How to prevent workplace incivility?: Nurses' perspective

Abstract

Background:Many articles have studied workplace incivility and its influence on outcomes, but very few have been conducted to assess how to prevent this issue. In this study, we aimed to determine how to prevent workplace incivility from the nurses' perspective.Materials and Methods:This was a qualitative study which was based on a conventional content analysis approach. Thirty four nurses (25 to 52 years old) from seven training hospitals in Tabriz, Iran were selected through purposive sampling. Thirty six semi-structured interviews and eight field notes were analyzed.Results:The data analysis revealed 417 codes, ten categories, three subthemes and one theme, that is, A Need for a Comprehensive Attempt. Attempt of organization, nurses, and public as subthemes are needed to prevent workplace incivility.Conclusions:The findings of the study indicated that a comprehensive and systematic attempt was needed to prevent incivility. Nurses should try to improve their skills; officials should try to show the real image and position of nurses and hospitals to the community.

Influence of workplace incivility on the quality of nursing care

“…Workplace incivility has been documented internationally as significantly prevalent in the workplaces of nurses. For example, in one study in Iran, high incivility prevalence was reported amongst 34 Iranian nurses from seven hospitals (Abdollahzadeh et al, 2017). In one study in China, WPI increased anxiety and burnout level, as reported by 696 new nurses .…”

“…Workplace incivility is troubling not only to the healthcare provider but also to the delivery of care beneath the shade of incivility (Abdollahzadeh et al, 2017). Pearson, Andersson, and Wegner (2001) stated that "WPI is low-intensity divergent behaviour with uncertain intention to injure a person, violating the workplace standards and norms for reciprocal respect."…”

“…Thus, the workplace environment could be challenging to nurses as providers of care because of negative workplace experiences. Abdollahzadeh et al (2017) and Heydari et al (2015) noted that nurses encounter numerous WPI incidents (e.g., administration bullying, nurses bullying patients, patients bullying nurses and nurses bullying nurses). Workplace incivility may pose significant negative consequences for nurses, patients and nursing administration.…”

“…Although nursing is a profession that is committed to serving people, it has greatly changed its nature due to the rapid-paced environment in which nurses work and incivility is often disregarded or ignored (Ibrahim & Qalawa, 2016). Exposure to WPI can alter a nurse's behaviour, thought process and perspective towards the nursing profession (Abdollahzadeh, Asghari, Ebrahimi, Rahmani, & Vahidi, 2017). Hence, WPI is highly likely to affect a nurse's overall health or well-being, work performance and quality of patient care.…”

“…Thus, outcomes pertaining to the prevalence of unacceptable behaviours have dropped significantly (Abolfazl Vagharseyyedin, 2015); overall, however, this pervasive problem cannot be totally eliminated in the clinical workplace. For example, Abdollahzadeh et al (2017) reported that some nurses recognise this workplace behavioural concern to be normally present in their workplace, which cannot be removed easily. Hence, most behavioural issues are unreported.…”