Coffee Break

Breaking the Cycle of Bullying in Healthcare One Cup at a Time.

EP 56: Fostering Nurse Retention: Civility, Mentorship, and Well-Being Initiatives

Innovative leadership and mentorship programs are improving nursing work environments and helping to retain staff, amidst a national nursing shortage. In this episode, Dr. Mary Jo Loughlin discusses the NWESC Council, designed to improve nurse staffing and work environments as an alternative to mandated staffing ratios, and initiatives like the "Dr. Noble" code to foster civility among staff. She also highlights the importance of mentoring, the need for leadership to adapt to younger nurses' expectations, and ongoing efforts such as a napping policy to combat nurse fatigue. Tune in to learn how innovative approaches to nursing leadership and mentorship are improving work environments and addressing challenges in healthcare! Click this link to the show notes, transcript, and resources: https://healthyworkforceinstitute.com/podcast-episodes/

October 23, 2024

EP 55: Confronting the Unseen: Managing Employee Behavior You Haven’t Witnessed

How do you confront an employee about toxic behavior when you've never seen it firsthand but keep hearing about it from others? In this episode, Dr. Renee Thompson explains how leaders can address unprofessional behavior reported by others, even without witnessing it firsthand, by trusting credible reports and confronting the employee directly. She also highlights potential challenges, like defensiveness or distractions, and emphasizes the importance of staying focused, notifying HR beforehand, and addressing disruptive behaviors promptly to maintain a respectful workplace. Tune in and discover practical strategies for addressing hidden workplace issues and managing difficult conversations with employees! Click this link to the show notes, transcript, and resources: https://healthyworkforceinstitute.com/podcast-episodes/

October 16, 2024

EP 54: From Accountability to Ownership: Creating a Values-Driven Culture

Imagine transforming workplace negativity into a culture where every complaint becomes a catalyst for positive change and ownership replaces accountability. In this episode, Joe Tye explores the importance of fostering a culture of ownership over accountability by introducing the Pickle Pledge, a commitment to turn complaints into positive actions that reduce negativity and promote proactive behavior. He explains that true transformation comes from creating personal and cultural ownership, supported by a values-based culture where values are deeply ingrained, and recommends organizations use rituals, storytelling, and visible leadership to embed these values into daily practice. Tune in as we explore how to shift from accountability to ownership and discover the power of turning complaints into opportunities for growth with the inspiring insights of Joe Tye! Click this link to the show notes, transcript, and resources: https://healthyworkforceinstitute.com/podcast-episodes/

October 9, 2024

EP 53: The Power Of Trust: How Leadership Drives Employee Retention

Leaders must prioritize making time for meaningful conversations by rethinking meeting structures and schedules. In this episode, Dr. Katherine Meese discusses how trust in senior leadership significantly impacts employee turnover and tension more than trust in direct supervisors or compensation. She highlights the importance of senior leaders being visible, accessible, and engaged with frontline workers, emphasizing that practices like rounding, transparency, and meaningful recognition help strengthen relationships, reduce burnout, and reshape work dynamics, especially in addressing generational challenges and younger employees' desire for transparency and participation in decision-making. Rounding, transparency, and trust-building can reshape workplace dynamics. Tune in and learn how fostering trust at the senior leadership level can transform your organization! Click this link to the show notes, transcript, and resources: https://healthyworkforceinstitute.com/podcast-episodes/

October 2, 2024

EP 52: Why Only 23% of Employees Trust Their Leaders, and How to Fix It

Trust is foundational for creating a psychologically safe workplace, which is crucial for team cohesion and reducing burnout in healthcare. In this episode, Dr. Renee Thompson discusses how only 23% of employees trust their leaders, highlighting the importance of empathy, logic, and authenticity in leadership. She emphasizes consistency in leadership actions, the need for competence, and strategies like relational rounding to build stronger, more authentic relationships while addressing personal "trust wobbles." Tune in and learn how to cultivate trust, build stronger teams, and create a more supportive and productive work culture in healthcare! Click this link to the show notes, transcript, and resources: https://healthyworkforceinstitute.com/podcast-episodes/

September 25, 2024

EP 51: Navigating The Challenges Of A Multigenerational Workforce

Setting clear boundaries between work and personal life is crucial, especially when managing the expectations of different generations. In this episode, Karen McCullough discusses the challenges healthcare leaders face in managing a multigenerational team and emphasizes the importance of understanding generational diversity, including the unique characteristics and work ethics of each generation. She also highlights the need for leaders to build strong relationships, foster open communication, and adapt to the evolving needs of younger generations, offering insights on setting boundaries, retraining leadership mindsets, and bringing humanity back into the workplace. Tune in and learn how to leverage generational strengths to create a more inclusive and productive work environment! Click this link to the show notes, transcript, and resources: https://healthyworkforceinstitute.com/podcast-episodes/

September 18, 2024

EP 50: The Impact of Self-Reflection and Team Commitment in Healthcare Leadership

Effective cultural change in healthcare needs everyone’s commitment and willingness to address tough truths about leadership and the organization. In this episode, Dr. Carl Kirton reflects on his leadership journey, emphasizing the critical role of self-reflection and emotional intelligence in managing organizational culture. He shares how his early work in HIV and AIDS care shaped his career, leading to significant contributions, and stresses the need for small actions, collective commitment, and ongoing executive support to drive lasting cultural change. Tune in to learn how deep self-reflection and small, impactful actions can drive meaningful cultural change in healthcare organizations! Click this link to the show notes, transcript, and resources: https://healthyworkforceinstitute.com/podcast-episodes/

September 11, 2024

EP 49: Rethinking Nurse Workflows: A Path To Healthier Teams

Rethinking and re-engineering nursing roles are crucial to addressing the ongoing shortage of nurses in healthcare. In this episode, Sylvain Trepanier explores how embracing vulnerability, love, and leadership can create a healthier work environment and highlights the need to challenge existing policies and focus on cultural change to improve patient care and reduce turnover. Tune in and learn how rethinking nursing roles can lead to a more efficient, inclusive, and effective healthcare system! Click this link to the show notes, transcript, and resources: https://healthyworkforceinstitute.com/podcast-episodes/

September 4, 2024

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Coffee Break

A podcast for healthcare leaders who have had enough of the bullying; the incivility, the he-said-she-said, and other shenanigans in their departments and want to cultivate a high-performing, respectful, and healthy professional team.

In each episode, we provide practical tools and strategies for addressing workplace bullying and incivility, fostering a culture of respect and civility, and building trust and collaboration among the healthcare team.

When leaders are equipped with the skills and tools that they need to address disruptive behaviors, employees are more engaged, happier, and better serve patients and each other. This results in high-performing teams with increased retention and improved patient outcomes.

Host

Dr. Renee Thompson, DNP, RN, FAAN, CSP

Renee grew up in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, the oldest of 5 kids. There was never a dull moment in the Rossi home as her parents provided anyone in need a seat at the dinner table and sometimes a place to stay. Renee’s father had a strong work ethic (still does) and worked hard to provide for his family. Her mom kept everyone fed, watered, clothed, and is extremely kind, generous, and loving. Renee acquired her drive to accomplish everything she could in this one precious life and her passion for helping others from her parents.

Adulting didn’t come easy for Renee at first. She married young and had two kids right away, without the means to provide for them. One day she looked around and decided she wanted a better life for her girls and for herself. So, she got her associate degree in nursing at a local community college, then got her bachelors, masters, and finally, in 2015, received her doctoral degree in nursing. Along the way, she divorced her first husband and married the man of her dreams. Together, Ashley and Renee have built a life that they love.

Ten years ago, Renee took a leap of faith, quit a really great job that she loved, and started her own business. The business started basically as Renee – a speaker. Fast-forward to today, and she’s expanded the business beyond just her and now enjoys watching her company develop into an institute that serves numerous clients around the globe.