Examining the Presence and Sources of Incivility within Nursing.

Abstract

AIMS\nExamine the presence, and various sources of incivility among nursing staff working within an academic medical center utilizing the Nursing Incivility Scale (NIS).\n\n\nBACKGROUND\nEvidence suggests various forms of negative behavior including incivility exist among nurses. Established consequences of these behaviors include increased employee turnover rates, decreased job satisfaction, decreased productivity, and increased absenteeism.\n\n\nMETHODS\nA descriptive survey design was used which included the Nursing Incivility Scale (NIS) instrument to measure the presence of incivility within the nursing workforce and specific sources of these behaviors among 414 nurses in an academic medical center.\n\n\nRESULTS\nHospital nurses working within the intensive and intermediate care unit experienced significantly greater incivility from patients and families than other participants within the study [F (3, 413) 8.62, p=0.001]. No other significant differences existed in sources of incivility between various levels of direct care.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nNursing staff working within high-risk areas for incivility such as the intensive care and intermediate care units may require additional interventions to reduce perceptions of incivility from patients/families.\n\n\nIMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT\nFindings suggest further research is necessary to develop targeted interventions for nurses practicing within intensive care and intermediate units to alleviate the perceived burden of incivility from patients/families. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.