Shift Happens

As MNU heads into AGM season, Brandi and Darlene wrap up Season 2 of Shift Happens with a focused conversation on what it actually means to be a union activist — and why that role belongs to every member.

Activism isn’t limited to rallies or big moments. It’s sending an email about a workplace concern. Completing a survey. Documenting unsafe conditions. Showing up to a Local meeting. Sharing a campaign. Serving on a committee. Some actions are visible. Many are behind the scenes. All of them strengthen our collective voice.

This episode highlights what happens when nurses refuse to accept unsafe or unfair conditions as normal. From sustained advocacy around workplace safety, to member-driven change, to persistent pressure for improvements, progress began with nurses speaking up and backing one another.

Activism isn’t one-size-fits-all. You don’t have to do everything. You just have to do something.

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/).

In this episode of Shift Happens, our co-hosts talk about what Darlene’s been hearing on her President’s Tour across Manitoba’s health regions.

Darlene talks about the value of being physically present in nurses’ workplaces, making time for direct, face-to-face conversations, and staying grounded in the day-to-day realities of the profession. For nurses, these visits are a meaningful opportunity to connect with their union leadership in their own communities, ask questions, share perspectives, and see how their experiences inform the work happening at the provincial level.

These conversations continue to shape advocacy at MNU, ensuring member voices are reflected in the union’s priorities and pressure on decision-makers. Because effective representation starts with showing up.

If you’re a member and want to get in touch with Darlene, send an email to [email protected]. 

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/).

Every week, there’s a new headline saying healthcare is improving. But for nurses, the story feels very different.

In this episode of Shift Happens, Brandi and Darlene are joined by Michelle Lark, MNU’s in-house researcher, to break down how data gets used to shape public perception and why that matters. They dig into how cherry-picking data can distort reality, and why context is the difference between information and spin.

This is a conversation about how to question the data you’re being shown, understand the story it’s trying to tell, and hold decision-makers to account.

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/).

In this episode of Shift Happens, Brandi and Darlene break down MNU’s Same Shift, Different Day campaign: why it was needed, how it came to life, and why it’s now resonating beyond Manitoba. They unpack the real issues behind the campaign billboards — workplace violence, mental health and workplace culture, and the strain unsafe conditions place on patient care — and why these realities show up shift after shift. They also share how the campaign sparked a national movement through the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, and how the public can take action at sameshift.ca.

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/).

The holidays don’t hit pause in healthcare, and nurses know that better than anyone.

In this special holiday episode of Shift Happens, Brandi and Darlene talk about what it’s like to work through the season. The strain. The missed moments. The responsibility. And the quiet, powerful ways nurses show up for patients when it matters most.

You’ll also hear holiday messages from nurse leaders and colleagues across the country, sharing reflections on strength, family, generosity, and what keeps them grounded and connected when the pressure is high.

From all of us at MNU, thank you to every nurse for the care and dedication you bring to every shift. We’ll see you in the new year!

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/).

Every nurse can name a manager who shaped their career — for better or for worse.

In part two of our conversation with Dr. Kim McMillan from the University of Ottawa, Brandi and Darlene dive into the realities of the nurse manager role. Kim breaks down the balancing act managers face every day, from advocating for their staff to navigating executive expectations, bureaucracy, and system-level constraints.

Together, they explore the qualities that define strong leadership, why so many managers are set up to struggle, and what needs to change to build leaders nurses can trust and workplaces where leadership truly supports safe care.

More About Dr. McMillan

To learn more about Dr. McMillan’s research, you can find her section on nurse managers in the following CFNU report. Her analysis, “Management Matters,” appears on pages 34–36:

Today’s Nurse: What Contemporary Canadian Nurses Need to Stay in the Workforce for the Longevity of Their Career

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/).

Nursing culture is one of the most misunderstood parts of the profession—especially by the people making decisions about healthcare. 

In the first episode of this two-part conversation, Brandi and Darlene sit down with Dr. Kim McMillan, associate professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Ottawa, to dig into what “culture” truly means in nursing and why it’s so often reduced to oversimplified ideas.

Drawing on her research, Dr. McMillan explains the foundations of nursing culture, where common misconceptions come from, and how systemic pressures shape the way nurses practice today.

More About Dr. McMillan

A published paper in which Dr. McMillan examines how a culture of care and a culture of service in healthcare are often at odds, creating situations that result in moral distress for nurses. (Not open access):

• Ideological tensions amidst rapid and continuous organizational change in healthcare

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/).

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).

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.