Nursing Stories from the Heart
Claim This Podcastby Cheryl Burns & Beth Matarasso
Podcast Overview
<p><span>From our hearts to yours through wisdom, knowledge, and experience. Every nurse has a story, and every story shared strengthens our profession. We believe the quiet moments of care and the difficult decisions made at the bedside hold the true power of our calling. Nursing Stories from the Heart is a dedicated space for shared lessons, professional legacy, and collective wisdom. Hosted by Cheryl Burns, author of Memoirs of a Matron, and Beth Matarasso RN, this series bridges the gap between traditional nursing wisdom and the practical realities of modern healthcare practice. In each episode, we journey through the wisdom of the past to inspire the care of the future. By revisiting the moments and heart-led decisions that shaped a lifetime of service, we explore what it truly means to lead with a nursing heart in today’s world. Whether you are a student just beginning your journey or a seasoned professional, we invite you to join us as we honour the legacy of our vocation.</span></p> <p><span></span></p> <p class="p1">Recorded and Produced at <a href="https://thepodcastboss.com/"><span class="s1">The Podcast Boss</span></a> podcast studio in Brisbane</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
5/11/2026
Reach the team behind Nursing Stories from the Heart
Verified contact details for this show aren't on file yet — sign up to get notified when they land.
Recent Episodes
June 2, 2026
The Gift of Hope, Holding the Burden, and the Future of Nursing
What does it mean to "hold hope" for someone when their diagnosis is devastating and the clinical path forward is dark? In the final episode of our pilot series, retired senior nursing leader Cheryl Burns and Beth Matarasso RN sit down for a deeply personal, clinical, and inspiring conversation about the nature of hope, professional courage, and the future of healthcare. We begin with Cheryl reflecting on her days as a second-year student nurse. Acting as a primary nurse, she stood by a patient who received the news of an inoperable, metastatic diagnosis. Cheryl details the moment she stepped into the hospital corridor to advocate directly to a prominent, busy surgeon—prompting an unforgettable act of bedside compassion that changed her perspective on medical-nursing collaboration forever. Beth shares a parallel reflection from her early graduate year in mental health, sharing a powerful lesson taught to her by a wise nurse unit manager: when hope becomes too heavy a burden for a patient to carry, a nurse's greatest gift is the willingness to gently hold that hope for them. Cheryl also shares a second clinical story from her time as an ICU and ward team leader, detailing how she paused the chaos of a busy afternoon shift to sit in silence and hold the hand of a terrified international traveller diagnosed with a football-sized mediastinal tumour. Finally, Cheryl and Beth look forward, sharing their shared, hopeful vision for the nursing profession in Australia, advocating for advanced practice, nurse-led community care for our ageing population, and empowering every registered nurse to practise at the absolute top of their clinical scope. Key Discussion Points:• Understanding hope as an active, changing clinical tool rather than a passive emotion.• The courage required to advocate to senior medical specialists on behalf of vulnerable patients.• Sitting in silence: Why physical presence and "slowing down" matters in crisis care.• The professional dilemma of balancing administrative team leader duties with human connection.• Reimagining the Australian healthcare landscape through empowered nurse practitioners and community care. About Your Hosts:Cheryl Burns is a retired Queensland nursing leader with a forty-year legacy in clinical practice, administration, and advocacy. As the author of Memoirs of a Matron, she is dedicated to preserving the rich history of the nursing vocation.Beth Matarasso RN is an experienced registered nurse who brings contemporary clinical insights, warmth, and peer-to-peer curiosity, translating Cheryl’s historical wisdom into actionable lessons for today’s wards. Support the Vocation:If you are touched by these stories and want to explore the history of Cheryl's journey, pick up your copy of "Memoirs of a Matron" on Amazon or at major book retailers. Nursing from the heart always provides safe quality care. Recorded and Produced at The Podcast Boss podcast studio in Brisbane #NursingStoriesFromTheHeart #ClinicalAdvocacy #NursePractitioner #NursingHistory #GraduateNurse #FutureOfNursing #BedsideCompassion #AgedCareAustralia #registerednurse
May 26, 2026
The Circle of Life, Advanced Practice, and Dignity in End-of-Life Care
How do we preserve dignity in the final moments of a patient’s life when the healthcare system is pushing us to move faster? In this deeply moving episode of Nursing Stories from the Heart, retired senior nursing leader Cheryl Burns and Beth Matarasso RN share a vital conversation surrounding end-of-life care, clinical advocacy, and the rise of advanced practice nursing in Australia. We begin with Cheryl reflecting on her own family’s palliative care journey, witnessing firsthand the clinical leadership and compassion of a Nurse Practitioner. This sparks an inspiring retrospective on Cheryl’s time serving on the pioneering Queensland committee that campaigned at a federal level to establish the credentialed Nurse Practitioner role we know today. Cheryl and Beth break down the significance of this role, highlighting how advanced practice acts as a compassionate "single point of contact" that spares vulnerable families the exhausting burden of repeatedly retelling their clinical trauma. We also journey through two powerful, historical clinical accounts. Cheryl shares the reality of standing in the high-stakes tension of a cardiac arrest to advocate for a dying mother’s final wish to see her children, and the profound moral courage required to slow down the modern hospital system in the ICU to protect a grieving family’s right to an unhurried farewell. Finally, Cheryl shares invaluable practical guidance on post-mortem care as a sacred ritual, explaining how paying meticulous attention to a patient's physical presentation shapes the lifelong memories of those they leave behind. This episode is an essential, heart-led guide for student nurses, early-career registered nurses, and anyone passionate about preserving the true dignity of clinical practice. Key Discussion Points:• The pivotal role of Nurse Practitioners and advanced practice in Australian healthcare.• Standing up as a clinical advocate during high-pressure resuscitations.• Slowing down systemic bed pressures to protect families in their grief.• Post-mortem care as a sacred, respectful nursing ritual.• Mentoring and supporting early-career nurses facing clinical death for the first time. About Your Hosts:Cheryl Burns is a retired Queensland nursing leader with a forty-year legacy in clinical practice, administration, and advocacy. As the author of Memoirs of a Matron, she is dedicated to preserving the rich history of the nursing vocation.Beth Matarasso RN is an experienced registered nurse who brings contemporary clinical insights, warmth, and peer-to-peer curiosity, translating Cheryl’s historical wisdom into actionable lessons for today’s wards. Support the Vocation:If you are touched by these stories and want to explore the history of Cheryl's journey, pick up your copy of "Memoirs of a Matron" on Amazon or at major book retailers. Nursing from the heart always provides safe quality care.
May 20, 2026
Importance of Clinical Assessment, Observations in Patient Care.
In an era dominated by electronic monitors, relying solely on automated technology risks missing subtle, life-threatening changes in a patient’s condition. In this episode, hosts Beth Matarasso and former Director of Nursing Cheryl Burns explore the critical art of comprehensive patient observations. Drawing on lessons from Florence Nightingale and a deeply personal story involving Cheryl’s own 90-year-old father, they discuss why clinical curiosity, hands-on assessment, and strong advocacy are the true glue of the healthcare system.
5 total episodes available
Similar Podcasts
Discover related shows you might enjoy
Deep-dive analytics for Nursing Stories from the Heart
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is Nursing Stories from the Heart?
<p><span>From our hearts to yours through wisdom, knowledge, and experience. Every nurse has a story, and every story shared strengthens our profession. We believe the quiet moments of care and the difficult decisions made at the bedside hold the true power of our calling. Nursing Stories from the Heart is a dedicated space for shared lessons, professional legacy, and collective wisdom. Hosted by Cheryl Burns, author of Memoirs of a Matron, and Beth Matarasso RN, this series bridges the gap between traditional nursing wisdom and the practical realities of modern healthcare practice. In each episode, we journey through the wisdom of the past to inspire the care of the future. By revisiting the moments and heart-led decisions that shaped a lifetime of service, we explore what it truly means to lead with a nursing heart in today’s world. Whether you are a student just beginning your journey or a seasoned professional, we invite you to join us as we honour the legacy of our vocation.</span></p> <p><span></span></p> <p class="p1">Recorded and Produced at <a href="https://thepodcastboss.com/"><span class="s1">The Podcast Boss</span></a> podcast studio in Brisbane</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.