Whether we’re advocating for ourselves or others, how do we most effectively ask for what we want or need? What is the difference between big “A” and little “a” advocacy, and why does it matter?

Dr. Patricia Patrician, Professor and Rachel Z. Booth Endowed Chair in Nursing at the School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham speaks to how to craft your message so that people at all levels of an organization hear you. Dr. Carlton Abner rejoins us to share tips and techniques on how to teach students to advocate for themselves. And Kelly Nedrow, Senior Director for Health Issues with AFT, explores how to bring people together as a coalition and then bring that coalition to a bigger stage.

The Workplace Change Collaborative is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

To learn more about moral injury, burnout, and what to do about both, access our interactive framework and additional resources at wpchange.org.

Moral injury can arise from betrayals – intentional or not – rooted in organizational decisions that prevent health workers from providing optimal patient care. And operational breakdown, i.e., a lack of physical and mental health safety, excessive work demands, and inefficiencies, can lead to burnout.

Dr. Patricia “Polly” Pittman, Director of the Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity, illustrates the relationship between worker distress and leadership, and why the culture of an organization matters. Dr. Frankie Fachilla rejoins us to explain how to strengthen the relationships between those on the ‘frontlines’ and those in the C-suite. And Dr. Amy Locke, Chief Wellness Officer, Director of the Osher Center for Integrative Health at the University of Utah joins us to talk about the importance of measurement and accountability in driving organizational change.

The Workplace Change Collaborative is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

To learn more about moral injury, burnout, and what to do about both, access our interactive framework and additional resources at wpchange.org.

Distress comes from disempowerment, and disempowerment can lead to disengagement. How does that happen? What are the conditions that foster disempowerment? How can we reverse course and empower workers to use their voices, be heard, and enact change?

Dr. Randl Dent, Research Scientist at the Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity at the George Washington University explains how a culture of psychological safety can create a foundation for empowerment. Lisa Ladendorff, LSW, rejoins us to talk about how institutions can engage workers in designing changes to workflows to reduce operational inefficiencies, and ensure fair and meaningful recognition and rewards. And Dr. Carlton Abner, Assistant Professor and Associate Provost of Campus Health & Wellness Kansas City University shares his work focusing on empowering healthcare students before they graduate and enter the workforce.

The Workplace Change Collaborative is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

To learn more about moral injury, burnout, and what to do about both, access our interactive framework and additional resources at wpchange.org.