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The Chaos Whisperers of Healthcare

The Chaos Whisperers of Healthcare

By: Dr. Megan Carter DNP RN NEA-BC
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 Join Dr. Megan Carter and healthcare industry innovators who are leading the charge on healing the broken US healthcare system as Chaos Whisperers. Chaos Whisperers are clinicians and leaders who are done with burnout, overwhelm and interruptions that prevent them from focusing on what matters most. Dr. Carter and her guests share practical tips and tools to help you lead with impact. Whether it's simplifying a chaotic calendar, getting back more time in patient care or leveraging the latest in AI tech...every listener will walk away with tools and strategies they can use at work right away. Connect with Dr. Carter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-megan-carter-dnp-rn-nea-bc/ Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • S2 EP4: Leader-to-Leader Incivility w/ Dr. Renee Thompson

    S2 EP4: Leader-to-Leader Incivility w/ Dr. Renee Thompson
    Oct 27 2025
    Summary In this episode of Chaos Whispers of Healthcare, Dr. Megan Carter interviews Dr. Renee Thompson, a leading expert on bullying and incivility in healthcare. They discuss the challenges healthcare leaders face, the prevalence of disruptive behaviors, and the importance of fostering a healthy workplace culture. Dr. Thompson shares her personal experiences and insights on how to address these issues, emphasizing the need for open communication, psychological safety, and a partner mindset among leaders. The conversation also highlights practical strategies for dealing with incivility and the significance of finding joy outside of work. Takeaways Silence allows bullying and incivility to thrive. Healthcare leaders often feel like failures due to overwhelming challenges. Bullying and incivility are prevalent due to high stress in healthcare. Incivility is a cultural issue that needs to be addressed. Lateral agility helps break down silos in healthcare teams. Creating psychological safety is essential for open communication. Leaders must be equipped with the skills to address disruptive behaviors. Chaos Whispering Practical Tips There is a difference between incivility and bullying: Bullying is a repeated pattern of disruptive behavior with a conscious or unconscious attempt to do harm, while incivility is low-level unprofessional or rude behavior. Foster a “partner mindset” by challenging your own thinking when addressing an issue: instead of asking yourself “how” you can change something, ask “who” can be brought together from the full interdisciplinary team to address it Relationship issues between disciplines: ask how often these roles meet together. If there are no current spaces where they do, find ways to bring them together to discuss issues as a group moving forward. Intentionally bring the full team together to debrief when there are high stakes issues or cases Healthcare executives can address leader-to-leader incivility/bullying in their teams by: Intentionally equip leaders with the skills and tools to recognize and address incivility/bullying themselves Creating spaces where the full interdisciplinary leadership team comes together regularly Create psychological safety in those meetings by including “healthy workforce” as a standing agenda item Ask the leaders about incivility and then be supportive and affirming when a leader brings up concerns For leaders experiencing incivility/being bullied by a peer leader (recommendations to be clarified by what you are willing to do): Within 72 hours of the incident: Meet with the peer leader exhibiting the behaviors 1:1. Name the behaviors you have witnessed (be objective) and then share how it has impacted you. Do not include the drama, noise or other details as that is subjective Use authentic language such as “This might be uncomfortable to discuss, but our working relationship is important to me” or “It’s important that we find ways to work well together for the sake of our teams” etc If meeting 1:1 does not feel safe or realistic, start a documentation trail of the behaviors you are witnessing/experiencing for future follow up with HR or exec leader Additional CW tips from Renee: The power of 3: Pick 3 to-do’s for each day, each week, each month, each quarter. Prioritize those tasks first. Any others are bonus items. Keywords healthcare leadership, bullying, incivility, nurse leaders, workplace culture, psychological safety, lateral agility, healthcare workforce, leadership strategies, healthcare challenges Connect with our Guest: LinkedIn: www.Linkedin.com/in/rtconnections Email: renee@healthyworkforceinstitute.com Company Website: HealthyWorkforceInstitute.com Podcast: HealthyWorkforceInstitute.com/podcast Connect with Dr. Carter: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-megan-carter-dnp-rn-nea-bc/ Podcast official website: https://www.mchcc.net/cw-podcast Company website: www.mchcc.net
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    39 mins
  • S2 EP3 Why Every Healthcare Leader Needs A Personal Brand

    S2 EP3 Why Every Healthcare Leader Needs A Personal Brand
    Oct 20 2025
    Summary In this episode of Chaos Whispers of Healthcare, Dr. Megan Carter interviews Caroline Pennington, a digital marketing and professional branding expert. They discuss the importance of professional branding for healthcare leaders, the power of LinkedIn as a networking tool, and practical strategies for optimizing LinkedIn profiles. Caroline shares her journey from healthcare recruitment to entrepreneurship, emphasizing the need for a strong online presence. The conversation also touches on balancing work and personal life, with insights on finding joy amidst chaos. Takeaways LinkedIn can radically change your professional networking. Having an executive presence on LinkedIn is crucial. Every individual should have a personal brand. LinkedIn has over one billion users, making it a powerful platform. Commenting on posts is a key engagement strategy. Optimizing your LinkedIn profile is essential for attracting opportunities. Scheduling content can ease the pressure of posting. Finding joy in life is important amidst professional chaos. Keywords healthcare leadership, professional branding, LinkedIn strategies, career growth, networking, personal branding, digital marketing, female entrepreneurs, chaos whispers, burnout prevention Chaos Whispering Practical Tips Start prioritizing LinkedIn as your professional branding platform immediately. There are over 1Billion users and less than 3% post content regularly which means you can stand out easily. Building visibility takes time so don’t wait until you need a new job or experience a sudden career pivot to leverage the platform. Start by updating and filling out the sections on your profile home page. Recruiters and peers look at this and it can determine whether you are considered for an interview down the road. People with incomplete profiles get skipped over. Upload a professional headshot for your home page and consider a dynamic banner. Post content consistently. Start with thought leadership or other relevant professional topics. 3 days a week is a strong start. Use the scheduling function to post your content for you (eliminates daily content time investment) Leverage more visibility on LinkedIn by commenting on 3-5 posts per day. This will boost your content to others. Make sure the comments are meaningful (not just a few words). Connect with our Guest: Company Website: https://femininefounder.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-pennington/ Connect with Dr. Carter: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-megan-carter-dnp-rn-nea-bc/ Company Website: https://www.mchcc.net Podcast official website: https://www.mchcc.net/cw-podcast
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    20 mins
  • S2 EP2: Leadership Doesn't Have To Break You

    S2 EP2: Leadership Doesn't Have To Break You
    Oct 13 2025
    Summary In this episode of Chaos Whispers of Healthcare, Dr. Megan Carter interviews Dr. Bob Dent, a seasoned healthcare leader and coach. They discuss the chaotic nature of healthcare leadership, the importance of mental health, and the need for supportive relationships in the workplace. Bob shares his journey from bedside nursing to executive leadership and now to coaching, emphasizing the lessons learned through chaos and the significance of self-care. The conversation also touches on generational differences in the workforce, effective time management strategies, and the importance of finding joy in life outside of work. Takeaways Healthcare leaders face chaos daily, and it's crucial to acknowledge it. Building relationships is key to navigating chaos in leadership. Self-care is essential for effective leadership and mental health. Transitioning roles can be an opportunity for growth and support. Generational differences impact workplace dynamics and expectations. Time management strategies can alleviate stress and improve productivity. Creating a culture of support can enhance team morale and retention. It's important to normalize conversations around mental health in leadership. Leaders should prioritize people and relationships over metrics. Finding joy outside of work is vital for overall well-being. Keywords healthcare leadership, chaos, mental health, coaching, nursing, time management, generational differences, team culture, resilience, burnout Chaos Whispering Practical Tips Use “No Meeting Zone” days or extended time periods (summer vacations or holiday season) Get executive team support to implement “No Meeting Zone” and ensure full leadership team is on board Re-evaluate all meetings for relevance, ongoing necessity and attendee list to reduce non-value-added invites at least twice per year as a leadership team Block time on your calendar for rounding/employee engagement When rounding in a department, consider standing there for several minutes to ensure staff know you are available and ready to listen to them (vs a quick walk through) Consider making meeting invites shorter (by 10-15 minutes each) to allow a “buffer” zone. This gives time to walk from one location to the other and even engage with employees along the way. Consider leveraging email settings while away on PTO: delete all incoming emails. Set out of office reply to clarify this and who is covering for you while out. Ensure peers and your leader are on board by proactively communicating this approach. Intentionally seek out mentors and coaches throughout your leadership journey to help you grow beyond your current role. When facing a potential role elimination or unexpected career pivot, be open to connecting with peers and mentors to support you during the transition. While feelings of shame and fear are common, these events happen more often than we realize, so you are not alone! Prioritize your own mental health and readily seek support when needed. Connect with our Guest: Company website: https://www.drbobdent.com/ Email: bob.dent@drbobdent.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobdent/ Connect with Dr. Carter: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-megan-carter-dnp-rn-nea-bc/ Company website:www.mchcc.net Podcast official website: https://www.mchcc.net/cw-podcast
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    37 mins
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