From working as a health counselor at a safe house for human trafficking survivors in Spain to a palliative care nurse in Australia, former NSW Young Australian of the Year Sarah Morse has more than two decades of nursing experience.
With her experience in cancer treatment and palliative care, she knows all too well how burnout affects nurses and other healthcare professionals. Based on her personal experiences, Sarah now works as a consultant, facilitator and keynote speaker, working with nurses and other healthcare professionals to help them overcome burnout and moral injury and create thriving workplaces.
She is also the founder and director of Unchained Solutions, a social enterprise that aims to inspire Australian businesses to take action against modern slavery. For her achievements, she received awards such as the “Women’s Economic Forum Woman of Excellence” and the “Ausmumpreneur Women Will Change the World Award”.
06:00 My day begins with morning cuddles when my six-year-old crawls into my bed between 6:00 and 6:30 a.m. as soon as she wakes up. Warm, sleepy cuddles are the best!
06:30 My alarm goes off and I’m officially awake. When I can, I start my day with prayer and meditation, but that doesn’t always happen. Cuddling my 11 year old when I get up.
07:00 I head out to do some self-care and take a walk around my neighborhood. I use this time to reflect and pray about my day and mentally prepare myself for what comes next. Today I talk to my accountability partner as I walk.
08:00 I come home to the final contractions of my girls getting ready for school. I am grateful for the partnership with my husband, who is great at managing the morning hustle and bustle! Kisses and hugs and a final check of their bags to make sure they have everything when they walk out the door.
08:30 The house is quiet while the girls go to school. Breakfast and a quick shower to prepare for the day. Don’t forget the coffee!!
09:00: Morning meeting with my husband and co-founder of Unchained Solutions to discuss our team and upcoming training.
09:30 At my desk to update my VA on social media and marketing and answer any emails before heading out for the day. I rush around, put on my make-up, put on my red dress and red glitter shoes and am ready for today’s workshop.
10:30 As I drive around the city, I’m grateful for this life that I get to lead and where I get to live out all of my passions at once, even though the days are sometimes long and the juggling is real.
11:00 Arrive at a hospital for room setup and AV check for my morning masterclass.
11:30 a.m Deliver my Culture of COURAGE Masterclass to a room full of healthcare professionals and inspire them to help their teams thrive. I invite you to walk the path of recovery from burnout and moral injury and return to a thriving culture.
1:00 p.m Time for lunch and a change into my scrubs before heading off to the hospital for the afternoon shift on a busy surgical ward.
2:30 p.m The shift begins and I receive the handover. It’s going to be a busy affair! While I’m working, I remember the “What if Disney ran your hospital” video that I watched as an orientation about how to give people in the hospital unforgettable moments. I do my best to personalize the experience for each person.
3:00 p.m I am preparing a patient for a trip to the theater. He’s an older man with sky-high blood pressure, which he says always goes up whenever he gets to the hospital! He is asymptomatic and I call the anesthesiologist who is happy to follow up.
3:30 p.m A patient returns from nasal reconstruction surgery following the removal of a basal cell carcinoma. Despite his bandaged nose, he is in good spirits. While I’m doing his follow-up exams, I get word that another patient has returned.
3:45 p.m This time a 93-year-old man who is at high risk of falling. He is slightly confused by the anesthesia and his daughters try to redirect him to the ward. I consult with his surgeon, who agrees that it is in his best interest to keep him in the hospital a few more nights.
5:00 p.m The rest of the afternoon is spent in the hustle and bustle of patients coming and going to their daytime surgeries and attending to their individual pre- and post-operative needs.
6:30 p.m Time for dinner and FaceTime to say goodnight to my girls. Unfortunately I won’t be there at bedtime tonight, but the rhythm of my life, where no two days are the same, means that tomorrow I’ll be there during the day for school assembly, pick-up, homework and bedtime.
7:00 p.m After dinner, only my day patients remain and I take care of my patients who stay overnight.
10:00 p.m I hand off my remaining patients and my shift ends.
11:00 p.m Home and showered. Time for a quick chat with my husband to reflect on our days before we fall asleep, excited to see what tomorrow will bring.