Real Nurse Stories

In this episode, I interview Jenn Johnson, RN, a dedicated nurse with over 16 years of experience in emergency rooms across Northern and Southern Ontario, Canada. A front-line worker through the most challenging times, Jen has witnessed firsthand the intense pressures of the profession, from life-and-death moments to the struggles of coping during the pandemic. A passionate advocate for well-being, Jen's new book, NURSING INTUITION, was written to support her peers by offering insights on reconnecting with the love of nursing and fostering resilience in a rapidly changing healthcare environment. Jen is also a wife and mother of two. To learn more about nurse coaching and explore opportunities for personal and professional development, book a ⁠⁠⁠free strategy call here⁠⁠⁠ Follow me on Instagram⁠ @evastoreycoach ⁠ Visit my Website ⁠⁠Evastorey.com⁠⁠ Follow us for more insights and updates on upcoming episodes. Don’t forget to leave a review if you found this episode helpful! Your feedback helps us bring more valuable conversations to the forefront.

Keywordsnursing, palliative care, burnout, self-care, nursing education, graduate nurses, mental health, holistic care, nursing culture, support systemsSummaryIn this episode of Real Nurse Stories, Eva Storey interviews Deanne Geddes, who shares her personal journey into nursing, her experiences with burnout, and her passion for supporting graduate nurses. Deanne discusses the importance of palliative care, the need for better support systems in nursing, and the significance of self-care and setting boundaries. She emphasises the necessity of integrating holistic practices into nursing education and advocates for a cultural shift within the profession to prioritise the well-being of nurses. Deanne’s insights aim to inspire new nurses to prioritise their own health and well-being while providing compassionate care to their patients.TakeawaysDeanne's nursing journey began in 2003, but she faced challenges that led her to quit before completing her degree.Palliative care became a passion for Deanne as she learned to navigate the complexities of life and death.Support from colleagues and personal experiences shaped Deanne's approach to nursing and education.Burnout in nursing is often overlooked, with many nurses not recognising the signs until it's too late.Self-care is essential for nurses, and it's important to create healthy habits early in their careers.Setting boundaries is crucial for maintaining mental health in a demanding profession.Life experience can significantly impact a nurse's ability to empathise and provide care.The nursing culture often promotes self-sacrifice, which can lead to burnout and stress.Deanne's program for graduate nurses focuses on holistic care and personal development.There is a need for a cultural shift in nursing to prioritise the well-being of nurses alongside patient care.Links to DeanneInstagram FacebookLink to my FREE "Graduate Nurse Confidence Guide" Chapters00:00 Deanne's Nursing Journey Begins02:53 The Impact of Personal Experience on Nursing05:49 Navigating Death and Palliative Care08:50 The Importance of Life Experience in Nursing11:48 Burnout and Stress in Nursing14:38 Recognising the Signs of Burnout17:50 The Societal Pressure on Nurses20:31 Finding Personal Power and Setting Boundaries23:33 Implementing Change After Burnout26:34 Holistic Approaches to Nursing Well-being29:35 Teaching Mindfulness and Self-Care to New Nurses32:38 Integrating Self-Care in Nursing Education36:22 The Role of Energy in Healthcare39:26 Managing Emotional Energy in Nursing43:20 Creating a Supportive Environment for New Nurses48:59 Addressing Burnout and Retention in Nursing52:37 The Global Nursing Crisis and Cultural Change56:37 Advice for New Nurses: Embracing Humanity Over Hustle59:05 Empowering Graduate Nurses Through Coaching

In this compelling episode, Dr. Lorre delves into the nursing burnout crisis. She challenges the traditional self-care narrative and explores why it is insufficient for addressing the root causes of nurse trauma. Here’s what we cover: Key Discussion Points: The Burnout Narrative & Its Flaws: Dr Lorre Laws criticises the standard advice to "suck it up" and manage burnout through self-care alone. Instead, she highlights the need for community healing and systemic support. The Importance of Trauma-Informed Care: The current nursing education lacks a focus on trauma management from a trauma-informed perspective. Dr. Lorre shares insights from her book, Nursing Our Healer’s Heart, which is designed to be accessible for every nurse rather than an academic text. Introducing Middle Range Theory for Nurse Trauma: Dr. Karen Foley's middle range theory provides a groundbreaking framework for understanding and addressing psychological trauma in nurses, allowing for a practical application that can be presented to employers and leaders. Rethinking Professional Well-being: Dr. Lorre advocates for a shift from blaming individual nurses to recognizing systemic and avoidable workplace trauma as occupational hazards. She emphasises the need for organisations to take responsibility for creating safer working environments. System-Induced Trauma and Workplace Violence: The episode delves into the avoidable aspects of trauma exposure, including workplace violence, insufficient resources, and dangerous staffing ratios, which are driving nurses away from the profession in alarming numbers. Spirituality in Nursing: Dr. Lorre discusses the often-overlooked role of spirituality in nursing care. She believes that the focus on quantitative measures has eroded the holistic approach to patient care and diminished the spiritual component many nurses find integral to their practice. The Existential Crisis of New Nurses: New graduate nurses often experience disillusionment when the values they learned in training clash with the realities of the healthcare system. Dr. Lorre shares feedback from early career nurses who describe their "healer's heart" as being "run over by a steamroller." The Call for Change: With the nursing profession experiencing unprecedented levels of trauma exposure, Dr. Lorre stresses the need for systemic changes rather than superficial solutions. Her work aims to provide resources and frameworks to help nurses navigate these challenges effectively. Takeaway Message: The episode underscores the urgent need to address the systemic issues contributing to nurse burnout. It’s not enough to push self-care; we must tackle the root causes of trauma exposure and support nurses in a holistic and trauma-informed way. Resources Mentioned: by Dr Lorre Laws by Dr. Karen Foli Connect with Us: To learn more about nurse coaching and explore opportunities for personal and professional development, book a ⁠⁠free strategy call here⁠⁠ Follow me on Instagram @evastoreycoach Visit my Website ⁠Evastorey.com⁠ Follow us for more insights and updates on upcoming episodes. Don’t forget to leave a review if you found this episode helpful! Your feedback helps us bring more valuable conversations to the forefront.

Join me as Margot, a nurse, shares her transformation experience with coaching. Discover how Margot's journey began with curiosity and a leap of faith into the world of nurse coaching. Overcoming doubts and fears, she found herself on a path of self-discovery and growth. Fast forward two years, Margot reflects on her newfound confidence and leadership abilities. Through coaching, she learned to navigate challenges and embrace her potential. Margot's story is a testament to the profound impact of coaching nurses in healthcare. Tune in to hear Margot's inspiring journey. To learn more about nurse coaching and explore opportunities for personal and professional development, book a ⁠free strategy call here⁠ Follow me on Instagram @evastoreycoach Visit my Website Evastorey.com

Welcome to Real Nurse Stories! In this episode, I address a common issue among nurses - the struggle with confidence, especially in new roles. Acknowledging that this is a universal challenge, I share a powerful mindset hack: adding 'yet' to negative statements. This simple adjustment transforms self-talk, opening up possibilities and fostering a growth mindset. With practical examples, I illustrate how this small change can rapidly boost confidence. Tune in for valuable insights and share your experiences with this mindset hack! To learn more about nurse coaching and explore opportunities for personal and professional development, book a ⁠⁠⁠free strategy call here⁠⁠⁠ Follow me on Instagram⁠ @evastoreycoach ⁠ Visit my Website ⁠⁠Evastorey.com⁠⁠ Follow us for more insights and updates on upcoming episodes. Don’t forget to leave a review if you found this episode helpful! Your feedback helps us bring more valuable conversations to the forefront.

Welcome to a new season of Real Nurse Stories. In this episode, I interview Teresa, a nurse and an entrepreneur from Kansas in the midwest of America. Teresa is a vocal major who never expected to become a nurse and have a 32-year-long career in nursing! Teresa shares her journey into nursing and becoming the CEO of her own hospice that started as a $6000 investment and grew to over $3 million. Teresa candidly shares her experience of major depression and what she learnt about herself and how to prioritise her self-care along the way. Teresa is the founder of the movement 'Nurses feed their young' which is a global movement designed to support early career nurses. You can find out more about the 'Nurses feed their young movement here

Keywordsnursing, burnout, workplace bullying, coaching, self-care, nursing education, nursing culture, empowerment, career development, mental healthSummaryIn this episode of Real Nurse Stories, Trina Pitts shares her journey from aspiring nurse to nurse educator and coach. She discusses the challenges faced in nursing education, the importance of teamwork, and the impact of burnout and workplace bullying on nurses. Trina emphasises the need for change in nursing culture, advocating for self-care and empowerment among nurses. She also highlights the role of coaching in supporting nurses through their careers and shares her vision for creating a sustainable nursing workforce.TakeawaysTrina's journey to nursing began at age 15 after observing nurses in a hospital.She initially aimed to be a pediatric nurse but found her niche in ICU nursing.Teamwork is crucial in nursing, especially in high-pressure environments like ICU.Burnout and workplace bullying are significant issues in nursing that need addressing.Nurses often feel guilty for prioritising their self-care.There is a need for cultural change in nursing to support mental health and well-being.Coaching can provide valuable support for nurses navigating their careers.Nurses should be empowered to explore various career paths beyond traditional roles.Self-care is essential for sustaining a long-term nursing career.Trina aims to help nurses rediscover their strengths and passions through coaching.Contact Trina:Facebook and Instagram nursecoachtrinaFree Nurse Wellness Assessment https://nursewellnessassessment.scoreapp.com

Cynthia's Journey: From Uncertainty to Passion in Nursing.The Power of Human Connection in HealthcareIn this episode of Real Nurse Stories, Cynthia Delgado shares her 33-year journey in nursing, focusing on her experiences in mental health and the importance of resilience and emotional labour. She discusses the challenges nurses face in maintaining human connections amidst systemic pressures and the role of clinical supervision in fostering resilience. Cynthia emphasises the need for self-care, curiosity, and advocacy in nursing, while also addressing generational differences and the culture of silence within the profession. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding emotional labour and resilience as processes that can be nurtured and developed.TakeawaysCynthia fell into nursing but found her passion for it.Nurses gain skills in different specialities, not lose them.Human connection is vital in nursing for patient recovery.Resilience is a process, not just an individual responsibility.Emotional labour is prevalent in nursing and affects well-being.Clinical supervision positively impacts resilience in nurses.Self-awareness and self-care are crucial for nurses.Generational differences affect perceptions of emotional expression in nursing.Nurses need to advocate for themselves and their needs.The culture of silence in nursing hinders open communication.Chapters00:00Cynthia's Journey into Nursing09:49The Importance of Human Connection in Nursing20:05Challenges in Nursing: Balancing Compassion and Professionalism27:27 Exploring Resilience and Emotional Labour in Nursing40:13 Emotional Labour in Nursing44:56 Resilience and Emotional Labour50:13 Generational Perspectives in Nursing55:31 The Importance of Clinical Supervision01:01:16 Self-Care and Boundaries01:06:23 Addressing Systemic Issues in Healthcare01:12:23 The Role of Curiosity and Relationships in NursingBack to the publications, references and DOI numbers (links): Delgado, C., Evans, A., Roche, M., & Foster, K. (2022). Mental health nurses' resilience in the context of emotional labour: An interpretive qualitative study. International Journal      of Mental Health Nursing, 31(5), 1260-1275.https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.13037Delgado, C., Roche, M., Fethney, J., & Foster, K. (2021). Mental health nurses’ psychological well-being, mental distress, and workplace resilience: A cross-sectional survey. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 30, 1234-1247. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12874Delgado, C., Roche, M., Fethney, J., & Foster, K. (2020). Workplace resilience and emotional labour of Australian mental health nurses: Results of a national survey. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 29(1), 35-46.https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12598Delgado, C., Upton, D., Ranse, K., Furness, T., & Foster, K. (2017). Nurses’ resilience and the emotional labour of nursing work: An integrative review of empirical literature. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 70, 71-88.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2017.02.008 Working with resilience: https://www.workingwithresilience.com.au/ I used their individual scale in the research study. Genos International – They focus on emotional intelligence at work: https://www.genosinternational.com/emotional-intelligence The authors Cynthia mentioned regarding emotional labour are: Arlie Hochschild – Coined the term emotional labour and wrote a book about it: The Managed Heart – Commercialisation of human feeling Catherine Theodosius – Expanded and applied the concept of emotional labour to nursing. Also wrote a book about it:  Emotional labour in health care: The unmanaged heart of nursing  

Key words: nursing, naturopathy, self-care, stress management, menopause, holistic health, intensive care, burnout, health education, nurse storiesSummary: In this episode of Real Nurse Stories, Eva interviews Julia Chazan, a nurse turned naturopath and health educator. Julia shares her journey from nursing in intensive care to exploring holistic health through naturopathy. The conversation delves into the challenges faced by nurses, the importance of self-care, and practical tips for managing stress and menopause symptoms. Julia emphasises the need for a holistic approach to health, focusing on prevention and the interconnectedness of mind and body. The episode concludes with insights on finding the right naturopath and Julia's self-care practices.TakeawaysJulia's journey into nursing was not a childhood ambition.Working in Calcutta highlighted the importance of kindness in care.Intensive care nursing can be emotionally challenging due to patient and family dynamics.Transitioning to naturopathy allowed Julia to focus on preventative health.Stress management is crucial for nurses, especially during menopause.Naturopathy takes a holistic approach, addressing the root causes of symptoms.Self-care practices are essential for maintaining balance in a nursing career.Finding a qualified naturopath can enhance personal health journeys.Community and family connections play a significant role in health.Small, incremental changes can lead to significant improvements in health.Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Julia Chazan's Journey: 02:55 Cultural and Professional Contrasts in Nursing05:53 Challenges in Intensive Care Nursing08:51 Transitioning from Nursing to Naturopathy12:01 The Holistic Approach of Naturopathy15:09 Self-Care and Stress Management for Nurses18:02 Understanding Naturopathy and Its Benefits20:56 The Importance of Community and Family in Health24:13 Addressing Stress and Burnout in Nursing26:59 Practical Tips for Managing Menopause Symptoms29:53 Finding the Right Naturopath33:09 Julia's Self-Care Practices35:56 Conclusion Contact Information:Julia ChazanBSc RGN DipRT NDFellow ANTANaturopath HomeopathRegistered Nurseemail:    chazanj@gmail.commob: (+61) 0438 257 256https://events.humanitix.com/navigating-menopause-naturally

Welcome to Real Nurse Stories! Today, we're joined by Jackson Heilberg, a passionate entrepreneur and a nurse, who recently established The Nurse Collective. Jackson's journey into nursing is a story of unexpected turns and a deep desire to make a meaningful impact. Starting with an Arts degree, he eventually fell in love with nursing, a profession that offers a world of opportunities. In this episode, we explore the diverse avenues that nursing presents, from bedside care to leadership and management roles. Nursing provides remarkable flexibility, allowing you to travel and make a global impact. Join us as we uncover the unique world of nursing and the countless career pathways it offers. So, if you're curious about the dynamic and ever-evolving field of nursing, keep listening as we dive into the captivating world of healthcare with Jackson Heilberg. To learn more about nurse coaching and explore opportunities for personal and professional development, book a ⁠⁠⁠free strategy call here⁠⁠⁠ Follow me on Instagram⁠ @evastoreycoach ⁠ Visit my Website ⁠⁠Evastorey.com⁠⁠ Follow us for more insights and updates on upcoming episodes. Don’t forget to leave a review if you found this episode helpful! Your feedback helps us bring more valuable conversations to the forefront.

In this episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing two dynamic leaders who have spent the past year establishing Aussie Nurse Recruiters—a forward-thinking recruitment agency dedicated to transforming the hiring process in nursing. Liam Caswell and Michelle Mexted, the Co-Founders and Directors of Aussie Nurse Recruiters, are not just building an agency; they're pioneering a nurse-led, innovative recruitment approach designed to help nurses secure their dream jobs and assist healthcare organizations in filling their vacancies with top-tier talent. Their mission is clear: to support hiring managers at every step of the recruitment process, ensuring a seamless and value-driven experience. But their vision goes beyond recruitment—they're committed to creating a psychologically safe community where nurses and managers can thrive personally and professionally. Guided by core values of transparency, curiosity, reciprocity, and innovation, Liam and Michelle are dedicated to giving back to the nursing profession. One of their standout principles is their 'No Ghosting Policy,' a refreshing and unheard-of commitment in the recruitment industry that truly sets them apart. So, grab your favourite cup of tea and settle in for an inspiring conversation with two entrepreneurial trailblazers who are making a significant impact in the world of nursing. To learn more about nurse coaching and explore opportunities for personal and professional development, book a ⁠⁠⁠free strategy call here⁠⁠⁠ Follow me on Instagram⁠ @evastoreycoach ⁠ Visit my Website ⁠⁠Evastorey.com⁠⁠ Follow us for more insights and updates on upcoming episodes. Don’t forget to leave a review if you found this episode helpful! Your feedback helps us bring more valuable conversations to the forefront.

In this episode, I interview a remarkable guest, Lorna, whose journey from an unexpected entry into nursing to becoming a successful entrepreneur is nothing short of inspiring. Despite initial reservations, Lorna's nursing career took her from a strict, militaristic hospital to the customer-focused world of private healthcare. Along the way, she made lifelong friends and faced personal challenges, including divorce and raising three children. But Lorna's determination led her to pursue a master's degree in advanced clinical nursing, setting the stage for her incredible entrepreneurial achievements. Stay tuned as we dive into Lorna's remarkable story of resilience, grit, determination true passion and business success. You can find out more about Lorna and View Health here

In this episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing Liam Caswell who is a nurse, a life coach and Director of Liam Caswell Coaching and Podcaster of High-Performance Nursing. Liam and I are kindred spirits and have many things in common when it comes to coaching and nurses. We share the same passion for making coaching accessible to nurses everywhere and share an ambition to make every nurse a coach. We talk about mindset and how it can hold you back and how to change your mindset, the importance of taking opportunities and trying out as many specialities as you can in your first three years of qualifying. This interview will also give you a great insight into how coaching works and how it can help you in your nursing career. Liam is an expert when it comes to helping newly qualified nurses apply successfully for their first job. If you are a newly qualified nurse this episode is a must listen for you! If you are a nurse and wondering how coaching can help you then this episode is also for you! It was a real privilege to interview Liam about his nursing career and journey into becoming a life coach. Liam can be contacted here You can also listen to Liam's Podcast here Are you interested in working with me as your coach? Find out more here

It has been a tough two years for the nursing profession. Many nurses are considering leaving the profession and many are reporting symptoms of burnout and exhaustion. As a profession, we need to acknowledge these struggles, listen to nurses' experiences and importantly take urgent action to support nurses globally as we cannot afford to lose nurses. We all have a part to play in using our sphere of influence. This Podcast is my way of using my sphere of influence as both a registered practising nurse and a trained professional coach. In this episode, I talk about why as nurses we struggle to ask for help and to think about how we respond to someone when a colleague asks for help. I reference Brene Brown's New Book Atlas of The Heart and Beyond Burnout by Suzi McAlpine if you would like to know more you can click on the links for each book. If you would like to know more about the work that I do coaching Nurses you can find out more here If you would like to contact me to find out how coaching can help you please email me at eva@evastorey.com

In this episode, I interview Iris who is currently a Grad nurse on placement in Rural Western Australia. Iris never wanted to be a nurse and always thought that she would go into paramedicine but became hooked on Nursing We cover her journey into nursing and her experience working as a Graduate nurse in a remote and rural site in Western Australia. Iris's interview is energetic and her adventurous, bubbly and resilient personality shines through in this episode. She describes how she took a leap of faith, taking a graduate placement in a rural area and has developed her nursing and critical thinking skills in ways that she would never have thought possible. If you are a newly qualified nurse thinking about a rural placement take a listen, you will not be disappointed I promise! If you would like to know more about the work that I do coaching Nurses or are interested in being coached by me you can find out more here

Cynarra, always knew that she wanted to be a nurse, nursing runs in her blood. Her mum was a nurse and Cynarra grew up with an older sister with complex disability needs. These early influences led Cynarra to follow a career in disability nursing and more recently teaching nurses as a nurse lecturer about how to communicate and care for clients who are living with a disability. Helping them to see the person and learn how to communicate so that as nurses we can understand their needs and how best to support clients living in the community. We talk about the importance of preceptorship, clinical supervision and Cynarra shares her tips for leaving work at work and maintaining her self care away from work. Cynarra has such a lovely gentle personality that she uses to share her knowledge and experience gained in the 8 years that she has been a nurse. I hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I did interviewing Cynarra. If you have enjoyed listening to this episode please subscribe to my podcast to hear all the latest episodes. If you would like to know more about the work that I do coaching nurses please visit my website https://www.evastorey.com/ If you would like to share your story please email me at eva@evastorey.com

In this episode, I interview Emillee who is currently working as a Psychiatric Liason nurse in ED in regional Western Australia. Emillee always wanted to be a Doctor and entered into nursing thinking that she would become a Doctor at a later point. She wasn't able to get a grad position and was offered a post in a private mental health clinic as a newly qualified nurse.  She came to love working as a mental health nurse and has experience working with patients in an inpatient, outpatient, mother and baby unit, community mental health, and in the emergency department in her current role. Emillee is a passionate advocate for patients who are struggling with their mental health. In this interview, we talk about the stigma of mental health both from a patient and a nursing perspective. Her interview is a testament to her willingness to take a leap of faith and learn about mental health nursing despite having had no exposure to the care of patients with a mental health condition during her training. We also covered the importance of mentorship, clinical supervision and debrief as mechanisms to help nurses deal with the stresses of working in the challenging environment of mental health. Emillee also shares her knowledge, experience, and wisdom in balancing life and work successfully. If you have enjoyed listening to this episode please subscribe to my podcast to hear all the latest episodes.  If you would like to know more about the work that I do coaching nurses or would like to share your story drop me an email at eva@evastorey.com

In this episode, I interview Nurse Jacqui as she is affectionately known by the clients that she works with. Jacqui is a passionate nurse, a confidence coach, champion of carers and a BeYOUtiful Mentor. Jacqui shares her journey into why she became a nurse and her journey into entrepreneurship as the founder of Heartplace and BeYOUtiful mentor Jacqui candidly shares her experience whilst working as a nurse, of compassion fatigue and burnout as a result of a mindset of "work hard then rest". Jacqui recognised that she was not filling her self care compassion cup along the way until it was completely empty. Jacqui shares her insights into her own self-awareness and how her perfectionism, people-pleasing and overworking also didn't serve her self-compassion. Jacqui gives some great practical words of wisdom in her interview about how to find a little space for your self-compassion because nurses need nurturing too. Please subscribe to my Podcast to hear all the latest episodes If you would like to know more about the work that I do coaching nurses or would like to share your story please drop me an email at eva@evastorey.com.

In this episode, I interview Nurse Sonia Goodwin who is a passionate nurse leader, entrepreneur, CEO and founder of Sunny Street. Sunny street is a Doctor & Nurse-led outreach service providing primary healthcare and complex coordination services for homeless and vulnerable individuals and families across the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and Fraser Coast regions. Sunny Street has a mission to facilitate community connections and improve access to health care options. Sonia talks about how she became a nurse and then had a geronimo moment when she took a massive leap of faith in response to a question that was asked at a palliative care event. The question that led to the planting of the sunny street seed was "Are you really doing the best and the most that you can do for the people who need it the most?" The rest as they say is history. I loved interviewing Sonia who is a passionate advocate for vulnerable people, nursing leadership and a positive role model for female entrepreneurs everywhere. If you would like to know more about the coaching work that I do with nurses check out my Linkedin profile or visit my website  If you would like to share your story please contact me at eva@evastorey.com

Samatha's story is the final episode of 2020 where I started out to interview a nurse a month as part of the 2020 International Year of the Nurse and Midwife. Most of my interviews have been with nurses working in Australia and it seemed only right to include the experience of an Australian nurse who identifies as being an Aboriginal woman. This experience needs to be heard and understood and more importantly, storytelling is a large part of Aboriginal culture. Samantha describes  "being caught between two worlds, a love of my people and a love of the frontline and trying to find the balance." Samantha is a Koori woman from Ngunnawal and Wiradjuri country. Samatha is passionate about wanting to increase access to health services through telehealth for Aboriginal people and importantly for Aboriginal people to be able to speak to a health care worker who identifies as Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander. Closing the Gap is something that Samantha references throughout her interview. The Australian Government describes  'Closing the Gap' as being "underpinned by the belief that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a genuine say in the design and delivery of policies, programs and services that affect them, better life outcomes are achieved. It also recognises that structural change in the way governments work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is needed to close the gap" Samantha's interview highlights that there is still much work to be done if the trust is to be rebuilt amongst Aboriginal communities to facilitate and sustain aboriginal community engagement that addresses their health needs and influences the services that need to be developed as a result. Samantha advocates and articulates passionately the health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and has a dream to establish a mentoring program that can help and support Aboriginal nurses to remain in their country through accessing remote learning and mentorship from qualified nurses who identify as Aboriginal Torress Strait Islander. If you can help Samantha realise this dream please get in touch and I would love to connect you both.