Shift Happens

Manitoba Nurses Union
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Shift’s About to Go Down... Nursing isn’t all scrubs and stethoscopes—it’s grit, guts, and stories that need telling. Shift Happens brings you the unfiltered side of healthcare, hosted by MNU’s Darlene Jackson and Brandi Johnson. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s the podcast where nurses take centre stage.

  1. FEB 5

    On the Road With MNU

    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 mnupresident@manitobanurses.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/).

    35 min

  2. JAN 22

    Making Sense of Misinformation

    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/).

    40 min

  3. JAN 8

    sameshift.ca

    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/).

    28 min

  4. 12/11/2025

    On Shift for the Holidays

    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/).

    29 min

  5. 11/27/2025

    Leadership Is a Skill, Not Just a Title

    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/).

    37 min

  6. 11/13/2025

    If Nothing Changes, Nothing Changes

    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/).

    38 min

  7. 10/30/2025

    Care Isn't Care Without Compassion

    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 InstagramJoin the Bray the Brave Facebook groupVisit 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/).

    45 min

  8. 10/16/2025

    The Institutional Kind of Betrayal

    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).

    47 min
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About

Shift’s About to Go Down... Nursing isn’t all scrubs and stethoscopes—it’s grit, guts, and stories that need telling. Shift Happens brings you the unfiltered side of healthcare, hosted by MNU’s Darlene Jackson and Brandi Johnson. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s the podcast where nurses take centre stage.

Information

  • Creator
    Manitoba Nurses Union
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Manitoba Nurses Union
  • Show Website
    Shift Happens