The Charge Nurse Development Program is LIVE! Enroll today!

Click here
EP 123:

EP 123: Leading While Running on Empty: Strategies for Sustainable Leadership

35:15

min

Q&A Episode

Prefer audio? Listen & subscribe on

In This Episode

Burnout isn’t a personal failure. It’s often the result of misaligned values, poor boundaries, and leaders who don’t realize they’re running on empty.

In this episode, Dr. Andrea Coyle, Chief Clinical and Innovation Officer at SE Healthcare, shares her personal journey through burnout, describing how constant organizational change and exclusion from leadership spaces eroded her sense of value and initially led her to misinterpret warning signs like cynicism and exhaustion. She explains the concept of “humility through acceptance,” highlighting how asking for help, setting boundaries, and improving communication can break the cycle of burnout. Andrea also offers practical strategies for presence, stress management, and habit-building, including slowing down, creating supportive systems, and cultivating self-awareness. She emphasizes that leaders experience burnout alongside frontline clinicians and that fostering a culture of awareness is essential for sustainable healthcare leadership.

About Andrea Coyle:

Andrea Coyle, DNP, MHA, NEBC, is a seasoned healthcare executive, innovation leader, and inspirational speaker based in Charleston, South Carolina. Currently serving as Chief Clinical and Innovation Officer at SE Healthcare, she leads strategic initiatives that elevate quality of care, patient satisfaction, nurse engagement, and provider well-being. A 2019 DAISY Nurse Leader Honoree, Andrea is widely recognized for her leadership acumen and ability to drive meaningful change across complex healthcare systems. She brings nearly two decades of experience from the Medical University of South Carolina, where she directed Professional Excellence and Magnet Programs, and she continues her global impact as owner and consultant at Overseas Nursing Excellence (O.N.E.). Passionate about developing people, Andrea coaches and mentors emerging leaders to overcome barriers, accelerate career growth, and lead with clarity and purpose. She is also the creator and host of The Shift with Dr. Andrea Coyle podcast, where she explores modern leadership in healthcare.

What You'll Learn
  • Burnout manifests as cynicism, exhaustion, and loss of self-efficacy long before individuals recognize it.
  • Many leaders mistake burnout symptoms for personal failure rather than systemic strain.
  • Misalignment between a leader’s values and an organization’s erodes motivation and well-being over time.
  • Awareness and naming burnout is the first step toward meaningful intervention and change.
  • Leaders who hide burnout perpetuate unhealthy cultures and block early opportunities for support.
Links & Resources

Have a question for Renee?

Email us to have your leadership question featured in an upcoming Q&A episode.

Host & Guest

Dr. Renee Thompson

DNP, RN, FAONL, FAAN · CEO & Founder, HWI

A leading authority on creating healthy work cultures by eliminating bullying and incivility in healthcare, with 31+ years of clinical and executive experience. One of only 30 nurses worldwide to earn the Certified Speaking Professional designation.

Subscribe & Follow

Never miss a Coffee Break. New episodes every week.

Share This Episode
Links & Resources

More from Coffee Break

EP 40:

EP 40: How to Improve Nurse Well-Being and Retention

EP 102:

EP 102: Leading with Data – Tackling Workplace Violence and Building Engaged Leaders

EP 2:

EP 2: Handling Tough Conversations through Compassionate Communication

Join Our Listener List

Get every Coffee Break in your inbox.

New episodes, show notes, and the practical scripts behind each conversation.

We send a few thoughtful emails a month.
No spam, ever. Read our privacy promise.