Taking a Stand Against Workplace Incivility

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Organizational Psychology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Workplace incivility is a pervasive issue within the nursing profession.
• Novice nurses are disproportionately affected by and vulnerable to workplace incivility.
• The negative impact of incivility on the work environment and nurse well-being is significant.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive rehearsal training as a strategy for novice nurses to combat workplace incivility.
• To assess the impact of the intervention on nurses' self-reported ability to manage incivility.
• To explore broader implications for workplace culture and leadership education regarding incivility.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of resident nurses received cognitive rehearsal training.
• The intervention focused on equipping nurses with skills to defend against incivility.
• Outcomes were assessed three months post-intervention through self-report measures.

Main Results:

• Following the educational intervention, 55% of nurses reported witnessing incivility in the preceding month.
• 45% of nurses reported actively responding to incivility when it occurred.
• The majority of nurses indicated that the training enhanced their capacity to manage incivility.

Conclusions:

• Cognitive rehearsal training appears to improve nurses' confidence and skills in addressing workplace incivility.
• Incivility negatively impacts the healthcare workplace, highlighting the need for supportive interventions.
• Educational programs on incivility and cognitive rehearsal may also benefit nursing leaders to cultivate a more respectful environment.