Looking for proven ways to end bullying in your unit? Join the co-hosts as they welcome expert Renee Thompson for a candid, practice-focused conversation on bullying in the nursing workforce. Renee will also be presenting the keynote presentation at the 2026 AMSN Convention in September. To learn more about the 2026 AMSN Convention OR to register, visit:
https://amsn.org/Events/AMSN-Convention SPECIAL GUEST Dr. Renee Thompson, DNP, RN, FAONL, FAAN, CSP is CEO & Founder of the Healthy Workforce Institute®. She is a sought-after speaker, bestselling author, consultant, and leading authority on creating healthy workforces by eliminating bullying and incivility. With over 30 years of experience as a clinical nurse, nurse educator, quality manager, and nurse executive, Dr. Thompson spends the majority of her time working with healthcare leaders who want to cultivate a healthy workforce.
Renee is the CEO and Founder of the Healthy Workforce Institute and has been repeatedly published, interviewed, and awarded for her work to eradicate disruptive behaviors in healthcare.
In 2020, Renee was invited by the Joint Commission to become a member of their Workplace Violence Technical Advisory Panel, has been published in numerous nursing journals, and is a frequent invited guest on radio, podcasts, webinars, and online social media platforms.
In 2016, Renee received the Nursing Excellence award as a nurse entrepreneur, honoring her work to eliminate workplace bullying. She received the first Outstanding Nursing Alumni for Excellence in Leadership Award and Distinguished Alumni recognition from her alma mater, and was a finalist in the Healthcare Heroes Awards as a Healthcare Provider. Her blog has won numerous awards as a Top Nursing Blog "must-read" by the online nursing community, and her anti-bullying videos are viewed by healthcare organizations around the world.
Renee is one of only 30 nurses in the world who have achieved the prestigious Certified Speaking Professional designation. In 2018, she was recognized as one of LinkedIn's Top Ten Voices in Healthcare for her contribution to their global online healthcare community and in 2022 was identified as one of the top 5 Nurse Influencers on LinkedIn. Also in 2022, Renee was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing for her work to eradicate disruptive behaviors in healthcare and in 2024 received the Safe Spaces award from the Florida Nurses Association.
In March 2026, Renee will be inducted as a Fellow of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership for her sustained contributions to the specialty of nursing leadership, commitment to service and influence in shaping health care by addressing disruptive behaviors.
Renee has a Master's degree in Nursing Education and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of Pittsburgh.
MEET OUR CO-HOSTS
Kellye' McRae, MSN-Ed, RN is a dedicated Med-Surg Staff Nurse and Unit Based Educator based in South Georgia, with 12 years of invaluable nursing experience. She is passionate about mentoring new nurses, sharing her clinical wisdom to empower the next generation of nurses. Kellye' excels in bedside teaching, blending hands-on training with compassionate patient care to ensure both nurses and patients thrive. Her commitment to education and excellence makes her a cornerstone of her healthcare team.
Marcela Salcedo, RN, BSN is a Floatpool nightshift nurse in the Chicagoland area, specializing in step-down and medical-surgical care. A member of AMSN and the Hektoen Nurses, she combines her passion for nursing with the healing power of the arts and humanities. As a mother of four, Marcela is reigniting her passion for nursing by embracing the chaos of caregiving, fostering personal growth, and building meaningful connections that inspire her work.
Hayley Sweetser, MSN, APRN, AGCNS-BC, MEDSURG-BC, CPHQ, WTA-C is a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Newark, Delaware who provides support to patients and caregivers within the Acute Medicine Service Line at ChristianaCare. She is working towards reducing overall patient harm events within the service line through collaboration with bedside nurses, physicians, and other specialties. Hayley has a strong passion for medical-surgical nursing and has spent her whole nursing career in this specialty. She strives to advance medical-surgical nursing practice by encouraging alignment with evidence-based practice.
Eric Torres, ADN, RN, CMSRN is a California native that has always dreamed of seeing the World, and when that didn't work out, he set his sights on nursing. Eric is beyond excited to be joining the AMSN podcast and having a chance to share his stories and experiences of being a bedside medical-surgical nurse.
Sydney Wall, RN, BSN, CMSRN has been a med surg nurse for 5 years. After graduating from the University of Rhode Island in 2019, Sydney commissioned into the Navy and began her nursing career working on a cardiac/telemetry unit in Bethesda, Maryland. Currently she is stationed overseas, providing care for service members and their families. During her free time, she enjoys martial arts and traveling.
Trish West, DNP, MSN, CMSRN, PCCN, CEN, NEA-BC, FAMSN is a passionate nurse leader whose career reflects both expertise and a heartfelt commitment to advancing patient care. Trish's credentials include being a Certified Medical Surgical Registered Nurse, Progressive and Emergency Nursing, Nursing Executive Advanced, and most recently, induction as a Fellow in the Academy of Medical Surgical Nursing. She enjoys spending time with her husband Mark and their five children. Her favorite motto, "Never underestimate the difference you can make," truly captures the spirit with which Trish approaches both professional and personal endeavors.
