Summary
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.
About Dr. Jeff Doucette:
Dr. Jeff Doucette is the Chief Nursing Officer at Press Ganey, where he helps clients transform the patient and caregiver experience by advancing safety, quality, workforce engagement, and nursing excellence. Jeff is a widely recognized and accomplished nurse leader with 30 years of experience spent largely in leadership and executive nursing roles. Previously, Jeff served as CNO at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals in Philadelphia and was the inaugural Vice President of the Magnet Recognition Program® at the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Known as a dynamic and engaging speaker, Jeff presents nationally and internationally on topics of leadership, culture, and patient experience. Fun fact: Jeff has attended three Stanley Cup Finals where first-time teams won the championship!
Things You’ll Learn
- Why workplace violence in healthcare is not “just part of the job”
- What Press Ganey’s data shows about the alarming increase in nurse assaults
- The role of executives in creating and sustaining zero-tolerance cultures
- How nurse leader engagement directly impacts patient outcomes and team culture
- Practical strategies leaders can use to strengthen trust, resilience, and accountability
Resources & Links
- Connect with Dr. Jeff Doucette on LinkedIn
- Press Ganey – Improving the Patient and Caregiver Experience
- Email Jeff: [email protected]
- Begin with Trust – Harvard Business Review
- Why Kindness Isn’t a Nice to Have – Harvard Business Review
- On average, two nurses are assaulted every hour – Press Ganey
- Alarming Rise in Nurse Assaults – Nurse Leader, June 2025
Download your copy of our 33 Scripts to Address Disruptive Behavior When You Don’t Know What to Say - Check out Renee Thompson’s 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!
Have a question for Renee?
Email us at [email protected] to have your leadership question featured in an upcoming Q&A episode!
Exciting News! We’ve been featured on MillionPodcasts – a hand-curated database of amazing podcasts across various categories – in their Best 70 Healthcare Leadership Podcasts. They have also featured our podcast in their 70 Best Compassionate Leadership Podcasts, 20 Best Toxic Workplace Podcasts, and 25 Best Workplace Bullying Podcasts list.
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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.
