Workplace incivility: A comparison of nursing faculty and administrator perspectives

Abstract

Background

Workplace incivility is an ongoing concern in nursing education. Faculty and administrators who experience incivility are more likely to leave nursing education, contributing to the already significant nursing faculty shortage. While faculty rely on administrators to address incivility, administrators often feel unprepared and unsupported in their attempts to address incivility.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to compare experiences of workplace incivility between nursing faculty and academic administrators.

Methods

The Workplace Incivility/Civility Survey (WICS) was used to collect data for this study. Descriptive statistics were calculated to compare the experience of workplace incivility between faculty and administrators. Content analysis was used to determine themes in the narrative data.

Results

The perception of workplace incivility was similar between faculty and administrators. Academic administrators reported witnessing or experiencing workplace incivility more frequently than faculty.

Conclusion

Both faculty and academic administrators need support to effectively address workplace incivility and create a culture of civility and respect.