Episode #19 Finding Your Midwife Voice: Navigating Hostility, Bullying, and Incivility in Workplace

In this episode, hosts Ginger and Denise tackle the critical issue of how healthcare professionals—particularly midwives—can navigate hostile work environments. A 2025 study by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) highlighted growing workforce challenges, including a 17.5% increase in workplace violence and safety issues, a 12.5% increase in bullying and incivility, and a 10% rise in emotional health and well-being concerns between January and October. Furthermore, the study identified the relationship with C-Suite executive leadership as a powerful predictor of turnover intention. If you feel vulnerable, undervalued, or bullied, you are not alone; when workplace harassment and sabotage go unaddressed, they often become endemic across the entire setting and are typically known to executive leadership. As consultants to midwives, Ginger and Denise discuss how midwife "events" are rising and occurring frequently without open conversation. Unaddressed conflict puts clinicians at risk of being held responsible, whether conflict and harassment stem from peers, colleagues, or physician collaborators. To help listeners find their "midwife voice" and stand up to these challenges, the hosts reference key resources, including ACNM’s position statement on Bullying and Incivility in Midwifery (2021). Referenced Resources: ACNM Position Statement https://midwife.org/wp-content/upload... AONL Study https://www.aonl.org/resources/nursin...