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In a healthcare system where hierarchy often fuels workplace hostility, one movement is challenging the status quo to prioritize the well-being, safety, and empowerment of nurses.
In this episode, Dr. Katie Boston-Leary, the Senior Director of Nursing Programs at the American Nurses Association, discusses the oppressive hierarchy within healthcare, where administrators hold the most influence, leading to bullying and incivility among nurses who often lack power. Driven by her experiences in smaller hospitals, Dr. Boston-Leary advocates for a supportive, holistic approach to nurse retention and well-being, which she now champions through the American Nurses Association’s “Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation” program. The ANA’s initiatives include a well-being credential for healthcare institutions and efforts to combat workplace violence, which often begins with verbal abuse. While policies and allyship are important, Dr. Boston-Leary stresses the need for leaders to have the skills to address disruptive behavior in real-time. She believes creating a supportive environment requires reducing unnecessary tasks for nurses and ensuring consistent accountability at all levels.
Tune in for a powerful conversation on how we can reshape healthcare to support, empower, and protect nurses in every aspect of their work!
About Dr. Katie Boston-Leary
Dr. Katie Boston-Leary is the Senior Director of Nursing Programs at the American Nurses Association, where she leads initiatives in Nursing Practice, Work Environment, and the Healthy Nurse Healthy Nation program. She co-led Project Firstline, a major CDC-backed infection control training program, and is an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland and Case Western Reserve University. Katie serves on multiple advisory boards, contributes to the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing, and supports the National Academy’s Clinician Well-Being plan. A prominent speaker and published author, she has been recognized as a leader in healthcare innovation and impact, receiving awards such as the ICABA Woman of Impact and the Spectrum Circle Award for Innovation in Health.
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