The effects of incivility on student nurses in the clinical setting: A grounded theory approach

AIM

To use a grounded theory approach to explore and understand the encounters of undergraduate nursing students with incivility in the clinical setting so that data-informed strategies for addressing this counterproductive behavior could be developed.

BACKGROUND

Nurses are being called upon to fill ever-increasing responsibilities associated with expanding roles in different specialties within healthcare. One issue that has developed in this high-pressure environment is an increase in incivility in the workplace that spills over into the clinical training environment. As a pervasive problem in the healthcare system, its effects on nursing students could compound the nursing shortage by undermining the integrity of nursing education and discouraging individuals from entering the profession. Therefore, it is vital to construct new theories regarding incivility so that this unprofessional practice can be eradicated or reduced. When this is done, there may be a renewed hope for new nursing students to practice their clinical rotations without feeling disrespected, undermined and intimidated. Students should be able to complete clinical rotations without these unnecessary barriers.

DESIGN

Qualitative grounded theory using philosophical underpinnings of symbolic interactionism and pragmatism.

METHODS

A classical grounded theory approach focusing on the Glaserian Model was used to develop an inductively derived theory from the data. Participants were interviewed about their encounters with incivility and then open coding was used to identify recurring concerns on which a model of the effect of these occurrences could be established. The study sample consisted of 32 participants of which 25 were undergraduate nursing students and seven were graduate students who participated in a focus group. Data were collected through face-to-face (in-person and virtual) structured interviews that were audiotaped. These individuals were recruited by flyers posted at varying strategic points on university campuses.

RESULTS

Open coding of student responses revealed three significant areas of concern: feelings of being disrespected, intimidated and undermined, from which the Inhibiting Actions Theory emerged.

CONCLUSION

Nursing students' perceptions of incivility and their attitudes and behaviors toward this occurrence culminated in the Inhibiting Actions Theory, which provides a framework for implementing effective policies and personnel training in clinical settings. The hope is that these research findings will be a call to action for introducing systemic changes in the clinical training environment, thereby improving the clinical experiences of nursing students and patients.

A nursing perspective on the antecedents and consequences of incivility in higher education: A scoping review

Background

Understanding antecedents and consequences of incivility across higher education is necessary to create and implement strategies that prevent and slow uncivil behaviors.

Purpose

To identify the nature, extent, and range of research related to antecedents and consequences of incivility in higher education.

Objectives

1) To identify disciplines and programs sampled in higher education incivility research, and 2) to compare antecedents and consequences examined in nursing education research with other disciplines and programs in higher education.

Design

A scoping review of the literature.

Data sources

Eight electronic databases searched in January 2023 including MEDLINE Ovid, CINAHL, ERIC, PsycINFO, Scopus, ProQuest Education Database, Education Research Complete, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.

Review methods

We included primary research articles examining antecedents or consequences of incivility in higher education. Two reviewers independently screened and determined inclusion of each study. Data extraction was completed. We employed a numerical descriptive summary to analyze the range of data and content analysis to categorize the antecedents and consequences of incivility in higher education.

Results

Database searches yielded 6678 unique articles. One hundred and nineteen studies published between 2003 and 2023 met the inclusion criteria, of which, 65 reported research in nursing education, and 54 in other programs and disciplines. A total of 91 antecedents and 50 consequences of incivility in higher education were reported. Stress (n = 12 nursing, n = 4 other programs), faculty incivility (n = 9 nursing, n = 5 other programs), and student incivility (n = 4 nursing, n = 5 other programs) were reported as antecedents of incivility in higher education. Physiological and psychological negative outcomes (n = 25 nursing, n = 12 other programs), stress (n = 6 nursing, n = 6 other programs), and faculty job satisfaction (n = 3 nursing, n = 2 other programs) were reported as consequences of incivility in higher education.

Conclusions

Supporting development of teaching practices and role modeling of civility by faculty is a crucial element to slowing the frequency of uncivil interactions between faculty and students. Specific strategies that target stress, such as, cognitive behavioral therapy, coping skills, and social support could mitigate incivility in higher education. Future research needs to examine the strength of the negative effects of incivility on physiological and psychological outcomes through advanced statistical methods, as well as the cumulative effects of uncivil behavior on these outcomes over time for both students and faculty. Application of advanced statistical methods can also support our understanding of sources of incivility as well as the accuracy of causal connections between its antecedents and consequences.

"It is Essentially About Treating Each Other Well": Insights from Faculty on Incivility in Nursing Education

STUDY BACKGROUND

Incivility in nursing educational institutions, which may be perpetrated by both students and faculty, is troubling given that such institutions have a mandate to prepare students for caring, relational nursing practice.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to contribute to understanding nursing academic incivility through an examination of nursing faculty's perspectives on student and faculty incivility.

METHODS

The study was conducted using a mixed methods, descriptive, survey design with collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data. The sample consisted of 52 faculty members.

RESULTS

A large majority of faculty thought that incivility in the nursing academic environment is a problem, with most considering it to be a mild or moderate problem. Students acted unprofessionally by showing disrespect, displaying superiority, engaging in disruptive behaviors, or not taking responsibility for their role in their learning. Faculty acted unprofessionally by showing disrespect, displaying superiority, or not being supportive. Faculty perceived that stress, personality, failure to deal with incivility, and an attitude of entitlement contributed to incivility. They thought that educational interventions, policies, and an academic environment that is conducive to civility are needed to address the problem.

CONCLUSION

Until evidence is available to support the effectiveness of interventions for academic incivility, nursing educational institutions are encouraged to implement strategies suggested by faculty in this study.

Incivility in practice - incidence and experiences of nursing students in eastern Canada: A descriptive quantitative study

BACKGROUND

Incivility within nursing is professionally unacceptable. Little research exists regarding student nurses' experiences with incivility from healthcare professionals and others within the clinical environment and particularly within a Canadian context.

AIM

To describe the incidence and perceptions of incivility experienced by undergraduate nursing students from healthcare professionals and others within clinical practice.

METHOD

This descriptive study used an electronic survey and was conducted at an eastern Canadian university. Descriptive statistics were applied.

RESULTS

Of 650 nursing students invited to participate in the study, 260 surveys were fully completed. Of these, 70% of respondents indicated experiencing incivility, mostly in acute care settings. Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses were the major offenders. Discourteous gestures and condescending remarks were the most frequently experienced uncivil acts, resulting in feelings of high anxiety and inadequacy. Participants coped by avoiding communication with the perpetrator. Incivility was rarely reported because of a belief it would be fruitless to do so, lack of awareness of policies and fear of retaliation.

CONCLUSIONS

Nursing students experience incivility frequently in clinical practice with serious consequences. Recommendations arising from this study encourage educators and healthcare leaders to collaborate to review, implement and evaluate curricula, policies and processes to address incivility.

Experiences of undergraduate nursing students with faculty incivility in nursing classrooms: A meta-aggregation of qualitative studies

Faculty-to-student incivility can have detrimental impacts on both the individual students and the nursing profession. This study synthesized the current qualitative research evidence on the experiences of undergraduate nursing students with faculty incivility in nursing classrooms. A meta-aggregation approach was applied in a systematic review of qualitative studies based on the guideline of the Joanna Briggs Institute. The analysis of 11 qualitative studies identified four synthesized findings: (1) faculty incivility included a wide range of uncivil behaviors from disruptive to threatening behaviors, (2) pedagogical incompetence, including ineffective teaching, unresponsiveness, and unfairness, was perceived as uncivil, (3) faculty incivility negatively impacted on psychological well-being and learning, and (4) adaptation efforts included seeking support from family and friends and voicing the need for an official support system. Nursing faculty members need to be aware of the malicious impacts of faculty incivility, have formal teaching preparation, and develop pedagogical competency. The students and faculty members should be empowered by establishing official support systems for students and training faculty members to be role models for civility, respectively. Faculty perspectives of their incivility to students, interventions for cultivating faculty civility, and the long-term effects of faculty incivility are suggested as areas for further research.

Exploration of Cybercivility in Nursing Education Using Cross-Country Comparisons

Many nursing students have experienced negative social behaviors and incivility in cyberspace. We aimed to explore knowledge, experience, and acceptability of cyberincivility, as well as the perceived benefits of cybercivility education among nursing students in the United States of America (USA), Hong Kong (HK), and South Korea (K). We used a cross-sectional study design. The Academic Cyberincivility Assessment Questionnaire was administered to participants, and data were collected from 336 nursing students from a university in each country (USA (n = 90), HK (n = 115), and K (n = 131)). Cyberincivility was perceived as a problem by 76.8% of respondents. More than 50% of respondents had experienced cyberincivility, were knowledgeable about it, and found it unacceptable. Longer hours spent on social networking services and perception of cyberincivility were positively associated with the variables, but negatively associated with perceived benefits of learning. Cross-country differences in items and level of variables were identified (p < 0.01). The HK respondents demonstrated lower knowledge, compared to USA and K respondents. Frequency of cyberincivility experience and perceived learning benefit were lower for students in the USA than in HK and K. Acceptability of cyberincivility was significantly lower in respondents from K. Developing educational programs on general and sociocultural patterns of online communication could be useful in promoting cybercivility globally.

Theoretical Approaches to Studying Incivility in Nursing Education

Incivility is a concerning occurrence in nursing education. Examining the concept of incivility is critical to the development of strategies used to prevent and mitigate experiences in nursing education. The purpose of this paper is to examine this concept through theoretical lenses of oppressed group behaviour, attribution theory, and conceptual models of empowerment. A critical social theory perspective is outlined as an additional theoretical approach to studying incivility in nursing education. Examination through various theoretical lenses may help to describe, explain, and predict incivility in nursing education. Theoretical considerations of this concept are limited but may hold the key to comprehensive understanding and advancement of knowledge. The ultimate goal of theoretical and knowledge development of incivility in nursing education is the creation and maintenance of civil educational environments.

Nurse educators’ experiences with student incivility: a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies

This study aimed to synthesize the best available qualitative research evidence on nurse educators’ experiences with student incivility in undergraduate nursing classrooms. A meta-synthesis of qualitative evidence using thematic synthesis was conducted. A systematic search was performed of 12 databases for relevant literature published by March 31, 2019. Two reviewers independently conducted critical quality appraisals using the checklist for qualitative research developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Eleven studies that met the inclusion criteria were selected for review. From the pooled study findings, 26 descriptive themes were generated and categorized into the following 5 analytical themes: (1) factors contributing to student incivility, (2) management of student incivility, (3) impact: professional and personal damage, (4) impact: professional growth, and (5) initiatives for the future. Many nurse educators became confident in their role of providing accountability as both educators and gatekeepers and experienced professional growth. However, others experienced damage to their personal and professional life and lost their motivation to teach. Nurse educators recommended the following strategies for preventing or better managing student incivility: institutional efforts by the university, unified approaches for student incivility within a nursing program, a faculty-to-faculty network for mentoring, and better teaching and learning strategies for individual educators. These strategies would help all nurse educators experience professional growth by successfully preventing and managing student incivility.