In this episode of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson sits down with communication expert Kelli Newman, APR, President of Newman & Newman, to explore how communication shapes trust, engagement, and culture within healthcare organizations.

Together, Renee and Kelli break down the difference between brand messaging (what your organization says it stands for) and values messaging (how those values show up in daily behavior). They discuss practical strategies for translating words into authentic experiences, so that what your organization says aligns with what your people actually feel and see every day. Kelli shares how the words leaders choose (and how they live them out) directly influence how employees connect, collaborate, and trust one another.

If you’ve ever wondered how to bring your mission, vision, and values to life, or how to communicate in a way that builds genuine trust, this episode is for you.

About Kelli Newman

Kelli Newman, APR, is President of Newman & Newman, a Houston-based, woman-owned communication strategies firm. For more than 30 years, she’s helped healthcare and nonprofit organizations create authentic brand and values messaging that strengthens culture and builds trust.

She’s also the creator of Experienced Messaging®, a proprietary, trademarked process that helps leaders align what they say with what people experience. Kelli teaches marketing and communication at Rice University’s Leadership Institute for Nonprofit Executives and is an active member of the Ignite Health Network, a coalition of women leaders influencing the future of healthcare.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Why communication is the cornerstone of trust and engagement

The difference between brand messaging and values messaging

How to make organizational values tangible and actionable

Simple ways to connect your department’s identity with the organization’s mission

Why “scripting” doesn’t work and what authentic communication looks like instead

How to align messaging, behaviors, and experiences to create a culture of integrity

Links & Resources

Visit ExperiencedMessaging.com

Connect with Kelli on LinkedIn

Email: [email protected]

Harvard Business Review: Begin with Trust  

Download your copy of our 33 Scripts to Address Disruptive Behavior When You Don’t Know What to Say

Check out Renee Thompson’s newly revised book and #1 Amazon Best Seller Enough! Eradicating Bullying & Incivility: Strategies for Front Line Leaders here!

Check out Renee Thompson’s book Do No Harm Applies to Nurses Too! Strategies to Protect and Bully-proof Yourself at Work here!

Learn more about the Eradicating Bullying & Incivility eLearning Program here!

Have a question for Renee?

Email us at [email protected] to have your leadership question featured in an upcoming Q&A episode!

Disclosure: The host may be compensated for linking to other sites or for sales of products we link to. As an Amazon Associate, Coffee Break earns from qualifying purchases.

Liked this episode? Rate, review, and share with your colleagues. Your support helps us reach more healthcare leaders working to create better work environments.

In this episode of the Coffee Break Podcast, I sit down with the ever-inspiring Dr. Joy Parchment, Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida College of Nursing and one of the most respected nurse leaders I know.

Joy and I talk about what it really takes to develop capable executive leaders — the kind who not only drive outcomes but also build strong, trusting relationships with their teams. We unpack the difference between “command and control” leadership and relational leadership, how to handle conflict with curiosity, and why self-awareness is the foundation for leading well.

This is an honest, heart-centered conversation about leadership, humanity, and the power of relationships. If you’ve ever felt the pressure to have all the answers or struggled to stay calm in the storm, this episode will remind you that the best leaders don’t lead from perfection — they lead from awareness and authenticity.

About Dr. Joy Parchment

Joy Parchment, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, CPDC, ACC, is an accomplished nurse leader, educator, and coach with over 35 years of diverse nursing experience. She serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida College of Nursing and is a Commissioner on the ANCC Commission on Magnet®. Joy is deeply committed to helping nurse leaders grow their capacity to lead with confidence, compassion, and courage.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Why building relationships is the foundation of effective leadership

The power of curiosity over judgment when managing conflict

How to recognize and manage your triggers as a leader

Simple tools to help you stay intentional and grounded

How self-talk shapes leadership mindset — and how to shift it

Links & Resources

Connect with Dr. Joy Parchment on LinkedIn.

Email Joy: [email protected]

Book: Change Your Questions, Change Your Life by Dr. Marilee Adams

Buckwheat Sprouted Flour Renee mentioned

Book: The Next Conversation by Jefferson Fisher

Coffee Break Podcast Episode with Dr. Simmy King here

Download your copy of our 33 Scripts to Address Disruptive Behavior When You Don’t Know What to Say

Check out Renee Thompson’s newly revised book and #1 Amazon Best Seller Enough! Eradicating Bullying & Incivility: Strategies for Front Line Leaders here!

Check out Renee Thompson’s book Do No Harm Applies to Nurses Too! Strategies to Protect and Bully-proof Yourself at Work here!

Learn more about the Eradicating Bullying & Incivility eLearning Program here!

Have a question for Renee?

Email us at [email protected] to have your leadership question featured in an upcoming Q&A episode!

Disclosure: The host may be compensated for linking to other sites or for sales of products we link to. As an Amazon Associate, Coffee Break earns from qualifying purchases.

Liked this episode? Rate, review, and share with your colleagues. Your support helps us reach more healthcare leaders working to create better work environments.

In this episode of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson sits down with Greta Rosler, CEO and Principal of Radius Leaders, to talk about one of the most practical and transformative leadership tools in healthcare – strategic leader rounding.

Greta shares how being intentional and present as a nurse leader can strengthen connection, improve engagement, and foster a healthier, more respectful culture. From developing measurable rounding frameworks to empowering staff through open-ended conversations, Greta explains how leaders can move beyond “checking the box” and make every round meaningful.

If you’ve ever wondered how to balance visibility with strategy, or how to round without feeling like you’re putting out fires all day, this episode is for you.

About Greta Rosler

Greta Rosler, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CPXP, is an experienced nurse leader with a background in frontline nursing leadership, patient experience, and professional development. She is the CEO and Principal of Radius Leaders, a nurse leader development partnership she founded in 2017.

Through her Skilled Nurse Leader© and WIN Your Rounds© programs, Greta helps healthcare organizations strengthen leadership skills, improve engagement, and sustain healthy work environments. Her work has led to measurable improvements in turnover, patient experience, and nurse leader confidence.

Greta is actively involved with the Pennsylvania Organization of Nurse Leaders (PONL), serves as a subject matter expert for multiple healthcare leadership organizations, and is currently pursuing her PhD in nurse leader self-efficacy and rounding effectiveness.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

How strategic, intentional rounding builds trust and psychological safety

Why most leaders struggle with rounding and how to fix it

The difference between “checking the box” and creating meaningful engagement

How to empower your team instead of enabling them

Simple, open-ended questions that transform performance conversations

Why presence and purpose are key to sustaining a healthy work culture

Links & Resources

Connect with Greta Rosler: LinkedIn

Visit Radius Leaders: www.radiusleaders.com

Email Greta: [email protected]

Download your copy of our 33 Scripts to Address Disruptive Behavior When You Don’t Know What to Say

Check out Renee Thompson’s newly revised book and #1 Amazon Best Seller Enough! Eradicating Bullying & Incivility: Strategies for Front Line Leaders here!

Check out Renee Thompson’s book Do No Harm Applies to Nurses Too! Strategies to Protect and Bully-proof Yourself at Work here!

Learn more about the Eradicating Bullying & Incivility eLearning Program here!

Have a question for Renee?

Email us at [email protected] to have your leadership question featured in an upcoming Q&A episode!

Disclosure: The host may be compensated for linking to other sites or for sales of products we link to. As an Amazon Associate, Coffee Break earns from qualifying purchases.

Liked this episode? Rate, review, and share with your colleagues. Your support helps us reach more healthcare leaders working to create better work environments.

October is Bullying Prevention Month – a time when awareness of this global issue is amplified. In this episode of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson shares practical strategies that leaders can implement right away to stop the cycle of disruptive behaviors, create safer environments for staff and patients, and build healthier teams.

Drawing from decades of experience coaching healthcare leaders, Renee unpacks four of the most common challenges leaders face and gives actionable solutions: from un-normalizing deviant behavior, to stopping overt incivility in the moment, to avoiding the trap of over-defending yourself, and addressing behaviors you didn’t personally witness.

She also shares a bigger-picture approach: why workshops alone won’t solve this problem, why HR and the interprofessional team must be part of the solution, and how the Healthy Workforce Institute’s Framework can guide organizations toward real, lasting culture change.

About Dr. Renee Thompson:

Dr. Renee Thompson is a sought-after speaker, author, consultant, and leading authority on creating healthy workforces by eliminating bullying and incivility. With more than 31 years as a clinical nurse, nurse educator, quality manager, and nurse executive, Dr. Thompson is a leading authority on workplace bullying and incivility and spends the majority of her time working with healthcare leaders who want to cultivate a healthy workforce.

Renee is the CEO and Founder of the Healthy Workforce Institute and has been repeatedly published, interviewed, and awarded for her work to eradicate disruptive behaviors in healthcare. In 2020, the Joint Commission invited Renee to become a member of their Workplace Violence Technical Advisory Panel. She has been published in numerous nursing journals and is a frequently invited guest on radio, podcasts, webinars, and online social media platforms.

In 2016, Renee received the Nursing Excellence Award as a nurse entrepreneur to honor her work to eliminate workplace bullying. She received the first Outstanding Nursing Alumni for Excellence in Leadership Award and Distinguished  Alumni recognition from her alma mater and was a finalist in the Healthcare Heroes Awards as a Healthcare Provider. Her blog has won numerous awards as a Top Nursing Blog “must-read” by the online nursing community, and her anti-bullying videos are viewed by healthcare organizations around the world. Renee is one of only 30 nurses in the world who have achieved the prestigious certified speaking professional designation.

In 2018, she was recognized as one of LinkedIn’s Top Ten Voices in Healthcare for her contribution to the global online healthcare community. In 2022, she was identified as one of the top 5 Nurse Influencers on LinkedIn. Also, in 2022, Renee was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing for her work to eradicate disruptive behaviors in healthcare.

Renee has a Master's degree in Nursing Education and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of Pittsburgh.

Links & Resources

Connect with and follow Dr. Renee Thompson on LinkedIn

Learn more about the Healthy Workforce Institute on their LinkedIn and website

Download your copy of our 33 Scripts to Address Disruptive Behavior When You Don’t Know What to Say

Check out Renee Thompson’s newly revised book Enough! Eradicating Bullying & Incivility: Strategies for Front Line Leaders here!

Check out Renee Thompson’s book Do No Harm Applies to Nurses Too! Strategies to Protect and Bully-proof Yourself at Work here!

Learn more about the Eradicating Bullying & Incivility eLearning Program here!

Check out the article: 3 Common Landmines to Avoid When You Confront Bullying Behavior

In this episode of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson sits down with Dina MacDonald, Nursing Director of the Maternal Newborn Center at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, to talk about something we can all relate to – turning a toxic work environment into one where people actually want to come to work.

Dina shares her personal journey from being the target of a bullying boss to becoming a leader who reshaped her department’s culture. She opens up about the power of accountability, why tough conversations are necessary, and how even the hardest decisions can set the tone for a healthier, more respectful workplace.

If you’ve ever wondered how to deal with resistors, set clear expectations, and build a team that actually supports one another, this episode is for you.

In this episode of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson sits down with Dr. Katherine Virkstis, Chief Clinical Officer at Get Well, to talk about the intersection of patient experience, staff well-being, and healthy workplace culture.

Katherine shares Get Well’s inspiring origin story, which was founded by a patient who believed every person should be treated like a VIP, and how their digital tools now empower patients, reduce cognitive burden on staff, and foster joy in care delivery. She also explains how innovations like automated documentation, real-time feedback, and a digital kindness pledge are not just transforming patient experience, but also strengthening work cultures and reducing workplace aggression.

You’ll hear practical strategies leaders can use right now to reduce stressors, support their teams, and create a safer, more respectful environment for both staff and patients.

In this episode of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson welcomes Patricia McGaffigan, President of the Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Patricia has dedicated her career to advancing patient and workforce safety, and she brings powerful insights into why safety cannot just be a project or fleeting priority – it must be an organization’s purpose.

Together, Renee and Patricia explore the deep connection between patient safety and workforce well-being, the importance of shifting leadership mindsets, and practical strategies organizations can adopt to hardwire safety into their culture. Patricia also shares tools and frameworks leaders can start using immediately, including the National Action Plan, a new workplace violence reporting framework, and IHI’s Joy in Work framework.

Listeners will walk away with a clearer understanding of how every interaction impacts safety and why creating safer workplaces requires action at both the system and individual levels.

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.