Impact of Incivility on Nursing and Healthcare

Running head: NURSING ASSINMENT 1
Nursing Assignment
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NURSING ASSIGNMENT 2
Nursing Assignment
Incivility is used to define, disruptive, rude, undesirable and intimidating behaviors
focused on another person. Moreover, it is disruptive behaviors that usually result in
psychological or physiological distress for the involved and if not addresses can advance into
frightening situations (Felblinger, 2008). Incivility behaviors are characterized by a lack of
regard for others. The discourteous actions include spreading rumors or gossiping or delays such
as declining to assist others when requested to do so. Incivility occurs since nurses work in fast-
paced surroundings that may involve death and life circumstances, frequent workplace threats
and long working hours (Lim & Cortina, 2005). Usually, inclusivity is caused by stress and
fatigue.
Incivility seems to be an increasing problem to the organization. A survey conducted in
the US healthcare estimated that 80% of the nurses experienced incivility at work. Also, 40% of
the faculty in healthcare has been the target of incivility. Incivility is frequently applicable in
healthcare that is greatly modified by the inherent high-stress environment (McNamara, 2012).
The unruly behaviors among the health workers existed for decades but only in the recent it has
been identified as unacceptable and associated with adverse outcomes and effects. It is not only
limited to the physicians but also occurs among nursing, pharmacy, radiology and laboratory
staff. Victims of incivility may experience stress, sleeplessness, exhaustion, anger, depression,
and embarrassment.
Incivility has major impacts on the nursing ability to use a high level of clinical
judgment. Incivility is more likely to cause negative effects on the target. This is usually created

NURSING ASSIGNMENT 3
by the demand and pressure of the workplace that nurses are involved in. Incivility creates
negative emotions on the nurses thus affecting their working ability (Berry, Gillespie, Gates, &
Schafer, 2012). A study conducted established that inexperienced workplace incivility was
directly connected to three types of negative feelings including sadness, fear, and anger of
targets. The environment of healthcare often is characterized by a high stress on the nurses. This,
therefore, affects the nurses' ability to deliver provided they are not functioning as normal.
Nurses usually experience incivility from the management, their leaders and their fellow nurses.
The patients care need are often at risk with many patients being left stranded and embarrassed
by the situation imposed on them by the nurses. Normally, the patient expects a friendly
interaction and environment with the patients. However, when nurses themselves experiences
incivility in their workplace, significantly, they tend to project their emotions to the patients. The
wellbeing and psychological functioning of the patients are also greatly affected.
The negative emotional factors accumulation across time in nurses results in impaired
psychological well-being due to increased anxiety and depression (Estes & Wang, 2008). This
psychological symptom eventually influences the physical health of the nurses. The negative
relationship in the healthcare workplace significantly affects nurses and psychological wellbeing
is usually measured in various ways. The nurse's mental health may be affected, emotional
exhaustion. This states obviously is a threat to the nurses and more critical to the nurses care
delivery to the patients.
Incivility inflicts chaos on nurse’s relationship and workplace drive as well as the patient
safety. Incivility has a devastating consequence on effects on health care setting. Being a fatality
of incivility is also costly to the organization. Nurses lay less energy and produce lesser quality
and can even burn out. The yearly cost of job stress alone owed to incivility at the corporations