NR 500 Week 7 Cultivating Healthful Environments

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Chamberlain University

NR-500: Foundational Concepts & Applications

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Incivility in the Workplace: NR 500 Week 7 – Cultivating Healthful Environments

Nurses often work in challenging environments where hostility and discomfort make it difficult for them to perform their duties effectively. Many nurses face inappropriate and abusive behaviors that compromise their well-being and ability to provide quality patient care. Addressing workplace incivility is crucial for healthcare organizations, as it impacts both individual nurses and the overall organization. If left unaddressed, workplace incivility can lead to organizational failure and diminished patient care quality. This discussion explores the concept of incivility in nursing, its significance to the profession, and strategies for creating a more healthful workplace environment.

The Concept of Incivility

Incivility in the workplace refers to repeated disrespectful, abusive, or intimidating behaviors directed toward colleagues. These behaviors range from passive aggression to direct verbal insults and a lack of support for coworkers (McNamara, 2012). While professionalism is fundamental in nursing, recognizing the extent of incivility within healthcare settings presents challenges. Research indicates that many nurses experience incivility, leading to a toxic work atmosphere that negatively affects individuals and organizations. Persistent exposure to such behavior can contribute to stress, burnout, and decreased job satisfaction.

Importance of the Issue to Nursing

Workplace incivility has severe consequences for nurses and the healthcare system. A hostile work environment can lead to increased absenteeism, job dissatisfaction, and high turnover rates (Al-Omari, 2015). Many nurses facing continuous mistreatment may leave their jobs or even exit the profession entirely. From an organizational perspective, high turnover increases recruitment and training costs while reducing productivity and increasing absenteeism (Lachman, 2015). Additionally, workplace incivility directly impacts patient care. Nurses experiencing high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression due to incivility may struggle to provide optimal care. Furthermore, poor professional interactions resulting from workplace hostility can weaken teamwork, disrupt patient safety, and hinder positive healthcare outcomes (McCormack & McCance, 2017).

Illustrative Scenario of Incivility

An example of workplace incivility highlights its detrimental effects. A former colleague, a nurse transitioning from female to male, experienced ongoing hostility due to remarks about his gender identity. His personal journey became a topic of gossip among coworkers and some patients. Although he was deeply passionate about nursing, the persistent harassment led to self-doubt, absenteeism, and emotional distress, prompting him to seek therapy. Despite switching jobs, he continued to face workplace hostility and ultimately decided to leave the nursing profession. This scenario illustrates the profound impact of incivility, affecting both individual well-being and the broader healthcare system.

Strategies for Creating a Healthful Environment

Addressing workplace incivility requires a combination of educational and organizational strategies. Training programs that promote awareness of incivility are essential, as they equip nurses with the skills to identify and respond appropriately to uncivil behaviors. Role-playing exercises help nurses develop strategies for handling difficult interactions with coworkers (Warrner et al., 2016). Additionally, healthcare organizations must enforce policies that promote civility and hold all employees, particularly leaders, accountable for fostering a respectful work environment. The Joint Commission’s Sentinel Event Alert (2008) emphasizes the importance of creating a culture of safety, advocating for zero tolerance toward incivility. Implementing whistleblowing systems that allow employees to report workplace hostility without fear of retaliation further strengthens a culture of accountability and respect.

Strategies for the Specialty Track

In nursing education, particularly within the Education Program track, additional strategies can be employed to address workplace incivility. Nurse educators must model professional and ethical behavior while fostering a culture of respect. Integrating respect and ethical values into nursing curricula can help future nurses understand the importance of professionalism and develop the skills to navigate workplace incivility constructively. By promoting a positive, respectful learning environment, nurse educators contribute to a workplace culture that supports both nurses and patients.

Conclusion

Workplace incivility is a significant issue that negatively affects nurses, healthcare organizations, and patient care outcomes. The consequences include job dissatisfaction, absenteeism, high turnover, and compromised patient safety. Addressing incivility requires practical strategies, such as training programs, policy enforcement, and a culture of accountability. By prioritizing respect and professionalism, healthcare organizations can foster a healthier, more productive work environment. Ensuring nurses’ well-being is vital for maintaining high-quality, patient-centered care.

Table: Incivility in the Workplace

Key Area	Description	Supporting References
The Concept of Incivility	Repeated disrespectful, abusive, or intimidating behaviors directed toward colleagues, leading to a toxic work environment.	McNamara (2012)
Importance to Nursing	Workplace hostility increases stress, absenteeism, turnover, and negatively impacts patient care.	Al-Omari (2015); Lachman (2015)
Illustrative Scenario	A nurse transitioning from female to male faced persistent workplace hostility, leading to absenteeism and career departure.	Personal account (anonymized)
Strategies for Healthful Environments	Education, role-playing exercises, and strict enforcement of workplace civility policies are essential to fostering a positive work environment.	Warrner et al. (2016); Joint Commission (2008)
Strategies for Nursing Education	Nurse educators must model ethical behavior, integrate civility training into curricula, and promote professionalism to reduce workplace incivility.	McCormack & McCance (2017)

References

Al‐Omari, H. (2015). Physical and verbal workplace violence against nurses in Jordan. International Nursing Review, 62(1), 111-118.

American Nurses Association. (2015). Incivility, bullying, and workplace violence [Position Statement]. Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/official-position-statements/id/incivility-bullying-and-workplace-violence

Chamberlain College of Nursing. (2016). Chamberlain College of Nursing Masters of Science in Nursing Conceptual Framework. Retrieved from https://www.chamberlain.edu/docs/default-source/academics-admissions/catalog.pdf