From Storm Chaser to Global Change Agent: Prioritising Nurse Wellbeing with Mark Carter

“If you can’t look after yourself first, you’re absolutely useless.”

In this powerful episode of Better Every Shift, we sit down with Mark Carter, a nurse and health entrepreneur whose journey into the profession began with a near-fatal accident and a radical career pivot. Mark shares the raw reality of high-level nursing and business leadership, detailing a period of profound burnout during COVID where he survived on just two hours of sleep a night while working across global time zones. After being warned by his mother, also a nurse, that he was headed for an "early grave" or a stroke, Mark reset his life and founded MACH Health.

Named after his family—Mark, Allison, Charlotte, and Henry—MACH Health is a digital platform designed to put wellbeing support into the hands of every nurse in the world. Mark explains how his platform uses "nudges" to remind clinicians of basic human needs—like drinking water and taking bathroom breaks—that are frequently neglected due to system-induced strain. We explore the "double standard" in nursing where we save others while neglecting ourselves, and why Mark believes that a nurse who is "firing on all cylinders" delivers better, safer care.

Key Discussion Points

• The "Chinese Fire Engines" Incident: How a split-second decision and a traumatic leg injury led Mark to discover his passion for nursing while learning to walk again.
• The Reality of Global Burnout: Mark discusses the physical and emotional toll of scaling a dementia-care business while being a "stay-at-home dad" during the day and working UK hours at night.
• The Four Pillars of Health: We break down the Workplace Health Intervention Pathway, derived from 190 peer-reviewed journals, focusing on physical, nutritional, emotional, and sleep health.
• Digital Nudges as Clinical Tools: How daily reminders for hydration, nutrition, and "venting" journals can prevent brain fog and reduce clinical errors.
• Inclusive Leadership and Culture Change: Mark shares stories from his UK pilot program where senior leaders participate in live workplace stretching alongside their staff to grant "permission" for self-care.
• The Global Mission: Mark’s five-year goal to reach every nurse globally, including those in resource-poor areas, by leveraging community and common sense.
• The Power of Saying "Yes": Why being relentless and open to opportunities can lead to a career and impact you never imagined.

Resources Mentioned

• MACH Health App: A digital platform for nurse-specific wellbeing.
• Workplace Health Intervention Pathway: A sub-modality framework based on 190 peer-reviewed journals.
• People can reach Mark at mark@machhealth.com.au
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/markcarter15
• Company website iwww.machhealth.com.au

About Better Every Shift: Better Every Shift is the podcast for brilliant healthcare professionals ready to make a significant impact on their careers. Hosted by Naomi and Tubi, we explore the hard questions, lived experiences, and innovative solutions that transform how we care for our patients and ourselves. Join us as we build a community dedicated to success, one shift at a time.

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