Incivility: The Impact Of Incivility In The Nursing Profession

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Incivility in the Nursing Profession Incivility is prevalent in the healthcare setting and is a broad term used to describe any negative discourteous manner all the way up to more serious bullying and violent behaviors. If these behaviors go unregulated, then there is the likelihood that low-intensity negative attitudes can turn into aggressive behaviors (Laschinger, Wong, Cummings, & Grau, 2014, p. 6). Consequently, there are serious repercussions which affect the persons involved, directly and indirectly, the work environment within the healthcare organization, and the nursing profession. These repercussions can range from poor work performance to staff retention issues. Therefore, this paper will address the issue of incivility, how it …show more content…

The trauma related to negative behavior can afflict the healthcare environment on many levels, from creating a hostile work environment in which job performance is affected, by increasing job turnover and causing nurses to leave the profession altogether. The Joint Commission states that in the United States 65.6 million workers have experienced or witnessed bullying, psychological harassment affects 38 percent of healthcare workers, and 44 percent of nurses are impacted by this behavior (The Joint Commission, 2016). Inclusively, this behavior can influence the way nurses care for their patients, staffing levels, and the healthcare organization’s …show more content…

An expert in the field, Dr. Cynthia Cark has created a comprehensive civility curriculum for new students entering the nursing field, which provides these students with core concepts including respect, professionalism, and ethical conduct (Nickitas, 2014, p. 308). Additionally, to prepare for the practice setting, they learn skills in the classroom and simulation labs on how to deal with incivility (Nickitas, 2014, p. 308). This form of education is beneficial, and healthcare organizations should continue with a similar educational program for its employees throughout their careers. Educational programs can help foster teamwork among co-workers and disciplines. Teamwork is another essential strategy towards promoting a healthy work environment. Some research shows a connection between teamwork and reduced incivility in the workplace because a good team establishes a level of trust and effective communication, therefore, allowing nurses to feel empowered and supported (Logan, 2016, p. 48). Teamwork produces healthier environments with better healthcare outcomes. It is essential for staff to be proactive by attending staff meetings and committees such as shared governance and learn how to become effective mentors for new nurses. Mentoring is another solution in the prevention of workplace incivility because it

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