An exclusive interview

Addressing the sources of nurse bullying and incivility in healthcare

“I went to the University of Pittsburgh. I'm originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and I wanted to be an OBGYN physician. I wanted to deliver babies. I started pre-med, but then life got in the way. I got pregnant when I was 19 years old. I had somebody I grew up with - my high school sweetheart - so I got pregnant, got married, quit school, Then, two kids later, decided, “Alright, now what am I going to do?” And I thought, “Well, I don't know that I have the energy or the time or resources to become a physician.” It was actually a group of other people – I was doing some work in a clinic and they said, “Girl, you need to be a nurse. You would be a really good nurse.” I'm like, “Okay, I'll become a nurse, and I'll help deliver babies.””

Renee Thompson is a workplace bullying expert and CEO of the Healthy Workforce Institute, a training and consulting company designed to help healthcare companies create healthy work environments. Renee received her bachelor’s degree in registered nursing, her master’s degree in nursing education, and her doctorate of nursing practice from the University of Pittsburgh. Before the founding of her company, she served as a staff nurse and as the Head of Academic Partnerships with UPMC. She has written several books, including “Enough! Eradicate Bullying and Incivility in Healthcare: Strategies for Front Line Leaders.”

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