Coffee Break: Breaking the Cycle of Bullying in Healthcare, One Cup at a Time

In this episode of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson sits down with Priscilla Meyers — their newest consultant, speaker, and leadership coach at the Healthy Workforce Institute.  They talk about what it really takes to transform a toxic culture from the inside out. Priscilla shares how she started by truly listening to her team, involving them in decisions, and creating psychological sa...

In this episode, Dr. Renee Thompson tackles common leadership challenges, including setting boundaries, managing emotions, and bridging generational gaps in the workplace. Discover practical strategies to enhance team morale and foster a respectful work environment. Renee shares insights on how to communicate effectively with your team, handle inappropriate emotions, and appreciate the unique stre...

In this episode of the Coffee Break podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson chats with Dr. Ruby Latif about a topic that impacts every single one of us: creating psychologically safe and inclusive work cultures. Dr. Latif shares her expertise on the importance of building true inclusion – not as a one-time event but as an ongoing commitment. They talk about the hidden dangers of incivility and microaggression...

In this heart-centered episode of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson has the true pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Kate FitzPatrick – Chief Nurse Executive for Jefferson Health and a respected leader in our field – to talk about something close to both of our hearts: how leaders can foster healthy work cultures, especially in times of adversity. Through her own stories of being bullied...

In this vulnerable and powerful episode on the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson sits down with Dr. Bob Dent – a nurse executive, executive coach, author, and someone I’ve respected for over a decade – to explore how leaders can create emotionally safe, respectful, and human-centered workplaces in healthcare. We go beyond the buzzwords and dive into the realities of fear-based leadership, t...

In this Q&A edition of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson dives into real-world leadership dilemmas brought up during a recent keynote with 600+ healthcare leaders. From handling hostile emails (a.k.a. “nastygrams”) to protecting new nurses from being humiliated by physicians, to standing up for your float pool team – Renee shares real strategies that work. You’ll learn how to respond to...

In this episode of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson sits down with Dr. Kit Bredimus, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Nursing at Midland Memorial Hospital. Kit is a nationally recognized nurse executive and a driving force behind creating a respectful and emotionally intelligent work culture. This episode is for every leader who wants to do more than just manage — it’s for t...

In this episode of the Coffee Break, Dr. Renee Thompson sits down with Luanne Smedley, Executive Director and Associate Chief Nursing Officer at Stanford Children’s Health. Luanne is a true soul sister in the fight against workplace bullying and incivility. After a work stoppage and years of strained relationships in the NICU, Luanne led a powerful, interprofessional culture reset — starting with...

In this deeply personal and transformative episode, I sit down with Todd Angelucci – a passionate advocate for men in nursing, a former Army medic, and now a mentor and coach – to talk about wellness, resilience, and transformational leadership. Todd shares his extraordinary journey from healthcare professional to brain tumor survivor, and how that life-altering diagnosis led to a deeper understan...

In this Q&A edition of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson answers three powerful questions from nurse leaders about the behavioral challenges they face daily. Renee shares practical strategies and proven scripts to help leaders navigate emotional reactions to feedback, foster peer-to-peer accountability, and coach their teams instead of constantly solving problems for them. Whether you’v...

In this powerful episode, Dr. Renee Thompson welcomes Rose L. Horton, MSM, RNC-OB, NEA-BC, FAAN – Founder & CEO of NotOnMyWatch Consulting Partners – to the Coffee Break podcast. Rose shares the story behind her viral movement, #NotOnMyWatch, and how one conversation turned into a rallying cry for maternal equity and safety. Together, Renee and Rose explore the shared drive that leaders must culti...

In honor of Nurses Week, Dr. Renee Thompson takes a heartfelt detour from the usual Coffee Break episodes to deliver a special message to nurses everywhere. Renee reflects on why we chose nursing in the first place – not for convenience, but for compassion, courage, and heart. She shares powerful stories from her keynote, Celebrate Nurses: Human by Birth – Hero by Choice, including a beautiful rem...

When it comes to workplace violence in healthcare, there are so many factors outside our control – but that doesn’t mean we’re powerless. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Kelly Austin, Vice President of Hospital Workplace Violence at KLA Risk Consulting, to talk about the real, tangible ways healthcare leaders can reduce injuries and protect their teams. We unpack the biggest gaps in hospital...

Some workplace behaviors are annoying but fixable. Others? Downright dangerous – and possibly unchangeable. In this Q&A episode, Dr. Renee Thompson tackles three real-world scenarios submitted by nurse leaders across the country: A charge nurse whose competence is overshadowed by recurring emotional outbursts. A team member who falsifies reports, raising red flags about character. A territorial nu...

Civility isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s a must for creating healthy work environments.  In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Cynthia Clark, Founder of Civility Matters, Professor Emeritus at Boise State University, to unpack the evolving definition of civility in healthcare and beyond. From decades of research and a global concept analysis, Cindy shares what’s changed — and what hasn’t — when it...

What does it really take to build a healthy workforce culture — and keep it strong years later? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jenny Cordo, Director of Clinical Operations and a transformational nurse leader at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, to talk about what a healthy work culture looks like in practice and how her team has sustained theirs long after implementing our system. Jenny shares t...

Burnout is still very real in healthcare, and many nurses are carrying trauma from the pandemic — whether they realize it or not.  In this episode, I sit down with Keith Carlson, nurse career coach and host of The Nurse Keith Show, to talk about how burnout shows up today, how to begin healing, and what support looks like — whether through coaching, therapy, or small moments of joy. Keith shares h...

Navigating workplace dynamics can be challenging, especially when addressing incivility, leading a team, or handling difficult conversations. In this episode, Dr. Renee Thompson discusses strategies for fostering a healthier work culture and handling workplace challenges, including using a left-brain/right-brain approach and having "lens conversations." She also advises repeating unprofessional re...

Creating a culture of gratitude and visibility is essential for fostering a healthy and respectful healthcare work environment.  In this episode, Paula Schmidt shares her approach to fostering a positive work culture through gratitude, visibility, and open communication. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing employees, addressing workplace concerns through staff rounding and newsletters, an...

What does it take to create a truly safe, supportive, and accessible workplace in healthcare where leaders are present, staff feel valued, and workplace violence is actively prevented? In this episode, Stephanie Gedeon discusses leadership accessibility, workplace safety, and fostering a positive work culture through relationship-building, streamlined meetings, and staff engagement. Stephanie emph...

Emotional intelligence is a critical skill, far exceeding technical intelligence in importance for career advancement and team effectiveness.  In this episode, Dr. Mitch Kusy explores the growing importance of emotional intelligence in healthcare, emphasizing interprofessional team building, leadership skills like boundary reinforcement, and the dynamics between teams. He also breaks down the key...

Confidence, clear communication, and professionalism are essential for navigating complex healthcare leadership challenges. In this episode, Dr. Renee Thompson offers practical solutions to nursing leadership challenges, such as workplace disrespect and managing difficult team members. She emphasizes the importance of assertive communication, professional boundaries, and confident leadership to st...

By fostering ownership and addressing challenges constructively, leaders can create a drama-free workplace where individuals feel empowered and engaged. In this episode, Dennis McIntee highlights that workplace drama often stems from a lack of ownership and "choice poverty" and emphasizes the importance of empowering teams by shifting language and viewing emotions as raw material to be processed....

What does it take to lead with purpose, retain top talent, and inspire a culture of collaboration in the face of unprecedented challenges? In this episode, Dr. Janice Walker discusses how COVID-19 disrupted recruitment and retention, leading her to implement a candidate-centric approach with measurable metrics. She also emphasizes building strong relationships and a supportive culture to develop f...

Nurse leaders are facing unprecedented challenges, but what if the key to thriving lies in setting boundaries, building community, and redefining leadership expectations? In this episode, Lori Gabriel Gunther discusses the challenges neonatal and perinatal nurse leaders face, stressing the importance of leadership support, work-life balance, and a solution-focused workplace culture. She highlights...