A healthful nursing academic environment fosters relationships and promotes positive learning experiences for faculty and students. Several strategies for combating incivility include acknowledgment, improving communication, and role-playing. The American Nurses Association ([ANA],2015) position statement, “Incivility, Bullying, and Workplace Violence,” states that the first step is acknowledging the presence of incivility, the need to change the organizational culture, and a commitment to overcome the challenge of disrespect. Non-recognition of the existence of disrespect will be detrimental to an academic program. Creating a culture of respect through civility with open communication between students and faculty is another strategy (DeMarco et al., 2017). Students and faculty should not fear retribution when addressing concerns or reporting incivility. Setting the stage for mutually respectful relationships begins with communication. Training programs focused on communication help the student and faculty develop practical communication skills, mutual respect, and decrease anxiety associated with uncivil contact (Armstrong, 2017). Role-playing or cognitive rehearsal allows participants to improve communication in a non-threatening, safe, and empowering environment (Griffin & Clark, 2014). Role-playing may be challenging initially, but instructor guidance assists participants to express with effective communication.
Practice Application
Nurse educators are responsible for creating an educational environment free of incivility where students learn the psychomotor skills and affective competencies necessary to function as graduate nurses (Shanta & Eliason, 2013). Recognizing and addressing incivility will be imperative for a master’s level prepared nurse educator to create a healthful academic environment for the student. Educators are role models and mentors for future nursing professionals. Role modeling civility toward each other, ts, and t, the interdisciplinary team is expected of nursesnursetors at the forefront of a nurse’s careers (Palumbo, 2018). Communication, collegiality, and autonomy are vital components faculty can employ to decrease incivility in academia. As a master’s prepared educator, applying the concepts in unison will create a civil academic environment.
Conclusion
Incivility in academia disrupts and impedes a healthful learning environment. Nursing students who experience incivility in their nursing program may not develop the necessary skills to transition into practice. Victims of incivility often experience both emotional and physical effects. Creating a healthful academic environment empowers both students and faculty. Strategies for creating those environments begin with recognition of disrespect, active communication that allows students to report disrespect and role-modeling applications.
Masters-prepared nurse educators are the first faculty nursing students to encounter on their journey to becoming registered nurses. As an educator, my actions can either enhance or derail future nurses. I must recognize incivility, employ strategies to decrease it and foster relationships with students to create a healthful academic environment.
References
American Nurses Association, (2015). Incivility, bullying, and workplace violence [Position statement]. Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing- excellence/official-position-statements/id/incivility-bullying-and-workplace-violence/
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