5 Things Nursing Podcast by RBWH
This a podcast produced by, for and with the amazing nurses and health professionals of the Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital community. Our purpose is to inspire, educate and connect our local and global healthcare community as we collectively move from surviving to thriving in our personal and professional lives.
This a podcast produced by, for and with the amazing nurses and health professionals of the Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital community. Our purpose is to inspire, educate and connect our local and global healthcare community as we collectively move from surviving to thriving in our personal and professional lives.
Episodes

Friday Oct 17, 2025
Ep 91: Five Things About Neurodivergence With Maddison Carroll
Friday Oct 17, 2025
Friday Oct 17, 2025
In this episode Liz and Jesse are joined by Maddison Carroll, Nuclear Medicine Scientist and Educator. This episode is not about nuclear medicine, but instead about Maddie's lived experience, and lessons for all about neurodivergence.
Maddie’s Five Things:
The diversity in neurodivergence.
Communication is a two-way street.
Challenge assumptions, expectations and status quo.
Only the individual with lived experience can claim their neurodivergence as a superpower.
Neuro-inclusivity and diversity benefits everyone.

Monday Sep 15, 2025
Ep 90: Five Things About Stroke With Dr Claire Muller
Monday Sep 15, 2025
Monday Sep 15, 2025
In this episode Liz and Jesse are joined by Dr Claire Muller, stroke neurologist at the RBWH, and clinical director of the Queensland Tele-Stroke Service. No surprises here… it’s all about stroke!
Claire’s Five Things:
What is a stroke?
What are the signs and symptoms of a stroke?
What can be done about a stroke?
What is a “code stroke?”
How can people recover from a stroke?

Friday Aug 01, 2025
Ep 89: Five Things About Translational Simulation with Laura Owens
Friday Aug 01, 2025
Friday Aug 01, 2025
Five Things About Translational Simulation with Laura Owens
In this episode Liz and Jesse are joined by second time guest on the podcast, Laura Owens. Laura works in the RBWH Emergency and Trauma Centre as a Nurse Navigator and, more specific to this episode, as the Clinical Nurse Consultant with the RBWH Teamwork and Collaborative Training (TACT) service. Laura gives us great insight into Translational Simulation.
Laura’s Five Things:
What is Simulation?
What is Translational Simulation?
Why is it important?
How does it work in practice?
Where can you go to learn more?

Wednesday Jul 16, 2025
Wednesday Jul 16, 2025
In this episode of Five Things Liz and Jesse are joined by Dr Kate McCarthy, Infectious Disease Physician and Microbiologist at RBWH and Associate Professor with the University of Queensland. We take a quick refresh and snapshot of the ARI landscape as we head into our “virus season” in the Southern Hemisphere.
Kate’s Five Things:
What is happening with respiratory viral infections in adults “post-COVID”.
Environmental factors impacting viral transmission.
Does PPE work? Rationalise protective measures.
Update on the RSBV vaccine.
“Cow Flu” a virus on the current International watch list.

Friday Jul 04, 2025
Ep 87: Five Things About Culturally Informed Compassion With Roslyn Boland
Friday Jul 04, 2025
Friday Jul 04, 2025
When it comes to compassion, one size does not fit all.
In this first episode in a series inspired by the Metro North Health Compassionate Care Principles we zoom in on Culturally Informed Compassion with Roslyn Boland, Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health at RBWH.
Rosyln identifies as an Aboriginal woman of the Mardigan and Kooma peoples and we acknowledge the examples we discuss in this podcast are a composite of her lived experience and of the many stories she holds from communities and families she has engaged with in her work as a health care worker, liaison officer, nurse and healthcare leader.
Roslyn's five things:
Compassion for our Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders population is the same for everyone else. We need to remain aware of cultural sensitivities
Be aware and connected to the additional needs of our indigenous peoples, don’t make assumptions ask every time. Involve our Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander workforce early.
When working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders peoples it is important to remember that compassion has to extend and begin with the patient in the context of their family, friends and community. Keeping the family/friends/community engaged, involved, communicated with is part of compassionate care.
Compassion is felt and experienced by others, it is not something ‘done’ to others. We have to be relational, recognise that all individuals are different and we discover those needs by connection, questions and listening.
Compassion also has to be found in the system. Be an advocate for our Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders patients, families, communities, colleagues and peers

Monday Jul 22, 2024
Ep 86: Five Things About Debriefing to Learn With Liz & Jesse
Monday Jul 22, 2024
Monday Jul 22, 2024
In this episode Liz and Jesse run without a guest for part 2 of our series on debriefing. This time we talk about debriefing to learn in clinical practice, how and why? Both Liz and Jesse have years – decades experience in facilitating debriefs in clinical practice settings and hope to see a continued path forward in creating these opportunities to learn and grow.
This episode marks an indefinite pause on our productions of Five Things as we move forward exploring plans for the future. Thank you for listening.
Our Five Things:
Debunked Debriefing Myths.
What is debriefing to learn?
Debriefing to learn can create opportunities for growth and development.
Debriefing to learn and insights into communication.
Debriefing to learn can create a sense of belonging.

Friday Jul 12, 2024
Ep 85: Five Things Debunking Myths About Debriefing With Liz and Jesse
Friday Jul 12, 2024
Friday Jul 12, 2024
In this episode Liz and Jesse run without a guest to tackle five big myths about debriefing to learn in clinical practice. Both Liz and Jesse have years – decades experience in facilitating debriefs in clinical practice settings and put a target on a few of the sticky myths that form barriers to creating these opportunities to learn and grow.
Our Five Debunked Debriefing Myths:
Debriefing causes harm.
Debriefs only happen after critical events.
Debriefs should be psychologically based.
You can’t lead a debrief if you were involved in the clinical situation.
There’s no time to debrief.

Friday Jun 28, 2024
Friday Jun 28, 2024
In this episode Liz and Jesse are joined by Rebecca Boparai to learn from her experience of being on the “other side” of healthcare. Rebecca works a Nurse Practitioner in Diabetes, but her story is about the impact that experiencing the healthcare system as a partner who lost her husband to cancer has shaped her professionally and personally. We were so pleased to provide a place for Rebecca to chare this wisdom forged through such a heavy personal experience.
Rebecca’s Five Things:
The patient is a person first.
Slow down and look for the small moments – they can have huge impact.
Empathy is different from sympathy.
Family, friends and community are incredibly important in this journey.
What will be our legacy?

Your Hosts
The Five Things RBWH Nursing podcast is hosted by Dr Liz Crowe (She/Her) and Jesse Spurr (He/Him). Liz has PhD in the wellbeing of healthcare professionals and is an experienced social worker with over 25 years in critical care. Liz works as the staff wellbeing consultant at Royal Women's & Brisbane Hospital. Jesse is the Nursing and Midwifery Director of Education at RBWH, a critical care nurse and avid learner who has worked in a broad range of roles throughout the health service and has a particular interest in organisational psychology and team science. You can connect with Liz and Jesse on Twitter.
Always Was, Always Will Be
The Royal Brisbane and Women’s hospital Five Things Nursing Podcast acknowledges the Turrbal and Yugara as the First Nations owners of the lands where we now tread. We pay respect to their Elders, lores, customs and creation spirits. We recognise that these lands have always been places of healing, teaching, and learning. We also wish to acknowledge the First Nations people of the lands of our global community and encourage our listeners to seek out, listen and learn from the knowledge held in your shared spaces.

Podcast Music
Thanks to the amazing producers of creative commons royalty free music, available on Pixabay, for providing the backing beats for 5 Things Podcast.





