Healthy Workforce Institute and Virginia Nurses Association team up on workplace culture

The Healthy Workforce Institute and the Virginia Nurses Association have partnered to help Virginia healthcare leaders address bullying and incivility that drive burnout, turnover and team dysfunction. The effort gives VNA members access to tools and training aimed at building more respectful, accountable workplaces.

Why it matters: - Workplace bullying and incivility are major drivers of turnover, burnout and team dysfunction in healthcare. - The partnership aims to help leaders build healthier cultures that support retention, communication and professionalism. - Stronger workplace culture can affect whether healthcare professionals feel supported enough to stay.

What happened: - The Healthy Workforce Institute announced a partnership with the Virginia Nurses Association on Nov. 6, 2026. - The collaboration is designed to give VNA members, leaders and employees access to strategies, tools and educational resources. - The resources are intended to help leaders address disruptive behavior early and strengthen accountability.

The details: - The partnership focuses on rejecting bullying and incivility and making kindness, respect and professionalism the norm. - Dr. Renee Thompson, CEO and founder of the Healthy Workforce Institute, said leaders need the skills, tools and organizational support to address behaviors that undermine teamwork. - The stated goal is stronger teams, better communication, increased retention and a culture where people feel supported and want to stay. - The Virginia Nurses Association represents more than 151,000 registered nurses in Virginia across specialties, clinical settings and work environments. - VNA says it advocates for nursing priorities in legal and regulatory decisions and works with the American Nurses Association to advance the profession. - The Healthy Workforce Institute was founded in 2011 by Renee Thompson, DNP, RN, FAONL, FAAN, CSP. - The institute says it has helped thousands of professionals stop bullying and disruptive workplace behaviors in healthcare through education, consulting and related resources.

Between the lines: - The partnership reflects a broader push in healthcare to treat workplace behavior as a retention and performance issue, not just a human resources problem. - By pairing a professional nursing association with a workplace culture specialist, the effort is positioned to reach both frontline nurses and organizational leaders. - The emphasis on early intervention suggests a shift away from tolerating disruptive behavior until it becomes entrenched.

What's next: - VNA members can learn more through the association's website. - More information about Dr. Renee Thompson and the Healthy Workforce Institute is available at HealthyWorkforceInstitute.com. - The partnership is expected to continue expanding access to education and tools for healthcare workplaces. - Media contact for the announcement is Ashley D Thompson at ashley@healthyworkforceinstitute.com or (412) 980-6401.

The bottom line: - The new partnership is built around a simple goal: reduce bullying, improve respect and help healthcare teams stay intact.