This episode of The Happy Nurse features returning guest Michelle DeRoubaix, a nurse educator, leadership coach and mentor with over 40 years of clinical nursing experience and more than 20 years developing nurse leaders. Drawing on her work and her ebook “From Self Doubt to Confident Leader,” Michelle and Elaina explore the realities of modern nurse leadership, the impact of COVID-19 on leadership pathways, and how nurses can lead themselves first to create safer, kinder workplace cultures.

Summary

In this conversation, Elaina and Michelle dive into the changing face of nursing leadership, including how nurses are being pushed into senior roles earlier than ever and what that means for confidence, burnout and workplace culture. They discuss practical, strengths-based strategies to navigate imposter syndrome, give feedback with compassion, step out of the Drama Triangle and build psychologically safe teams where everyone feels seen, heard and valued. Michelle also shares simple tools for regulating the nervous system, setting boundaries and reconnecting with the core “why” of nursing so leaders can sustain themselves and their teams in a demanding healthcare environment.

• How COVID-19 and workforce shortages have accelerated nurses into leadership roles (often within 2–3 years) and the stress and skill gaps this creates.​
• Why Michelle chose to focus on associate NUMs and emerging leaders rather than senior executives, and how her Master’s in Business Coaching helps bridge nursing and organisational realities.​
• Common confidence challenges for nurse leaders: imposter syndrome, fear of errors, and the discomfort of giving feedback to colleagues.​
• Practical approaches to feedback that are honest, kind and brief, and why timing, calmness and follow-up conversations matter.​
• The harm of “favourites,” roster manipulation and mean-girl culture, and how these behaviours erode integrity, trust and psychological safety.​
• The Drama Triangle versus the Winner’s Triangle, and how shifting from drama to solutions can protect energy and culture.​
• Leading self first: knowing your strengths, values and core needs (including feeling safe, valued and connected) as the foundation of effective leadership.​
• Simple team practices to rebuild connection on busy wards, such as brief appreciation circles, mindful moments after a death or code, and small rituals of kindness.​
• The impact of shift work, acuity and ageing populations on nurse wellbeing, and why boundaries, rest, movement, nutrition and relationships are non‑negotiable.​
• Nervous system regulation tools for nurses: diaphragmatic breathing to activate the parasympathetic system, short pauses to “respond not react,” and regular micro-moments of decompression.​
• The importance of vulnerability in leadership, and how a leader’s openness makes it safer for staff to be honest about challenges and mistakes.

• Michelle’s ebook: From Self Doubt to Confident Leader - https://lp.michellederoubaix.com.au/roadmap-download-page

• Previous Happy Nurse episode with Michelle on the Drama Triangle and leadership - Episode 004.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Instagram.com/graduatenursecoach

facebook.com/graduatenursecoach

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

In this episode, Mark, founder of MACH Health, shares his extensive healthcare journey from Australia to Singapore, China, and the UK, and his transition from clinical nursing to creating innovative solutions aimed at reducing nurse burnout and promoting sustainable nurse wellbeing.

Mark discusses the current international nursing workforce crisis, the critical need for proactive and evidence based approaches to nurse health, and his digital platform designed specifically for nurses’ physical, emotional, and professional wellbeing. He reflects on the importance of community, personalised support, and education tailored to nurses' unique needs, while addressing the systemic challenges contributing to workforce attrition and burnout.

Key Highlights:

• Mark’s journey across healthcare systems internationally and his focus on sustaining nurses careers.

• Insights into the global nursing shortage, exacerbated by the pandemic and ongoing systemic challenges in healthcare.

• Discussion on the unsustainable pressures facing nurses, including shift work, staffing shortages, and the impact on patient care.

• Introduction to MACH Health, the digital health platform created to support nurses health through personalised interventions related to sleep, nutrition, emotional wellbeing, and more.

• How the app tracks nurses' daily shifts, wellbeing indicators, and offers tailored exercises, meditations, recipes, and health tips.

• Plans for community building within the app to connect nurses globally and provide peer vetted educational resources.

• The goal of the platform to be accessible worldwide and to evolve to support other healthcare professionals and high stress industries.

• Emphasis on non blame, systemic approaches to supporting nurses that empower individuals and engage organisations with real time data insights.

• Mark’s personal experience with burnout and his motivation to build sustainable solutions for nurses to thrive in their careers and lives.

The MACH Health app is available in the Australian and UK app stores.

About Mark:

Mark is a registered nurse and healthcare innovator with over 22 years in clinical and executive roles across Australia, Singapore, China, and the UK. Named one of the WHO's Top 50 under 50 Global Change Agents for Healthy Aging in 2022, he leads MACH Health in pioneering scalable, evidence based solutions to nurse burnout and workforce sustainability. Proud husband and father, Mark is passionate about creating systemic change in healthcare through personalised, practical interventions.

Connect with Mark on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/markcarter15/

I do want to acknowledge: while Mark’s audio is clear as a bell, you might notice a few minutes of crackling on my end, a wild storm decided to join our recording session outside! Thanks for sticking with us through the weather; the conversation is worth it.

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