Why Nurses Need a New Kind of Support in 2026
If you stand on Dawlish seafront early enough, you’ll see the same thing I do most mornings: the tide doing its steady, ancient work. Coming in, going out, reshaping the shoreline a grain at a time. It’s a reminder that nothing stays still — not the sea, not life, and certainly not nursing.
And yet, so many nurses I work with tell me they feel stuck. Stuck in overwhelm. Stuck in guilt. Stuck in the feeling that they should be coping better.
Here’s the truth I wish someone had said to me years ago:
Nursing has changed. The world has changed. And the support we offer nurses needs to change too.
The Old Model Isn’t Working
For years, the message was: “Be resilient.” “Keep going.” “Look after yourself… but also do three extra shifts.”
Resilience became code for “cope with more.”
But resilience isn’t about carrying heavier loads. It’s about having the space, support, and skills to put the load down sometimes.
🌿 What Nurses Tell Me They Need Now
After coaching hundreds of nurses, students, and healthcare teams, I hear the same themes again and again:
Time to breathe — even five minutes without feeling guilty.
Permission to have boundaries — and not apologise for them.
Support that’s human, not corporate — real conversations, not tick‑box wellbeing sessions.
A place to talk honestly — about fear, frustration, grief, and joy.
Tools that actually help — not another laminated poster about self‑care.
And honestly? They need someone in their corner. Someone who gets it. Someone who’s been there at 3am with a full bladder, an empty stomach, and a patient who needs everything right now.
🌊 Why I Started The Devon Coach
After 25 plus years in nursing and now working as a celebrant, I’ve seen the full spectrum of human experience — the beginnings, the endings, and everything in between. It’s taught me that people don’t thrive from being told to “be strong.” Its better when we find a way to be resourceful.
They thrive when they feel supported, understood, and valued.
Coaching gives nurses something they rarely get: a space that’s just for them.
A space to reflect. A space to grow. A space to remember who they are outside the uniform.
🌼 A New Kind of Support
This year, I’ll be sharing weekly blogs with gentle, practical tools to help you:
feel more confident
communicate more clearly
set boundaries without guilt
build emotional resilience
reconnect with your purpose
and find small moments of calm in the chaos
Think of it as a warm cuppa with someone who gets it.
And yes — Boo the dog will probably feature from time to time. She has a lot of opinions about wellbeing, most of which involve snacks and naps.
💛 If You’re Reading This…
You deserve support that meets the reality of nursing today. Not the nursing of ten years ago. Not the nursing of textbooks. The nursing you’re living right now.
And I’m here for that. Every week. Right here by the sea.