A Time to Speak: When Incivility Injures Patients

Area of Science:

• Healthcare professional conduct
• Patient advocacy
• Workplace ethics

Background:

• Workplace incivility poses significant challenges for healthcare professionals, particularly nurses.
• Nurses often face power differentials and fear repercussions when speaking up for patients.
• This can lead to compromised patient care and negative outcomes.

Observation:

• A case report details a family's labor and delivery experience, illustrating the detrimental effects of workplace incivility.
• The experience highlights potential harm to patients and lasting consequences for both the patient and the nurse involved.
• This underscores the critical nature of addressing incivility in clinical environments.

Findings:

• Workplace incivility can result in patient harm and have long-term negative consequences.
• Nurses' ability to advocate for patients is often hindered by fear of reprisal.
• The case demonstrates a direct link between incivility and adverse patient and nurse outcomes.

Implications:

• Addressing workplace incivility is crucial for ensuring patient safety and well-being.
• Fostering moral courage in nurses is essential for effective patient advocacy.
• Strategies are needed to support nurses in speaking up for patients without fear of negative consequences.