Shift Happens – Details, episodes & analysis

On June 19, 2025, everything changed for Tara and her family. Her seven-year-old son, Brayden, was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia—a rare and life-threatening condition. Their world turned upside down overnight, and Tara was suddenly living every parent’s worst fear.

In this episode, Brandi and Darlene sit down with Tara as she shares what it’s like to live inside the healthcare system, and about the nurses who became her family’s lifeline. From small acts of kindness to moments of extraordinary compassion, her story is a powerful reminder of the difference nurses make, even when the system makes it hard for them to keep going.

Because sometimes, a story of compassion is exactly what we need to remember why nurses do what they do.

❤️ Follow Brayden’s Journey:

• Follow Tara on Instagram
• Join the Bray the Brave Facebook group
• Visit their GoFundMe page

About MNU

Manitoba Nurses Union (MNU) represents more than 13,000 nurses across the province, advocating for fair wages, better working conditions, and quality patient care. Since 1975, MNU has been a bold voice for nurses, providing support and pushing for a stronger healthcare system. Learn more at manitobanurses.ca.

Submit a thank-you message for That Good Shift: https://shifthappenspod.ca/contact/ 

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manitobanurses/ 

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ManitobaNurses 

Shift Happens is an MNU podcast, hosted by Darlene Jackson and Brandi Johnson. The show is produced and edited by Chynna Hill. Special thanks to Jane Chartrand for our show art and branding. Music and SFX on the show are produced by Ty Kiddo (https://www.instagram.com/tykiddomusic/).

Nurses know what it feels like to be ignored. To report violence or raise safety concerns and hear nothing back. To be told change is coming, and then wait months or years while conditions only get worse. It’s happening all over this province right now.

That silence has a name: institutional betrayal.

It happens when the very institutions meant to keep us safe look the other way. When harm is minimized, communication breaks down, and accountability disappears.

But it doesn’t have to stay that way. There’s another path, one grounded in institutional courage.

That’s what happens when leaders listen, take responsibility, and act transparently. When they protect the people who keep the system running—not just the system itself.

In this episode, Darlene and Brandi sit down with Dr. Katherine Brewer, Assistant Professor at Towson University, to unpack what institutional betrayal looks like in healthcare, why it persists, and what courage in leadership truly means.

To learn more about institutional betrayal and institutional courage, visit: institutionalcourage.org.

Learn more about the Institutional Betrayal Questionnaire (IBQ).

To learn more about Dr. Katherine Brewer's research, visit: https://www.towson.edu/chp/departments/nursing/facultystaff/katie-brewer.html 

About MNU

Manitoba Nurses Union (MNU) represents more than 13,000 nurses across the province, advocating for fair wages, better working conditions, and quality patient care. Since 1975, MNU has been a bold voice for nurses, providing support and pushing for a stronger healthcare system. Learn more at manitobanurses.ca.

Submit a thank-you message for That Good Shift: shifthappenspod.ca/contact

Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/manitobanurses

Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/ManitobaNurses 

Shift Happens is an MNU podcast, hosted by Darlene Jackson and Brandi Johnson. The show is produced and edited by Chynna Hill. Special thanks to Jane Chartrand for our show art and branding. Music and SFX on the show are produced by Ty Kiddo (instagram.com/tykiddomusic).

Nurses know firsthand that their real-life experiences are powerful tools for advocacy and stories that need to be heard. In this episode, Darlene and Brandi are joined by Doug Darling, CEO & Executive Creative Director of Tripwire Media Group, to discuss the impact of storytelling in driving change. They reflect on past MNU campaigns, and Doug shares why authentic stories can inspire action and spark meaningful change.

What happens when the system fails the very people who keep it running? In this powerful episode, Brandi and Darlene sit down with Kelly, a frontline nurse, who shares her story of workplace trauma and PTSD. Kelly reveals the devastating effects of sexual assault at work and the struggles she faced to receive the proper supports. This episode is a raw look at the urgent need for real change in healthcare—stronger mental health support, zero tolerance for unacceptable behaviour, and accountable leadership. If you’ve experienced workplace trauma, you’re not alone. Speak up. Reach out.

Misinformation is rampant. Division is growing. And across Canada, public sector workers—from nurses to teachers to police officers—are burning out. In this episode of Shift Happens, Brandi and Darlene tackle what’s fuelling the chaos we’re all feeling, who it’s hurting most, and why Canadian solidarity isn’t just a nice idea. It’s a necessity.

Nurses sign up to save lives, not to dodge punches. Violence in healthcare is rising, and for nurses, it’s becoming an everyday reality. In this episode, MNU Vice President-to-be Katie Stark shares her firsthand experience with workplace violence, the gaps in support for nurses, and the fight for real safety measures. From staffing shortages to security failures, we’re breaking down the rise in violence, and what needs to change now.

We know that nursing isn’t just physically exhausting. It’s emotionally and psychologically draining, too. And yet, nurses are expected to just keep going, push through, shift after shift. But at what cost? Paige Mathison—a former psychiatric nurse turned clinical counsellor—joins Darlene and Brandi to talk about the heavy emotional toll of nursing, why so many healthcare workers struggle with unprocessed trauma, and what we can do about it.

Let’s get into it! Welcome to Shift Happens. In this first episode, hosts Darlene Jackson and Brandi Johnson introduce the podcast, share why now is the time for bold conversations about nursing and healthcare, and set the stage for what’s ahead. Get ready for real talk, unfiltered stories, and a deep dive into the issues that matter most to nurses.

Sometimes the line between thriving and burning out as a new nurse comes down to two words: nurse mentorship. 

In this episode, Brandi and Darlene are joined by public health nurses Katryna and Hayley, a mentor–mentee duo from rural Manitoba, to talk about how trust, teamwork, and a little guidance can change everything for nurses starting out.

Plus, in this week’s That Good Shift segment, members share heartfelt thank-you messages to the mentors who helped guide their journey.

Whether you’re a seasoned nurse looking to support the next generation or a new grad searching for guidance, this conversation proves mentorship can really make all the difference.

Mentorship research shows that:

• Junior nurses have a faster, safer transition to practice with a higher competency, have higher job satisfaction and increased intention to stay, as well as generally better psychological outcomes (greater sense of belonging, reduced stress). 
• Mentors also see benefits like increased job satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment from their work, leadership, and professional development skills. 
• Similar benefits are seen in both formal and informal mentorship relationships, but formal mentorship programs do have some additional benefits, such as structure (goals, timelines, clear roles), good/intentional matching, monitoring and evaluation, and resources (time, mentor training).

But, without enough nurse mentors:

• New grads leave sooner, and turnover rises.
• Burnout and stress increase for seasoned nurses, and a lack of mentoring during transition amplifies workload stress and moral distress.
• New grads face longer, riskier “transition shock” without mentorship.
• New grads have lower confidence and competence in clinical skills.
• Patient safety is at risk when retention and mentorship supports fail.
• Units struggle to sustain a strong learning culture.

Research compiled by MNU Researcher Michelle Lark.

Shift Happens is back for another season, and hosts Brandi and Darlene are ready to dive in! In this episode, they reflect on why the podcast matters, touch on the challenges and wins that shaped the summer, and share what’s ahead for nurses and the union. Listeners can expect a renewed sense of energy and a few exciting changes to the show, designed to keep nurse voices front and centre while balancing hard truths with hope. Season 2 is here, and it’s all about connection, advocacy, and celebrating the people who keep Manitoba’s healthcare system moving.