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