Nursing Program Attributes Contributing to a Culture of Civility

J Nurs Educ. 2025 Jan;64(1):21-26. doi: 10.3928/01484834-20240827-04. Epub 2025 Jan 1.

Abstract

Background: Faculty-to-faculty incivility is an ongoing issue in nursing education. Negative effects for faculty experiencing incivility include both physical and psychological distress. Research related to faculty-to-faculty incivility has focused on the incidence and effects of incivility. This study examined nursing program attributes that contribute to a culture of workplace civility.

Method: The Work-place Incivility/Civility Survey was used to collect data for this mixed-methods study. Group means and analysis of variances were used to analyze quantitative data, and thematic analysis was conducted based on qualitative data.

Results: Number of program faculty, location of the program, teaching environment, and diversity of faculty were attributes that affected civility in the work-place.

Conclusion: Nursing programs with fewer than 10 and more than 50 faculty, programs in the western United States, programs with greater faculty diversity, and online programs had the highest level of workplace civility. [J Nurs Educ. 2025;64(1):21-26.].

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Faculty, Nursing* / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incivility* / prevention & control
  • Interprofessional Relations
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Organizational Culture*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States
  • Workplace* / psychology