Learning and Workplace Culture

Our shared commitment

At the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med), we are committed to creating learning and working environments that support well-being by shaping conditions that allow people to function optimally within the demands of medicine — so they can learn, teach, care and contribute at their best, without fear, humiliation or harm. 

This commitment reflects  The Nevada Way: a shared ethic of respect, accountability and care for one another, even in high-pressure, high-stakes environments. We recognize that excellence in medicine depends not only on knowledge and skill, but on the conditions in which learning, work and care take place. 

These conditions support not only individual well-being, but excellent education, patient care, teamwork and professional growth. Because medicine is demanding by nature, a healthy environment is not defined by the absence of challenge or conflict, but by how we treat one another within those demands — especially across differences in role, power, experience and identity. 

Sunset over mountains and grassy fields.

What does a healthy learning and working environment look like?

A healthy learning and working environment is one where people feel respected, supported and able to speak up; where expectations are clear and fair; and where feedback, challenge, and accountability are paired with dignity and care. 

Living  The Nevada Way  means recognizing that culture is shaped in everyday moments — during rounds, in classrooms, in meetings and in how we respond under pressure. It asks each of us to be attentive to the impact of our words, actions and decisions on others, particularly within hierarchical systems. 

Creating this environment is a shared responsibility across faculty, staff, residents and learners. 

Respect in Action

Respect is not an abstract value — it is practiced daily through our interactions. 

At UNR Med, we understand behavior along a  continuum, recognizing that interactions can range from highly respectful to harmful, and that many moments fall in between. Understanding this continuum helps us reflect, course-correct early and prevent harm before it escalates. 

Respect in action includes: 

  • Listening with attention and curiosity 
  • Inviting participation and diverse perspectives 
  • Offering feedback with clarity and care 
  • Framing mistakes as part of learning 
  • Acknowledging effort, emotional labor and growth 
  • Modeling humility, accountability and repair 

These behaviors build trust, strengthen teams and support learning without harm — core elements of  The Nevada Way. 

Core standards of professionalism

Our shared standards include: 

  • Integrity and accountability 
  • Responsibility and dependability 
  • Self-awareness and openness to feedback 
  • Respectful communication and teamwork 
  • Patient-centered, culturally humble care 

These standards provide a common foundation for learning, collaboration and care — and help ensure consistency, clarity and fairness across the institution. 

Unprofessional behaviors in the workplace

When things drift off course

Stress, time pressure, hierarchy and habit can lead to moments where interactions miss the mark. Not all harm is intentional — but impact still matters. 

Part of professionalism, and part of  The Nevada Way, is the willingness to pause, reflect and repair when needed. Addressing concerns early — through conversation, guidance or support — helps prevent escalation and supports a culture of learning, accountability and trust. 

Helpful resources: 

A shared responsibility

Every member of the UNR Med community contributes to the learning and working environment. Creating respectful, psychologically safe spaces is not about perfection — it is about ongoing attention, reflection, and care for one another as we carry out the demanding work of medicine.  This is The Nevada Way: learning without harm, professionalism with humanity, and a shared commitment to supporting well-being through the environments we create together. 

Support, guidance and early conversation

A healthy learning and working environment relies on both clear standards and trusted spaces to raise concerns early. The Navigator provides a confidential, neutral and independent resource for the UNR Med community — offering informal guidance and perspective, similar to an ombuds, without investigation or decision-making authority.

Meeting with a navigator

Learner environment FAQs

Find answers to common questions about creating a culture of respect, professionalism and well-being, including how these values shape our learning environment and how resources like the Navigator provide confidential, informal support for navigating concerns or challenges.

Learner Environment FAQs