EP. 162: How Nurse Leaders Can Stop Bullying and Disruptive Behavior

Healthy work cultures are built when leaders step in early and make it clear what behavior is and isn’t acceptable on their teams.

In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) Menschner, CEO of the Pennsylvania Organization of Nurse Leaders, joins Dr. Renee Thompson to discuss why the leader’s role in shaping culture matters more than policy does. Liz shares how unit-level leaders can spot subtle disruptive behaviors, such as eye rolls, sarcastic comments, and unfair assignments, and address them in the moment, so the team never wonders whether anything is being done. She explores how rounding, listening, and transparency build psychological safety, and why digital competency and generational awareness are becoming essential leadership skills. She also encourages leaders to involve their teams in setting shared commitments, so peers can hold each other accountable and the leader’s job gets easier.

Tune in to find out how addressing the small things early changes what a whole team is willing to tolerate!

About Elizabeth Menschner:

Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) Menschner is a distinguished nursing leader currently serving as CEO of the Pennsylvania Organization of Nurse Leaders, with over 30 years of experience in hospital operations and nursing excellence. She has held key leadership roles including Vice President of Patient Care Services at Riddle Hospital and interim Chief Nursing Officer at Temple University Health System, where she standardized nursing practices and fostered collaboration with nursing schools. Liz holds advanced degrees including a Doctorate of Executive Nursing Practice and is board-certified in Nursing Executive Advanced, with a strong focus on innovative care delivery, patient safety, mentoring, and creating healthy work environments.

What You’ll Learn In This Episode:

• Leaders shape culture more than policies do. Policies don’t solve problems. People do.

• Subtle behaviors such as eye rolls, sarcasm, and unfair assignments are forms of bullying that leaders need to recognize.

• Disruptive behavior should be addressed in the moment and with kindness so that the whole team sees it is unacceptable.

• Team commitments created with staff input give peers permission to hold each other accountable and make the leader’s job easier.

• Rounding, listening, and transparent follow-up build psychological safety, even when the answer is “not right now.”

Links & Resources:

• Connect with and follow Dr. Liz Menschner on LinkedIn.

• Follow the Pennsylvania Organization of Nurse Leaders on LinkedIn and visit their website!

• Check out the 33 Scripts Guide to Address Disruptive Behaviour here!

• Buy Renee Thompson’s book Enough! Eradicating Bullying & Incivility here!

• Grab a copy of Renee Thompson’s book Do No Harm Applies to Nurses Too! here.

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

Have a question for Renee?

Email us at wecare@healthyworkforceinstitute.com 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.