"One of my goals in leadership is to create an inclusive workplace culture, and I'm a firm believer that gossip breaks down that culture, breeds distrust, and ultimately impacts patient care. I lead by example, speak plainly about a no-gossip policy in the unit, and explain why. I want to be liked and respected by my team, and the best way is to lead by example. I like to build in activities of inclusion that give staff members things to talk about besides each other."

"Most companies I have worked for have a policy regarding gossip as it negatively affects the entire team and can ruin someone's reputation. If I heard team members gossiping, I would remind them of the policy and explain how gossip can destroy their coworkers' lives. I would then tell them that they should talk to me privately if they have an issue with a team member."

Gossip breeds negativity and in my opinion employee morale is typically lower on units with a lot of gossip. I definitely do not participate in the gossip and as a leader I feel that I need to put a stop to it when I hear it. I will often pull aside the members of the team that are gossiping and discuss with them how this behavior negatively impacts the entire team. If the gossip is a rumor that is regarding the unit or management specifically, I will stop it by communicating correct and accurate information with everyone.