In this episode, I'm joined by Nicola from Brainworks Therapy, whose career has taken her from an award-winning makeup artist into mental health nursing, prison healthcare, leadership, and now helping organisations create healthier workplace cultures.
Together, we explore what happens when passionate nurses find themselves working within systems that don't always support the people they're trying to care for.
We have an honest conversation about mental health nursing, healthcare inequalities, systemic racism, compassion fatigue and why lasting change requires more than individual resilience.
Nicola also shares her experience of building a business alongside her nursing career, using her expertise to educate organisations, advocate for underrepresented communities and create meaningful change beyond the clinical setting.
If you've ever felt frustrated by the healthcare system, questioned how much influence one nurse can really have, or wondered what impact your experience could have outside of traditional nursing roles, this conversation will leave you feeling both challenged and inspired.
Whether you're passionate about mental health, leadership, health equity or creating change within healthcare, this is a conversation that reminds us that nurses have far more influence than we often give ourselves credit for.
About Nicola
Nicola is an internationally recognised TEDx Speaker, Mental Health Consultant and Specialist Psychiatric Nurse. She is a multi-award-winning founder of Brainworks Therapy, a global mental health clinic and consultancy. She works with high-achieving women of colour, senior leaders and organisations ready to move beyond performing resilience and build it properly.
With over 25 years’ frontline experience across acute psychiatric settings, community, judicial, and custodial settings, she brings rare clinical authority on how trauma, pressure and workplace culture shape behaviour, performance and leadership.
Her work spans UN prison reform, collaboration with the Duchy of Cornwall, and programmes for Amazon’s Black Employee Network. Known for her bold approach, she delivers measurable shifts in resilience, performance and influence.
Get notified when Nicola's TEDx talk gets released by completing this form HERE.
Connect with Nicola:
LinkedIn
Instagram
About the host:
Danielle Maynard is a nurse turned social entrepreneur and the founder of Nurse to Biz Boss and Serenity for Girls CIC.
After experiencing the realities of nursing from burnout to feeling like there had to be more, Danielle created a new path that blends purpose, impact, and income.
She now helps nurses recognise the value of their skills and experience beyond the ward, supporting them to explore new possibilities, build purpose-led businesses or community projects, and create work that feels more aligned with who they are.
Through this podcast, she shares real conversations, honest insights, and practical guidance to help you think differently, move differently, and build something that aligns with you.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re meant for more… you’re in the right place.
If this episode spoke to you, I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to message me over on Instagram.
And if you know another nurse who’s been feeling like this too, send this episode their way!
If you’re enjoying The More Than A Nurse Podcast, leaving a quick review helps more nurses find these conversations (and realise they’re not the only one feeling this way).
Get my support here
https://www.nursetobizboss.co.uk/beyondtheward
Stay connected with Danielle
Come and connect with me on Instagram, where I share more about navigating this stage as a nurse.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielleaynard_
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@danielle_nursetobizboss
Email: hello@nursetobizboss.co.uk
Explore Danielle's CIC:
https://www.serenityforgirls.co.uk
