🎙️ In this solo episode, Wendy brings together two powerful live recordings from the Your Nurse Voice Matters (previously known as Healthy Options Now) Facebook group to explore a question many nurses quietly ask themselves: Is this burnout, or have I outgrown my role?

In the first half, Wendy unpacks the signs that you may have outgrown your nursing role. Key themes include:

1. Loss of enjoyment — boredom, lack of challenge, and feeling undervalued

2. Misaligned expectations — what you were promised versus reality

3. Limited opportunities — no visible career pathway or growth

In the second half, Wendy clarifies the critical difference between burnout and role misalignment. Key themes include:

1. The source of the problem — workload and fatigue versus poor role fit

2. How you feel after rest — relief versus persistent dissatisfaction

3. What you fantasise about changing — hours and shifts versus purpose and direction

This episode encourages reflection, self-awareness, and proactive career conversations — before frustration turns into burnout.

If you know a nurse that has a story to tell, put us in touch

www.healthyoptionsnow.org

In this inspiring episode of Your Nurse Voice Matters, host Wendy Trevarthen speaks with Dr. Sue Gledhill, registered nurse, midwife, academic, researcher, community volunteer, and lifelong learner. Sue shares her extraordinary journey, beginning with a turbulent childhood and no high-school education, through to becoming a respected clinician, manager, researcher, and educator.

Sue reflects on her unconventional entry into nursing, her deep connection with Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane and how her early work in respiratory care led to groundbreaking conversations around sexuality and ageing—eventually forming the basis of her PhD research. Her story is a powerful reminder that dedication, curiosity, and vision can overcome even the greatest barriers.

As the conversation unfolds, Sue offers heartfelt encouragement to early-career nurses, emphasising the importance of staying curious, seeking mentors, and holding onto the images of the future you want to create. She also shares how volunteering, community radio, and continuous study have shaped a meaningful, balanced professional life.

Sue closes with a piece of wisdom drawn directly from her life experience—something she says made everything possible—and listeners will feel the impact of that insight long after the episode ends.

Three Key Points:

1. Lifelong learning opens unexpected doors—no matter where you begin.
2. Mentorship and community can change the course of a career.
3. Vision and purpose create momentum when the path ahead isn’t yet visible.

Dr. Sue Gledhill can be contacted via email suegledhill@acu.edu.au

If you know a Registered Nurse with a story to tell, introduce us wendy@healthyoptionsnow.org

Wendy’s website for more information is www.healthyoptionsnow.org

After 36 years as a Registered Nurse, I never imagined my path would lead to helping aspiring authors bring their stories to life 📚. My journey with Ultimate 48 Hour Author began back in 2018, when I published my very first book with the amazing Natasa Denman. Since then, I’ve gone on to publish further books — both independently and as part of her team — which has deepened my passion for guiding new authors to start on the right path.

Last week, Nat and I sat down for a Sales Mastery interview, exploring what it’s really like to transition from nursing into a completely different space — one that involves sales conversations (yes, that word we nurses often shy away from!).

In this relaxed, Q&A-style chat, we unpack the mindset shifts that make all the difference, how to bring your natural empathy and communication skills into sales, and how to help clients see the value of what you offer as a genuine solution to their needs.

Whether you’re a nurse considering a new direction or simply curious about how these skills translate beyond the hospital walls, this one’s for you.

🎙️ Tune in and take a listen — it’s a conversation full of insights, laughter, and practical wisdom for anyone ready for their next chapter.

For more information about the Ultimate 48 Hour Author, visit https://www.writeabook.com.au/

If you are a Registered Nurse or know a Registered Nurse who has a story to tell, reach out to me. https://www.healthyoptionsnow.org/