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The Power of Storytelling in Transforming Workplace Culture in Healthcare


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Have you ever heard a story and changed how you see yourself—or the world around you?


Sometimes, a single story told with honesty and heart can shift an entire team, rekindle purpose, and begin to heal what was once unseen.


“We are all storytellers. We all live in a network of stories. There isn’t a stronger connection between people than storytelling.” — Jimmy Neil Smith


I was inspired to write this piece after reading an article published through the American Nurses Association titled “The Storybook Chronicles: Nurses’ Experiences with Moral Injury.”


The stories shared there—and in the accompanying Moral Injury Among Nurses collection—deeply resonated with me. They reminded me of the countless untold stories held in hospital hallways, charting stations, and quiet car rides home after a long shift.


At CODE YOU, we’ve seen firsthand that storytelling is not only an art—it’s a healing practice and a leadership tool. When healthcare teams make space for story, they make space for healing, connection, and meaning. It’s a practice that can transform workplace culture from the inside out.



The Stories Beneath the Scrubs


The Moral Injury Among Nurses storybook (Global Women’s Health Innovation Center, 2023) captures what so many nurses carry silently.


Leslie described being physically assaulted in her ER with no security to protect her and being told by her manager that “if being assaulted feels like a problem for you, you’re probably in the wrong career.”


Charlotte shared the heartbreak of hearing a child cry for hours on an understaffed night shift, knowing she couldn’t offer comfort because she was responsible for five patients at once.


Peter, a pediatric ICU nurse, recounted watching an infant die in pain because the team refused to adjust the medication orders. “Ultimately,” he said, “we failed that kid.”


These stories are not isolated. They reveal a pattern of systemic distress—not personal weakness. And yet, when nurses bring these stories to light—when they are witnessed without judgment—something powerful begins to shift.


As we teach in our Wholistic Nursing Leadership Course: “Restorying is restoring. In the retelling of our stories, we find ourselves again.”



Why Storytelling Heals


From a scientific standpoint, storytelling is a neurochemical bridge. Research from UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center shows that when someone tells a story, both the teller and the listener experience synchronized brain activity—releasing oxytocin (the bonding hormone) and dopamine (the motivation and focus chemical).


These brain chemicals strengthen trust, empathy, and compassion—the very qualities that foster resilient and healthy teams.


Storytelling, when practiced intentionally, is one of the most powerful tools a healthcare leader can use to transform team culture. It’s not just anecdotal sharing—it’s a practice of reflection, connection, and meaning-making.


As addressed in the article, moral injury thrives in silence; moral repair begins with storytelling—naming what happened, acknowledging the pain, and reclaiming purpose.

Because when nurses’ stories are honored, they become wells of wisdom rather than wounds to hide.



Three Simple Ways to Begin


  1. Create storytelling moments in team huddles. Invite staff to share a brief story of meaning or challenge from their week. What surprised them? What stayed with them?

  2. Model vulnerability as a leader. When leaders share their own human moments—times they struggled or learned—it signals safety and authenticity.

  3. Use stories as a compass for change. Every story holds a clue to what needs healing in your organization—whether it’s communication, trust, or support.


Storytelling transforms workplace culture by re-humanizing the work.


As my colleague Phyllis often says in our leadership workshops,

“When a story is told and truly heard, the culture shifts by one heartbeat.”


We believe that every story told in courage is a step toward collective healing. Each time we listen without fixing, speak without fear, or honor our shared humanity, we restore not only ourselves—but the soul of healthcare itself.



Are you ready to tell your story?





References

Adesanya, I. P., Taylor-Stinson, T., & Hayes, D. L. (2019). Kaleidoscope: Broadening the palette in the art of spiritual direction. Church Publishing Incorporated.


Allender, D. B. (2005). To be told: Know your story, shape your life. Waterbrook Press.


Brewster, A. M. (2021, July 21). Stories connect us. Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/stories-connect-us-202107212550


Great Valley Publishing Company, Inc. (n.d.). Web exclusive: Stories we tell, stories we hear – Valuable therapeutic tools. Social Work Today. https://www.socialworktoday.com/archive/exc_0519_4.shtml



Senior, R. (2022, March 9). Applying storytelling to health and healthcare. American Nurse. https://www.myamericannurse.com/applying-storytelling-to-health-and-healthcare/



The American Nurse Project. (n.d.). https://americannurseproject.com/


Zak, P. (n.d.). How stories change the brain. Greater Good. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_stories_change_brain



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