Incivility in the Environment of Care: A Positive Approach

Area of Science:

• Healthcare professional conduct
• Nursing workplace dynamics
• Organizational behavior in medicine

Background:

• Incivility remains a persistent issue in healthcare settings.
• Nursing environments are often characterized by high stress, acuity, and workload.
• Harsh coworker treatment has become normalized in some nursing workplaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a positive approach to managing incivility in healthcare.
• To offer principles for reducing negative behaviors in nursing.
• To provide a framework for improving professional conduct in high-stress environments.

Main Methods:

• A review of the literature on professional incivility in healthcare.
• Development of a positive strategy for addressing negative behaviors.
• Illustration of principles through a fictitious vignette.

Main Results:

• A positive approach to incivility is proposed.
• The strategy aims to mitigate harsh coworker treatment.
• The vignette demonstrates practical application of the principles.

Conclusions:

• A proactive, positive approach can help reduce incivility in nursing.
• Addressing negative behaviors is crucial for a healthy work environment.
• Implementing these principles may foster a more caring and respectful nursing profession.