In this episode of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson talks with Dr. Jeff Doucette, Senior Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer at Press Ganey about two urgent issues in healthcare today: the alarming rise in workplace violence and the critical role of nurse leader engagement.

Jeff shares insights from Press Ganey’s data on the alarming rise of workplace violence, revealing that three nurses are assaulted every hour in the U.S., and emphasizes why zero-tolerance cultures must start at the top. He also highlights the powerful connection between leader engagement and patient outcomes, offering strategies for creating safer, healthier, and more engaged work environments.

In this episode of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson sits down with Dr. Rachel Culpepper, Nursing Director at Indiana University Health West Hospital, to explore how nurse leaders can better support managers in one of the hardest jobs in healthcare.

Rachel shares practical strategies for guiding managers through conflict, coaching them to pause and fact-find before reacting, and navigating challenges with multi-generational teams. Listeners will walk away with actionable tools to help managers build trust, create accountability, and turn conflict into opportunities for growth.

In this milestone 100th episode of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson reflects on her journey of hosting conversations with extraordinary healthcare leaders who are shaping stronger, healthier work cultures.

From Quint Studer’s insights on “emotional onboarding,” to Dr. Stacey Alves’s reminder that you “can’t lead from your desk,” to stories of kindness, recognition, and resilience from nurse leaders and executives across the country – Renee revisits the moments that resonated most over the past 100 episodes.

This episode is both a celebration and a learning journey. Whether it’s tackling workplace violence, holding leaders accountable, or cultivating joy through recognition, listeners will walk away with practical strategies and renewed inspiration to create a culture where nurses and all healthcare professionals thrive.

In this episode of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson sits down with Dr. Simmy King, Chief Nursing Informatics and Education Officer at Children’s National Hospital, to talk about something we all need more of – recovery.

They go beyond the usual “self-care” chatter and dig into what it really means to recover from stress –  not just respond to it. Dr. King shares practical strategies for building individual and team capacity, highlights how nurse leaders can use data to support staff well-being, and introduces the powerful concept of commonality – the intentional practice of eating together to strengthen team bonds and social capital.

Listeners will walk away with actionable ideas to support a healthier, more connected workforce culture.

In this episode of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee sits down with Dr. Vicki Good, Chief Clinical Officer of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), to talk about the six Healthy Work Environment (HWE) standards and how, even 20 years later, they’re still the gold standard for creating safe, respectful, and high-performing work cultures in healthcare.

Dr. Good shares insights on AACN’s national research and collaborative efforts to bring these standards to life in real-world settings. They also explore how these standards apply to all healthcare environments – not just critical care – and how they’ve evolved to address interprofessional collaboration, burnout, meaningful recognition, and more.

Whether you're a nurse leader, bedside clinician, or someone passionate about improving work culture in healthcare, this episode will leave you inspired to take action. As Vicki says, “Healthy work environments are a way to be, not a thing to do.”

In this special episode of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson sits down for a heartfelt and eye-opening conversation with one of the most important people in her life – her daughter, Kaitlin Hicks.

Kaitlin, who currently serves as the Senior Program Coordinator of Clinical Education in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Duke University and also as HWI’s Certification Program Manager, shares a powerful story from her time as a middle school teacher. After dealing with a passive-aggressive colleague who made public jabs and undermined her confidence, Kaitlin did what most daughters do – turned to her mom, Renee, for advice – and what she got was a simple script that helped her finally stand up for herself.

Whether you identify as a fawner, a freezer, or someone who just wants to feel more confident speaking up, this episode is packed with relatable insights and practical advice to help you stand your ground while still showing respect.

In this episode of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson sits down with Dr. Ecoee Rooney, Chief Nursing Officer at Indicator Sciences and nationally recognized expert in workplace civility. Ecoee shares how her team is transforming how we address burnout, turnover, and workload imbalance in nursing – through data. Together, they explore the potential of analytics to support nurse leaders, identify struggling team members, and reduce burnout-driven behaviors before they escalate.

Ecoee breaks down how her team uses real-time clinical data to help nurse leaders pinpoint workload imbalances, understand patterns of burnout, and initiate supportive – not punitive – interventions. Her CareFX platform and Quick Sync method are empowering leaders to focus their time where it matters most.

If you’ve ever wondered how to truly support your nurses and make data meaningful in real-time leadership, this episode is for you.

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 safety. They also talk about the importance of vulnerability, modeling the behavior you want to see, and how to handle conflict — especially between providers and nursing staff.

If you’re a leader looking for practical, real-world strategies to build a healthy work culture (and keep your sanity in the process), this episode is for you.

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 strengths of different generations. 

Whether you're a seasoned leader or new to management, these tips will help you create a more harmonious and productive workplace.

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 microaggressions, and how they quietly chip away at team morale and psychological safety.

They also explore what "soft resistance" looks like in leadership and why courage and curiosity are non-negotiables if you want to build a culture where everyone feels safe and supported. Dr. Latif emphasizes the value of hiring for character and potential, not just credentials – a philosophy I wholeheartedly support!

If you're a leader who wants to do better or a team member looking to foster a more inclusive environment, this conversation is for you.