of personal and professional growth, reflection, and transformation. At Better Every Shift, we dive into real stories that reveal how our “best” is something that evolves as we learn, stretch, and allow ourselves to mature. Together we explore the messy, inspiring, and sometimes uncomfortable moments that shape us into more effective clinicians and leaders. For more information and grab the Tea Room Notes HereThanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders.  The Clear Shift Consultation Diagnostic Tool will help you clearly articulate the gaps in language that connects the clinical experience with the executive impact."Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from youWhen Handover Neglects the Most Important Thing Three moments stand out: the heartbreak of a family left in the dark, the hidden gaps in handover that shape patient and family experience, and the quiet power of asking the right questions—especially when grief and culture collide. In this episode of Better Every Shift we dive into the realities of ICU nursing, where even the best intentions can miss the mark, and where what’s left unsaid can matter as much as the clinical details. We explore how language barriers and cultural differences can turn a difficult shift into a profound lesson, and why it’s not just about knowing the meds or the machines, but about understanding people—patients, families, and colleagues. If you’ve ever wondered how to make your practice more compassionate, or how to navigate the messy, human side of end-of-life care, you’ll find both empathy and practical wisdom here. Grab the Tea Room Notes HereThanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders.  The Clear Shift Consultation Diagnostic Tool will help you clearly articulate the gaps in language that connects the clinical experience with the executive impact."Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from you What happens when assumptions go unchecked, fear takes over, and no one’s quite sure who’s leading? In this shift, we unpack an ICU-to-ward cardiac arrest that taught us more about communication, leadership, and psychological safety than any textbook or workshop ever could. Naomi shares a story that’s raw, reflective, and full of those “oh yep, I’ve been there” moments. We explore what happens when teams don’t know each other, when fear freezes action, and when vague questions like “Are you happy with airway?” just don’t cut it in the moment. We talk about how to lead when you’re not sure who is the leader but someone needs to be, how to coach in chaos, and how to work with the team you’ve got—not the team you wish you had. Everyone who enters health care wants to do the best they can - for their patients, their colleagues, and themselves. But wanting to do your best is only the beginning. True excellence isn’t a fixed point; it’s a process of personal and professional growth, reflection, and transformation. At Better Every Shift, we dive into real stories that reveal how our “best” is something that evolves as we learn, stretch, and allow ourselves to mature. Together we explore the messy, inspiring, and sometimes uncomfortable moments that shape us into more effective clinicians and leaders. Grab the Tea Room Notes HereThanks for supporting this content.  Please share your favourite episode with a colleague today so we can support more leaders.  The Clear Shift Consultation Diagnostic Tool will help you clearly articulate the gaps in language that connects the clinical experience with the executive impact."Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from youTubi and Naomi are leaders with experience across healthcare settings, roles and teams.  They have failed many times and have lots of experience in better ways to care for themselves, their patients and their teams. They are keen to see healthcare delivered better, wellbeing of nurses supported better, and clinician leaders coached better.  In this episode Tubi and Naomi unpack who they are and what their hopes are for Better Every Shift the podcast and it's audience. Grab the Tea Room Notes Here"Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator." 

Text us here. We'd love to hear from youTubi and Naomi are leaders with experience across healthcare settings, roles and teams.  They have failed many times and have lots of experience in better ways to care for themselves, their patients and their teams. They are keen to see healthcare delivered better, wellbeing of nurses supported better, and clinician leaders coached better.   In this episode Tubi and Naomi unpack who they are and what their hopes are for Better Every Shift the podcast and it's audience.  "Is nursing turnover eroding your bottom line? Stop managing the crisis and start leading the culture. Book a Strategic Consultation at bettereveryshift.com.au/consultation to turn your clinical culture into a measurable business performance indicator."