About this episode

Dr. Karen Uttaro discusses how leadership development can enhance workplace culture and support nurses in healthcare settings.

A healthy workplace culture does not happen by accident. It takes leaders who are supported, developed, and equipped with practical tools to address challenges in real time. In this episode, Dr. Karen Uttaro, Senior Director of Professional Practice, Quality, and Regulatory at UMass Memorial Medical Center, explains how her organization turned post-pandemic leadership turnover into an opportunity to rethink leadership development and strengthen workplace culture. She emphasizes that leaders need structured support, dedicated time, and practical tools to effectively address incivility, which led UMass to implement bite-sized learning, peer discussions, and ongoing reinforcement. Karen also connects these strategies to the needs of new graduate nurses, highlighting the importance of communication skills, psychological safety, and guided reflection during their transition into practice. She underscores that executive support, clear behavioral expectations, and a focus on self-care are essential for helping both leaders and frontline staff succeed. Tune in and learn how intentional leadership development can strengthen culture, support nurses, and create healthier work environments…

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