About the founder

About the founder

To my dearest colleagues,

My name is Olimpia and I have been a Registered Nurse for ten years with a dynamic nursing background. I wish someone had told me this earlier in my career: You are allowed to protect yourself. To set boundaries. To speak up. This is why Nurses Forum exists.

I grew up in an environment where love came with conditions, safety felt uncertain, and emotional pain was part of daily life. Experiences like that don’t just leave scars yet they shape how you show up in the world. They teach you to tolerate mistreatment, stay quiet to survive, and work hard to feel worthy. When I entered nursing, I brought those survival instincts with me along with a deep desire to care for others.

I gave everything to the profession. I loved being a nurse. But like many of us know, there’s another side to healthcare that isn’t often spoken about. I tolerated poor treatment from patients and colleagues because, on some level, I had come to expect it. I told myself it was normal to feel dismissed, overworked, or spoken to with disrespect. I didn’t recognise how much of my self-worth I had tied to pushing through pain and proving myself strong.

When I finally spoke up and reached out for support, I expected to be met with understanding. Instead, I was met with judgement. I felt unseen, unheard, and isolated. And over time, the emotional weight became harder to carry. I started to feel disconnected, physically run-down, and increasingly anxious about going back to work. My mind and body were telling me something and for the first time, I began to listen.

Eventually, I made the difficult decision to step away from direct patient care. It wasn’t a failure, it was a turning point. Nurses Forum was born from that turning point. A space I desperately needed but couldn’t find. I didn’t have the support, the safe conversations, or the understanding community I longed for, so I created one.

While I may no longer wear scrubs, I hope to use my voice to speak up for those who are still silently struggling just like I once was.

Please hear this: burnout, resentment, emotional exhaustion aren’t signs of weakness. They are signs that you’ve given your all and need care too. If your workplace doesn’t recognise that, it’s not your fault. That is a failing of the system and not a reflection of your value.

Whether you’re still working, on leave, or have stepped away, this space is for you. To speak the truths we often hide. To honour the courage it takes to keep going or to walk away.

You are not alone. Your story matters.