Reflect on an experience in which you were directly involved or witnessed incivility in the
workplace and answer all questions/criteria with explanations and detail.
In recent years, incivility in nursing has become a significant issue that affects job satisfaction
and turnover rates. One example of incivility involves a newly graduated nurse Troy and a 12-
year experienced nurse Jane. Nurse Troy approached Nurse Jane for help with medication
reconciliation, but Nurse Jane responded dismissively and sarcastically, creating a toxic
environment.
The situation made me feel uncomfortable and uneasy. Nurse Jane's dismissal of Nurse Troy's
request for help was unprofessional and showed a lack of respect. Nurse Troy's nervous response
indicated the emotional impact of the interaction.
The consequences of this situation could lead to decreased morale, strained relationships, and
potentially affect patient outcomes. Nurse Troy's trust in Nurse Jane could wane, causing
miscommunications, and Nurse Jane's refusal to help could lead to errors. Overall, incivility can
negatively affect the work environment and patient care.
To prevent incivility, proactive strategies such as education and training, leadership role
modeling, team building, clear communication channels, addressing staffing issues, and
emotional intelligence support must be prioritized. In addition, Naik & Kanitha (2021) explains
that leaders must self-reflect and implement strategies such as creating an impersonal and
professional work environment, monitoring employee behavior, involving employees in
decision-making, and fostering organizational policies on civility. Farrell (2022) also theorizes
that organizations can provide training on emotion management and conflict resolution, establish
formal channels for reporting incivility, and promote a culture of respect and professionalism. By
addressing incivility in the workplace, healthcare professionals can foster a healthy work
environment that supports positive interactions and ultimately improves patient care.
a. Provide a brief synopsis of the situation. Individuals typically seek employment in
environments characterized by respect and professionalism. However, the issue of
incivility in nursing has gained significant attention in recent years. DeNisco (2021)
theorizes that research suggests that it has a comparable impact on workplace bullying,
affecting job satisfaction and turnover rates. Workplace incivility can manifest in various
ways, impacting the overall work environment. Some common examples include
outbursts of anger, repeated lateness to meetings, disrespectful behavior toward
colleagues, gossip, rumor-spreading, and sabotaging coworkers’ work. Naik & Kanitha
(2021) theorize that swiftly addressing incivility in the workplace is essential for
maintaining a positive workplace atmosphere and preventing further escalation. An
example of an incivility I have witnessed at work occurred between a lady who has been
a nurse for 12 years and a new graduate nurse. Nurse Jane meticulously reviews patient
charts at the nurses’ station while new graduate nurse Troy approaches, holding a stack of
paperwork. Nurse Troy nervously requests Jane’s help with a patient’s medication
reconciliation due to recent doctor-prescribed changes. Nurse Jane dismisses Troy
without looking up, emphasizing the need for self-reliance. Troy, trembling, apologizes
workplace and answer all questions/criteria with explanations and detail.
In recent years, incivility in nursing has become a significant issue that affects job satisfaction
and turnover rates. One example of incivility involves a newly graduated nurse Troy and a 12-
year experienced nurse Jane. Nurse Troy approached Nurse Jane for help with medication
reconciliation, but Nurse Jane responded dismissively and sarcastically, creating a toxic
environment.
The situation made me feel uncomfortable and uneasy. Nurse Jane's dismissal of Nurse Troy's
request for help was unprofessional and showed a lack of respect. Nurse Troy's nervous response
indicated the emotional impact of the interaction.
The consequences of this situation could lead to decreased morale, strained relationships, and
potentially affect patient outcomes. Nurse Troy's trust in Nurse Jane could wane, causing
miscommunications, and Nurse Jane's refusal to help could lead to errors. Overall, incivility can
negatively affect the work environment and patient care.
To prevent incivility, proactive strategies such as education and training, leadership role
modeling, team building, clear communication channels, addressing staffing issues, and
emotional intelligence support must be prioritized. In addition, Naik & Kanitha (2021) explains
that leaders must self-reflect and implement strategies such as creating an impersonal and
professional work environment, monitoring employee behavior, involving employees in
decision-making, and fostering organizational policies on civility. Farrell (2022) also theorizes
that organizations can provide training on emotion management and conflict resolution, establish
formal channels for reporting incivility, and promote a culture of respect and professionalism. By
addressing incivility in the workplace, healthcare professionals can foster a healthy work
environment that supports positive interactions and ultimately improves patient care.
a. Provide a brief synopsis of the situation. Individuals typically seek employment in
environments characterized by respect and professionalism. However, the issue of
incivility in nursing has gained significant attention in recent years. DeNisco (2021)
theorizes that research suggests that it has a comparable impact on workplace bullying,
affecting job satisfaction and turnover rates. Workplace incivility can manifest in various
ways, impacting the overall work environment. Some common examples include
outbursts of anger, repeated lateness to meetings, disrespectful behavior toward
colleagues, gossip, rumor-spreading, and sabotaging coworkers’ work. Naik & Kanitha
(2021) theorize that swiftly addressing incivility in the workplace is essential for
maintaining a positive workplace atmosphere and preventing further escalation. An
example of an incivility I have witnessed at work occurred between a lady who has been
a nurse for 12 years and a new graduate nurse. Nurse Jane meticulously reviews patient
charts at the nurses’ station while new graduate nurse Troy approaches, holding a stack of
paperwork. Nurse Troy nervously requests Jane’s help with a patient’s medication
reconciliation due to recent doctor-prescribed changes. Nurse Jane dismisses Troy
without looking up, emphasizing the need for self-reliance. Troy, trembling, apologizes
